"He can't wait, so I have to? Because he's poor and pitiful, he becomes your badge of honor? You pulled strings to give my heart away?"
"What about me? I'm your daughter! I'm twenty-four! I haven't graduated. I haven't seen the ocean or the snow-capped mountains. Why does he deserve to live more than I do?"
My voice rose to a scream. "Just because I'm yours, I have to stand at the back of the line? I have to die for your damned 'ethics'?"
Mom trembled, her hand raising as if to strike me. She caught herself and slammed her palm against the table instead.
"Outrageous! You will apologize to Max Dickerson immediately! Do you realize the psychological damage your selfishness could cause his recovery?"
A heavy thud broke the tension.
Max's mother dropped to her knees, forehead touching the floor.
"Miss, I'm sorry... we dragged Dr. Henson into this... we stole your chance to live..." She wept, shoulders shaking. "Hit me, curse me, but please don't blame the Doctor. She's a saint..."
It felt like a fever dream, and I was the villain.
I watched Mom rush to help the weathered woman up. I saw the undisguised disappointment on her face when she looked back at me.
I laughed. A broken, wet sound.