He wondered what she was thinking about. The doctor had asked to speak to her in private before they’d hooked her up. When she’d come back, Miracle had said it was just lab results, nothing to be concerned about. Only he was. She was a little bit too casual about it.
In his pocket, Hardy’s phone vibrated. He fished it out, glancing at the caller ID.
“It’s your mom. She’s late for her check-in.”
Kelly called shortly after each appointment began, making sure they’d arrived and there were no problems. The fact that she was late made Hardy think she’d probably talked to the doctor, too, which was why he wanted to talk to her out of Miracle’s hearing.
Extricating himself from Miracle’s limbs, Hardy slid off the bed. As he pressed the talk button, he motioned to Miracle that he was going to get something to drink. She smiled and nodded, settling into the hospital bed. It always made Hardy’s heart hurt to see her lying in one.
“Everything okay?” Kelly said before he could even speak.
“Yep, we’re here. She’s doing fine.”
“All right. I was just checking in…”
Hardy cleared his throat. “Um, can I ask you something?”
Although it was barely perceptible, Hardy noticed Kelly’s pause. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Tell me the truth. Is something wrong?”
“I’m sure Miracle has told you everything—”
“No, Miracle tells me what she thinks I can handle, what she wants me to know, but I think she’s hiding something important from me.”
Kelly sighed. “Well, if she is, that’s her prerogative. You know that.”
“I know it’s her decision, but you know how I feel about her. If things are getting worse or if something’s going wrong, I want to know.” Hardy paused, his throat constricting. “I need to know.”
Miracle’s mother didn’t say anything for an alarm-inspiring amount of time. Hardy’s pulse had picked up and he could feel fear clawing at his stomach.
“Tell me. Please,” he prompted.
“They’ve moved her up on the transplant list. Her labs aren’t looking good,” Kelly said, her voice cracking at the end.
“But isn’t that a good thing? I mean, she’ll get a new kidney sooner, right?”
“In theory, yes. But Miracle has a rare blood type, which you knew. On top of that, they’re also having trouble matching her tissue type.”
“So what are you saying?”
When Kelly burst into tears, Hardy felt like his heart stopped beating. “If they don’t find her a match soon, she won’t be able to last much longer with just the dialysis.”
The hallway tilted and Hardy leaned against the wall, sliding down until he was slumped in the floor. Even if he’d known what to say, he didn’t think he could speak right then.
“Oh, God, how I wish me or Mila had her blood type!” she cried.
“And her- her father?” Hardy managed, knowing Kelly had been trying to reach him.
“He still won’t return my calls.” The heartbreak of knowing he might be able to help, but was apparently unwilling, was plain in her voice. Her sobs grew louder.
When her weeping had dwindled to sniffles, Kelly spoke again. “Please don’t tell her I told you. I know how much you love her, Hardy, and I know the reason she didn’t want you to know is because she loves you, too. I’ve never seen two people your age feel so deeply about each other. I understand you needing to know, but she would never forgive me if she knew I told you.”
“I won’t say anything,” he whispered, the world and everything in it suddenly seeming bleak and hopeless. “I have to get back.”
“Okay. Go. Tell her I love her,” she said, starting to cry afresh.
“I will.”
Hardy sat in the hallway for several long minutes after he’d hung up. He prayed and begged God for His mercy, all the while searching for some kind of solution, something the doctors had somehow overlooked, even though he knew deep down his search was futile.
Then something occurred to him. It was a long shot, but Hardy was willing to grasp at any and every straw that presented itself. Pushing himself to his feet, Hardy went in search of Miracle’s doctor.
********
The next day, Hardy and Miracle rounded the corner onto the hall where her locker was located. When he saw the group of people surrounding Cheyenne, his steps slowed and his stomach filled with dread.
Hardy glanced down at Miracle. She looked uneasy, but she turned her face up to his and smiled brightly, tugging him forward. He knew she had likely drawn the same conclusion he had—it had something to do with her—but that didn’t stop her. She walked on toward them, back straight and head held high. Hardy thought again that she was probably the bravest person he knew.
As they slowed in front of Miracle’s locker, Cheyenne turned toward them. “Good, you’re both here for the big reveal,” she said, not even trying to hide her anticipation.
“What are you revealing?” Hardy asked sharply.
“You’ll see,” she answered coyly, her eyes flashing with menace.
“Cheyenne, I’m warning you…”
Her glossy pink lips curved into a malicious smile. “And I warned you.”
Hardy wanted to grab Miracle and run, to save her from what was ahead, whatever it was. As if sensing the direction his thoughts had taken, Miracle squeezed his fingers reassuringly. Hardy thought it odd that she was the one giving him encouragement. Again.
“All right, everybody, gather round,” Cheyenne said, holding her iPhone out so the people at her sides and behind her could see. Hardy and Miracle stood fast. “Tada!”
Mouths dropped open and everyone except Cheyenne looked embarrassed and flustered. Like the strike of a snake, Hardy reached out and snatched the phone from Cheyenne’s fingers. When he held up the screen to look at it, he felt his jaw drop open. Her viciousness knew no bounds.
Someone had evidently taken a picture on their cell phone of Miracle in a bikini that day at the beach. The humiliation on her face was plain, as was the angry scar that lined her abdomen. Cheyenne had superimposed the photo onto a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition background.
Hardy’s blood caught fire and he growled in fury. Drawing back his arm, he threw the black rectangle across the hall as hard as he could. It smashed against the lockers and fell to the ground. Hardy was trembling in anger. If Cheyenne had been a guy, Hardy would’ve throttled her.