My eyes widened . " That's not true ! Beck , listen to me , she- " " Enough ! " Beckley ripped the IV out and stormed to me , his face pale but furious . He grabbed my arm so hard it burned , then raised his hand and slapped me across the face . The force sent me stumbling to the floor . Warm blood rushed from my nose . His voice broke as he shouted . " Is this who you've become , Claire ? Forcing Fresca like that ? Couldn't you wait ? Why are you like this ? You're not the Claire I loved before ... Ugly . " Behind him , Fresca covered her mouth with both hands , sobbing like a little angel , but I caught the curl of her lips through the tears . I pressed my sleeve to my bleeding nose , tears slipping down my cheeks . I didn't argue . There was nothing left to say . I stood slowly , my knees weak , and walked out . Before I left the doorway , I heard his voice , gentle , full of warmth I hadn't heard in months . " Fresca , don't cry . I'm here now . I'll protect you . I'll punish Claire when I'm discharged . " I smiled bitterly through my tears and wiped them away with the back of my hand . I get home with my face still stinging and my nose still wet , and I just drop down on the couch because everything aches and I am so tired . I wrap my hand in a towel and try to slow my breathing . I am barely holding myself together when the doorbell rings . My heart jumps . Who would come now ? I stumble to the door and open it and there she is my mother . My mother , the woman who left me when I was a baby , standing on my doorstep like she owns the moment . She looks smaller than I imagined , like time ate her edges , but when she sees me she drops her bag and runs forward and grabs me so fast I nearly topple over . She clutches me like she has been living for this hug forever , tears running down her face . " Oh my God , my baby , my Claire , I found you . " She whispers it like a prayer . I try to stand but my knees give out and I slump onto the couch in her arms . Everything goes a little fuzzy . She pulls back and suddenly her face is terrified . " What happened ? Why are you bleeding ? " she asks , voice shaking . I press the towel to my nose and whisper , " I have aplastic anemia . I need a bone marrow donor . 1- " My words break . I can't get the whole sentence out without coughing . She gets pale and she grabs both my hands like she's anchoring herself . " I will give you mine , " she says fast , like she's afraid I'll say no . " But you have to come with me . 16.15 8:55 Thu , Oct 16 face . " Oh my God , my baby , my Claire , I found you . " She whispers it like a prayer . I try to stand but my knees give out and I slump onto the couch in her arms . Everything goes a little fuzzy . She pulls back and suddenly her face is terrified . " What happened ? Why are you ! bleeding ? " she asks , voice shaking . I press the towel to my nose and whisper , " I have aplastic anemia . I need a bone marrow donor . I- " My words break . I can't get the whole sentence out without . coughing . She gets pale and she grabs both my hands like she's anchoring herself . " I will give you mine , " she says fast , like she's afraid I'll say no . " But you have to come with me . Come to Europe . Live with me and your two brothers . Please , Claire , say yes ." I stare at her , my chest tight . " You left me , " I say . The words are small but steady . " You left me with Grandma . You disappeared . How do I just pack up and trust you now ? " She drops her head and the sound she makes is so full of regret it stabs me . " I worked abroad to send money home , " she says . " I had an accident , I lost my memory , I started over by mistake . I only remembered last year . I have spent months trying to find you . I am so sorry it took me so long . I never stopped being your mother , Claire . I swear. " I want to believe her . I want to swallow the relief and sprint away with her , but my chest is hollow and the betrayal is still sticky . I whisper , " Let me think . I just met your today . I have to think . " She nods like she expected me to y that , and she leans down and kisses my forehead softly . " Call me when you're ready , " she says . She leaves a number and a trembling smile and then she is gone . I barely get my head down when the house fills with footsteps . Five men burst through the back gate without knocking . They grab me , they throw a blanket over my shoulders and drag me to the yard like I'm a sack . I scream and I try to fight but my limbs are weak and it rains and everything is loud and humiliating . One of them leans close and says , " Boss says you sleep outside tonight . Punishment for hurting Miss Fresca . " They spit the words like they imagine I deserve it . I pound on the door . I beg . " Please , please let me in , I'm sick , I need my meds . " They shove me more and one of them laughs . The sky opens and I am soaked and shivering . My phone rings . It's Beckley . I fumble it open with numb fingers and he sounds like someone reading off bad news . " Listen , " he says , calm and flat , " your transplant was scheduled for tomorrow . But after what you did to Fresca she's too upset to go through with it . She's traumatized and she will not stop crying . Think about what you did , Claire . " Then the line clicks off . 2/2 17.9 % 2:55 Thu Act 19 Π 00 She nods like she expected me to say that , and she leans down and kisses my forehead softly . " Call me when you're ready , " she says . She leaves a number and a trembling smile and then she is gone . I barely get my head down when the house fills with footsteps . Five men burst through the back gate without knocking . They grab me , they throw a blanket over my shoulders and drag me to the yard like I'm a sack . I scream and I try to fight but my limbs are I weak and it rains and everything is loud and humiliating . One of them leans close and says , " Boss says you sleep outside tonight . Punishment for hurting Miss Fresca . " They spit the words like they imagine I deserve it . I pound on the door . I beg . " Please , please let me in , I'm sick , I need my meds . " They shove me more and one of them laughs . The sky opens and I am soaked and shivering . My phone rings . It's Beckley . I fumble it open with numb fingers and he sounds like someone reading off bad news . " Listen , " he says , calm and flat , " your transplant was scheduled for tomorrow . But after what you did to Fresca she's too upset to go . through with it . She's traumatized and she will not stop crying . Think about what you did , Claire . " Then the line clicks off . 培 Rain mixes with my tears . I curl up on the cold grass and clutch the phone to my chest like it is the last thing that keeps me breathing . My fingers move slowly and clumsily as I dial the number my mother left . The line clicks and then her sleepy voice answers , " Hello ? " " Mom , " I whisper into the rain , my teeth chattering . " Please come . I'll go come to Europe and go with you anywhere . Get me out of here . " with you . I will 8:55 Thu , Oct 16