Chapter 2

The hospital was a blur of harsh lights and urgent voices.

Doctors confirmed it quickly, Eleanor needed O-negative blood, and she needed it now.

The hospital's blood bank was critically low.

Panic tried to claw its way up my throat, but I pushed it down, remembering the helplessness of my past life.

Not this time.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers flying across the screen, posting an urgent plea on a local O-negative donor Facebook group and two community apps.

"Mother critical, O-negative blood needed urgently at City General Hospital, please help."

Then, I steeled myself and called Ethan.

The line rang, music thumping in the background. Chloe' s party.

"Sarah? What do you want?" Ethan' s voice was annoyed, distant.

"Ethan, Mom' s been in a terrible accident, she' s at City General, she needs O-negative blood, the hospital doesn't have enough. You need to bring Chloe."

Silence. Then, a cold, dismissive laugh.

"Seriously, Sarah? On Chloe' s birthday? You' re trying to ruin her party out of jealousy again? You never change."

"Ethan, this isn't a joke! She's critical!"

"Chloe, darling, it's Sarah," Ethan said, his voice dripping with false sweetness for someone else's ears, "She says Mom' s in the hospital, needs your blood. Can you believe her?"

Chloe' s saccharine voice came through, feigning concern.

"Oh, Ethan, is Eleanor really hurt? That' s terrible! But... my party... and Sarah sounds so... intense. Is she sure?"

Gaslighting. Already.

"I heard a doctor in the background, Ethan!" I yelled, desperate. "They said she needs it urgently!"

A nurse had indeed just spoken to a doctor near me, her voice low but audible.

Ethan scoffed.

"Wow, Sarah, you even hired an actor? Impressive. You' re pathetic. Stop trying to make everything about you. Chloe is finally having a good time, and you try to pull this stunt."

"She' s your mother, Ethan!"

"And Chloe is my priority right now," he snapped. "She' s been through so much. Don't call again unless you' re ready to apologize to Chloe for trying to ruin her special day."

The line went dead.

Rage, cold and sharp, coursed through me. He hadn't changed. Chloe hadn't changed.

But I had.

My phone buzzed. A message on the Facebook group.

"John Smith: I' m O-negative, live nearby. On my way to City General. Happy to help."

A tiny spark of hope.