Then he saw Clara.He nearly collapsed.
“Clara?”
She didn’t move.
For several seconds, father and daughter simply looked at each other.
Then David whispered,
“You look just like him.”
Clara’s voice was quiet.
“Like Ethan?”
David nodded.
“Especially the eyes.”
Clara folded her arms.
“Why did you leave?”
David closed his eyes.
“I was ashamed.”
“Of what?”
“Of being afraid.”
I felt anger rising.
“You left us.”
“I know.”
“You ignored every call.”
“I know.”
“You knew your son was going into surgery.”
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“I knew.”
Silence.
Then he said something none of us expected.
“I knew because I was the one who had arranged for the transplant evaluation.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
David explained.
Before Ethan was tested, he had contacted the hospital because Clara’s condition was worsening.
He had hoped that a donor could be found.
When Ethan volunteered, David panicked.
