Before everything blurred, my daughter Amber was still laughing.
Her giggles rang through the air, her tiny feet pattering against the marble floor as she ran in circles, carefree and full of life.
Just a minute—I had only left her for a minute—to greet the guests at my husband Mateo’s birthday party. And then—
A scream. A sharp, heart-stopping cry from the balcony.
Time folded in on itself. My head snapped toward the sound just in time to see a blur of pink dress and wild curls—
And then she was gone.
My feet moved before my mind did, shoving past stunned faces, my breath trapped in my throat. I reached the balcony, and the world tilted, the sight below knocking the air from my lungs.
Amber. My baby.
Lifeless. Still. Crumpled on the concrete below.
The next few minutes were a frenzy of chaos. Voices screaming. Hands pulling. My own shrill cries ripping from my throat as I fell to my knees beside her broken body.
“Mommy’s here, baby. Mommy’s here—”
Her small fingers twitched, lips parting in a weak, painful breath. Alive. She was still alive.
“Call an ambulance!” I screamed, my hands shaking as I cradled her head, blood already pooling beneath her.
Everything blurred. The sirens. The hospital rush. The doctors barking orders as they wheeled her away. And then after a while, I found her lying in the hospital bed, so small, so fragile. Wires and tubes surrounded her, machines beeping in rhythms that made my heart clench.
“The fall caused severe internal bleeding,” the doctor said. “She’s in critical condition. We stabilized her, but…” He hesitated, glancing between Matteo and me. “Her kidneys are failing. She needs a transplant—urgently.”
“I’ll do it,” I said instantly. “Take mine.”
The words left my lips without hesitation. There was nothing to think about. Nothing to consider. If my daughter needed me, I would give her everything.
The doctor nodded. “We’ll run the tests.”
Time crawled. The world outside moved, but I stayed frozen, my fingers gripping Amber’s tiny hand, whispering prayers under my breath.
Her tiny chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. The machines beeped steadily, the sound both comforting and terrifying. I brushed her curls back gently, my heart squeezing at how pale she looked.
Matteo sat beside me, silent. His hand was on my back, a steady presence, but I barely felt it. My entire being was focused on Amber.
Then the doctor returned, his expression unreadable.
I stood, my heart slamming against my ribs. Hope bloomed in my chest. “Did I match?”
A pause. Then—
“You can’t donate.”
The words hit like a blow.
I shook my head, confusion twisting inside me. “What? Why not?”
The doctor’s gaze softened. “You only have one kidney.”
Silence.
The air in the room shifted, heavy and suffocating.
“That’s impossible,” I whispered. “How did it happen?”
Matteo exhaled sharply beside me.
“Cassandra…” He hesitated, then reached for my hand. “Remember the kidnapping accident? Years ago? You were stabbed in the stomach. Your kidney was ruptured. It had to be removed.”
My legs wobbled.
“I didn’t tell you,” he continued, his voice laced with guilt. “I didn’t want you to feel like you’d lost something else. I’m sorry.”
I stared at him, my mind reeling. How had I not known? How had I gone years without realizing a part of me was missing? But none of that mattered now.
Amber.
“What now?” My voice shook. “What happens to Amber?”
The doctor turned to Matteo. “You might be a match. We can test you.”
Matteo nodded immediately. “Do it.”
The moment he disappeared with the doctors, I collapsed into the chair beside Amber's bed, gripping her tiny hand like a lifeline.
“Mommy’s here, baby,” I whispered. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Minutes stretched into hours. The waiting was unbearable. Every second felt like an eternity.
Then Matteo returned, the doctor following closely behind.
“You’re a match,” the doctor confirmed. “We can proceed with the transplant.”
Relief washed over me. My knees nearly buckled as I exhaled, the tension in my chest loosening for the first time since the accident. Amber had a chance. Matteo could save her.
But then—
The doors burst open.
A woman rushed in, breathless, frantic.
I turned—and my heart dropped.
Candice.
My twin sister.
She looked exactly like me, but disheveled, her usually flawless appearance undone by desperation. Her eyes were red, filled with panic, her hands trembling as she clutched her bag to her chest.
“Candice?” I frowned, confused. “What are you doing here?”
Her wild gaze darted past me, landing on Matteo. Without hesitation, she ran to him, grabbing his hands.
“Please,” she choked out. “You have to save him.”
A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. “Candice, what are you—”
“My son,” she gasped, voice cracking. “He needs a kidney. He’s critical. Matteo, you have to save him.”
The blood drained from my face.
Matteo stiffened beside me. “Candice—”
She clutched his hands tighter. “Please,” she begged, her voice breaking. “You can’t let him die.”
I stepped forward, my voice shaking. “The kidney is for Amber, our daughter.”
Candice turned to me, eyes filled with desperation. “But my son is also Matteo’s son.”
