THE HEART OF SACRIFICE
EPISODE 2
WRITTEN BY RUKEVWE MERRY
Alex arrived at Maddie’s apartment. He had to know why she’d humiliated him in church.
He stepped out of his car and approached the entrance.
With a deep breath, Alex knocked on the door.
“Maddie, please open up!” Alex called out.
Silence.
Alex pounded on the door again, his knocks growing more insistent.
“Maddie, talk to me! What’s going on?”
Minutes ticked by, and the silence stretched.
Alex’s knocks grew weaker, his voice cracking.
“Maddie, please…don’t shut me out.”
Still, no response.
Defeated, Alex slid to the ground, leaning against the door.
Tears streamed down his face as he wept.
“How could you do this to me, Maddie?” Alex whispered.
As the silence stretched, Alex realized Maddie wouldn’t budge.
He slowly rose to his feet, wiping away tears.
With a heavy heart, Alex left Maddie’s apartment.
He walked back to his car, his eyes scanning the empty parking lot.
The city lights blurred through his tears as he drove away.
**********Alex’s home*******””””
Alex returned home, he pulled over, parking his car.
He needed answers.
Alex dialed a number.
“Hello, I need your help,” Alex said, his voice firm.
“I want you to investigate Maddie’s life. Find out who she’s seeing.”
The private investigator on the other end nodded.
“I’ll get to work right away, Mr. Arthur.”
As Alex ended the call, determination hardened.
********..MONTHS ON..**********
Alex had spent two futile months trying to reach Maddie. Calls went unanswered, and visits to her place were met with closed doors. Her parents seemed oblivious to her situation.
Just when all hope seemed lost, Alex received a phone call.
“Hello, sir. I’ve been investigating Maddie for two months,” the voice said. “She isn’t seeing anyone. She only visits the hospital, her parents, and hasn’t returned to work since resigning.”
Alex’s curiosity piqued. “Which hospital?”
“Which hospital?” Alex pressed, his curiosity piqued.
“The St. Michael’s Hospital,” the investigator replied.
Alex’s mind raced. What could Maddie be hiding?
“Just let me know when she’s going out next time, so I can follow her,” Alex instructed.
The investigator’s voice was calm. “Sir, I’m beside her house…and she’s going out right now.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “Follow her, I’m on my way.”
He grabbed his car keys and rushed out of the office.
As he sped through the city, Alex’s thoughts swirled.
What was Maddie hiding? Was she ill?
The investigator’s words echoed: “She only goes to the hospital.”
Alex’s anxiety grew.
He dialed the investigator’s number.
“Where are you?” Alex asked.
“Following Maddie’s car, sir,” the investigator replied. “We’re heading toward St. Michael’s Hospital.”
Alex’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.
********”*””*”””MINUTES LATER*********”””””
“We’re arriving at the hospital now, sir,” the investigator said.
“Keep a safe distance,” Alex instructed. “I’ll take over from here.”
Alex pulled into the hospital parking lot, scanning for Maddie’s car.
He spotted her vehicle and quickly parked far away from her car..
Maddie stepped out of her car, her face pale and drawn.
Alex’s concern deepened.
What was wrong with her?
He watched as Maddie walked toward the hospital entrance.
Alex followed discreetly, maintaining a safe distance.
Inside the hospital, Alex trailed behind Maddie.
She stopped at the Cardiology Department.
Alex’s heart sank.
Was Maddie ill?
He hid behind a pillar, observing.
Maddie checked in and waited.
A doctor called her name.
“Maddie Smith.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed.
What was her diagnosis?
Maddie disappeared into the examination room.
Alex’s mind raced.
Should he confront her?
Or wait and observe?
The minutes ticked by.
Alex’s anxiety grew.
Few minutes later, Maddie exited the cardiologist’s office, her face pale.
Alex waited, then rushed to the doctor’s office.
The doctor looked up, startled. “How dare you just walk into my office!” Who are you?
Alex pulled out his bank card. “I’ll give you 10 million. That’s your salary for at least 5 years. Tell me why Maddie came here.”
The doctor’s eyes widened in greed. “Do you mean Maddie Smith?”
Alex nodded. “Yes, what’s wrong with her?”
The doctor hesitated, then spoke. “Maddie has severe dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure. Her left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is below 20%. She requires an urgent heart transplant.”
Alex stumbled, murmuring, “Is there any treatment?”
The doctor’s expression turned grim. “I’m sorry, Alex. What she needs is an orthotopic heart transplantation. We’ve been searching for a compatible donor heart for the past two months, but so far, no match.”
Alex’s face fell.
The doctor continued, “Her condition is critical. Without the transplant, she won’t survive more than or UpTo a week.”
Alex thanked the doctor, his heart heavy.
He left the office, reeling from the devastating news.
Maddie’s words echoed in his mind: “I’m in love with someone else.”
Was it all a l!e?
He continued questioning himself.
How could she hide this from me?
Why did she push me away?
Was it to protect me?
Alex’s thoughts swirled, his mind racing.
He couldn’t shake off the feeling of desperation.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
He turned and went back to the doctor’s office.
“Doctor, please check if my heart is compatible for her,” Alex requested.
The doctor’s eyes widened in shock.
“Are you crรคzy? Don’t you know if you’re compatible, it means you’ll d!e?”
Alex’s resolve remained unwavering.
“It doesn’t matter. Just check me.”
The doctor hesitated, then nodded.
“Okay, let’s run the tests.”
Alex sat through the exams, his heart racing with anticipation.
The doctor reviewed the results, his expression serious.
“Alex, your heart is a perfect match for Maddie.”
Alex’s eyes locked onto the doctor’s.
“What’s the next step?”
The doctor’s voice was somber.
“We’ll need to prepare you for the surgery. But Alex, you understand the risks?”
Alex nodded.
To be continued
Rukevwe Merry
