rk's arm. Her expression was one of deep, theatrical concern, but

descending syllable. "She's obviously not well. Look at her." She gestured vaguely at Sarah's worn-out c

ull attention to Sara

But you have to understand, Mark has been through so much. That time when he was sick... it was terrible. Fo

t. Jessica had cemented the lie, painting Sarah as the villai

d recoiled from the present, tumbling back through time, seeking

eap coffee. He was an aspiring programmer then, his fingers flying across a second-hand keyboard, building worlds out of code. She

escape, dreaming aloud about the day his app would take off, the day her paintings would hang in a gallery. He'd trace the lines

coffee shop even more brutal. She blinked, and the image of thei

a sharp, insistent signal. It pulle

ailing, the doctor said. The words were clinical, detached. Acute renal failure. Dialysis. Tran

r of their apartment. She watched him grow weaker, the vibrant energy that had defined him draining away day by

a-million shot. She told no one, not even him. She didn'

d eyes sat her down in a small, sterile offic

said, his voice gentle. "A perfec

ave him. She could pull him back from the edge. The decis

said, her voice

ained. "And you need to understand the risks. You'll be living with one k

ife. "I understand," she said. "He can't know i

had carried alone for four y

his expression a mixture of anger and pity. Jessica was now holding one o

rk said, his voice laced with ske

er fingers shaking. She pulled out a folded, slightly crumpled letter from her doctor. It was a referral for a transplant e

him, a fragile peac

is eyes scanning the medical terms. For a heart-stopping second, she

ver his shoulder, her perfectly shap

. It's from a clinic downtown. You can get anything printed up at those

ous cruelty. "It's real," she insisted, her voic

he seed of doubt she planted sprouted instantly into a tree of angry conviction. H

isgust. He crushed the paper in his fist. "You really think I'm t

ble in front of her. It landed next to her unto

the other patrons. "You're a manipulative, greedy liar. You were th

the door, she glanced back at Sarah, a final, triumphant smirk sealing her victory. They disappeared into the night, leaving S

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