NATALIE

I looked down at Ethan.

His little fingers moved weakly inside mine.

I leaned forward and kissed them.

“What do we need to do?”

The doctor explained the next steps.

I listened to everything.

I asked questions.

Too many questions.

What would happen before the transplant?

How long would he stay here?

Would he be awake?

Would it hurt?

What if he got an infection?

What if his body rejected the donated cells?

What if—

I stopped myself.

I couldn’t say the last question out loud.

What if he died?

The doctor seemed to understand anyway.

“We will be watching him constantly.”

I nodded.

My eyes remained on Ethan....