The Shape of a Missing Heart

Panic alarms blared in my head, and the agony of past memories flooded my thoughts.

Fear crept into my voice as I stammered, "No, I'm not coming."

Alan, on the other end, exploded like a cat with its tail stepped on.

"Ruby, don't bite the hand that feeds you! Just cooperate when I'm asking nicely! Don't make me drag you here myself."

My heart turned to ice, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. I ended the call in a flash and shut off my phone.

I ducked into a dingy motel on the street and got a room without giving my ID. Alan would not find me there.

I spent the night wide awake, my mind a chaotic replay of my past life's final moments.

One thing was clear. I had to keep away from him.

As dawn's light began to seep through, I splashed water on my face and made my way to the nearby County Clerk's Office.

I pushed through the door as they opened, handed over my divorce papers with Alan.

The clerk glanced at the documents and stamped them without a word. I was out in less than five minutes.

I left the office and caught a cab to the airport, the terror barely subsiding. As soon as I settled into the seat, exhaustion hit me, and I passed out.

...

When I came to, I was tied up, lying on a hospital operating table.

I tried to move, but a searing pain shot through my palm. That was no nightmare.

Alan stood there, icy and aloof, gazing down at me.

"I told you, you can't run from me. I'll always find you."

His voice was icy, emotionless. "You're a perfect heart match for Jessica. There's an organ donation form here. Sign it."

I stared at the form, terror gripping me. Memories of a previous life, signing a similar form and then being struck by a truck, flooded my mind. The agony of shattered bones seemed to echo in my body.

I shook uncontrollably, teeth gritted, forcing out the words, "No way. Not happening!"

Alan's expression darkened as he saw my defiance.

He seized my arm, his eyes boring into mine as he bellowed. "Why not? Won't you do it even for me? Won't you sign it?"

However, I saw disappointment thick in his eyes.

Was it because I would not help him save Jessica? What reason did I have to save her, anyway?

I stood my ground, chin up. "Forget it. I'm not signing it, so save your breath. If you're so set on saving Jessica, why not just take my heart right here and now?"

Alan smirked. "Alright, your wish is my command."

He snatched up a scalpel and plunged it toward my chest.

I turned away, tears trailing down my face.

Pain lanced through me, and I felt my consciousness slipping away.

Through the haze, I saw Alan, frantic and desperate, lunging toward me. "Why didn't you move..."

I tried to show him my bound hands and feet, but the ropes were gone.

It did not matter anymore. Maybe it was better to die like that. That's what I thought.

As I closed my eyes, giving in to the weakness, Alan's cries faded into the distance.

...

A sharp pain jolted me awake, and I gasped for breath, only to find myself in a hospital bed.

Alan's eyes were ringed with the kind of dark circles that spoke of sleepless nights. When he noticed I was awake, he quickly masked his concern and stood up with a stubbornness that said he was not ready to give up.

"One last time, for me, won't you reconsider signing the organ donation form?"

I turned away, letting my silence speak for me.

Alan let out a heavy sigh. "I've booked you a flight to Austalica to heal up. I'll wrap things up here and then I'll come be with you. We'll have a real heart-to-heart then."

At the airport, it suddenly hit me that the flight to Euroland I had booked before was delayed until then. It was leaving at the same time as the flight to Austalica that Alan had arranged.

It felt like fate was handing me the perfect chance to slip away from Alan for good.

"I'll go through security by myself. I'll text you when I land."

I kept my voice even as I spoke to him, and Alan nodded in response. "I'll get someone to meet you on the other side. I'll come find you as soon as I can."

"Sure."

I gave him a quick reply and walked through security, my steps feeling like they barely touched the ground.

I glanced back once before boarding the plane to Euroland.

Alan had barely stepped through his front door when his phone rang with the news from one of his guys.

"Mr. Yates... Miss Ruby's flight... There was a terrible crash. No survivors..."