She wanted to find an oncologist, but I said
no.
I didn’t have money for treatment, and even if
I did, I wouldn’t bother.
I just wanted to live comfortably.
Ashley stood up when I told them what the
doctor said.
“You just don’t want to give my brother your
cornea! You’re faking the results!”
Illon’t the only
“Isn’t the only reason he needs a new eye is
because of you?”
“Isn’t it your responsibility to make it up to
him?”
She grabbed the results and threw them at
me, then she grabbed my arm.
“Come on! I’m taking you to the hospital!
Show me what tricks you have up your
sleeve!”
I doubled over in pain and started shaking.
The folks were worried.
“Jake, what’s wrong?”
Ashley scoffed.
く
Ashley scoffed.
“More fake reports, more fake symptoms, are
you even trying to hide your true colors?”
Justin gave me a look.
“Jake, if you don’t want to give me your eye,
just say so.”
“I don’t need a transplant. I just don’t want
the family to stress over it.”
Mom quickly put her arm around him,
comforting him.
When the pain faded, I looked up.
The family was soothing Justin, and they gave
me a dark look.
<
Brittany stomped over to me and looked
down at me.
“What do you want? Just say it.”
I looked at the group, and I focused on Justin
and Claire.
Claire gave me a warning.
“If you want me, stop now!”
I hung my head and agreed.
Brittany said that in addition to the money, I’d
get one of the houses after the operation.
That was too good to pass up.
Г
Before the transplant, Justin and I went to
Thompson Hospital.
He was in the VIP suite upstairs, and I was in
a room with six other people downstairs.
The folks came to see me once.
“Justin’s stressed out. It’s better if we keep
you separate…”
“It’s more lively down here, so it’s better for
you.”
They always did that.
They would favor Justin and justify
themselves.
I used to believe them.
Now, I found it pathetic.
The surgery was on the third day.
For two days, the family and Claire were with
Justin.
I was just sitting around doing nothing.
Either the Thompsons didn’t realize, or didn’t
care, but I didn’t even have a cell phone.
It was okay during the day.
But at night, everyone slept, and the nurses
didn’t want me to leave, so I could only count
the tiles.
く
When I first got to the farm, my folks carried
me to someone else’s house in my sleep.
They left me to die as they celebrated their
payday.
After that, I was too scared to sleep in the
same room as anyone else.
Thankfully, the surgery happened soon.
Justin and I were wheeled into the operating
room.
Right after that, I heard Mom scream.
“Jake!”
6.
Г
I woke up in a much nicer room.
The folks looked relieved.
“Jake, how are you feeling?”
I was confused by their worry.
“The surgery…”
Mom started crying and held my hand.
“Jake, the surgery didn’t happen, you got sick
on the table…”
She cried harder.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were sick?”
Г
I paused.
“I’m not your son. It doesn’t matter…”
Mom cried out.
“You’re our son! You always have been!”
I was confused, and looked at my dad.
He nodded, tears in his eyes.
After thinking for a bit, I understood, and
pulled my hand away.
“So… you lied to me?”
Mom covered her face.
Г
“We did it for you! We wanted you to be a
better person!
“We did everything for you. You were doing
so many bad things, we didn’t want you to go.
down the wrong path…”
There were many things I wanted to say, but I
couldn’t.
After a long silence, I spoke hoarsely.
“If I didn’t get sick today, Justin would have
my cornea.”
Ashley ran in yelling.
“So what? He needs one because you were a
bad person. You can fix what you did!”
く
“My brother is crying and wants you to come
with him.”
Mom shoved her away.
“Don’t lie! Your brother is right here!”
Ashley gave me a dark look.
“If he knows, he’ll never give my brother his
eye!”
Brittany walked in.