The hospital bed was small, but to Victoria’s weakened form, it was large in comparison. She laid rather motionless with an oxygen mask covering her mouth, listening to the sobbing pleas of her sister, who sat with dedication at her bedside; the sister who was ready to impair her quality of life to save her. Still, Victoria knew there was no use in the procedure. She could feel it in her bones.

Tina’s crying resounded in her ears. “Please.”

Again, Victoria gently tilted her head from side to side, both eyes closed. It was difficult to move, never mind attempting to speak.

Tina tried to calm her breathing, but all that did was cloud her eyes further. She hadn’t been able to stop her tears ever since her sister had voiced her denial of the transplant. Luckily, Tina was a donor match, but Victoria utterly refused. It was a difficult conversation for them both, as close as they were – more like best friends than siblings. They meant the world to each other, and Tina couldn’t just let her slip away. She swallowed hard, her entire face blotchy from her outrage of tears but she couldn’t even care to wipe them away. She kept her hands over Victoria’s as her breath came and went loudly. “Please … don’t do this. Don’t … I wanna be here for you. I don’t wanna let you go …”

Victoria felt little salty drops of water coursing over her cheeks, to the curve of her nose, and over her closed lips as she watched Tina’s uproar of emotion. Her sister cared so deeply for her that she would endanger her own life just to save her.

“I don’t care – I’ll give you both of my kidneys! Please …”

Victoria closed her eyes and sighed heavily in the strange body that felt nothing like her own – it was betraying her. She opened her eyes again to Tina and shook her head again, gently.

“You can’t … do this …” Tina whispered, inching closer with Victoria’s hand close to her heart. She looked deeply into her eyes so her connection would be as strong as possible as she spoke. “I … I’ve loved you forever, and we’ve been through so much together. I’ve always looked out for you. Always. And I always will. Vic …” Tears fell from her chin, but she just kept on speaking. All of the memories flooded her mind, and the emotion that followed swept her senses away. “You’re my little sister … I’m supposed to protect you.” She dropped her head for a moment, and then lifted it back up. “God … Vic, please … stop this. I don’t care if you don’t want me to do this. Please … I love you.” She squeezed the weakened hand so Victoria could feel it. “Please let me do something.” She cried as she leaned her head in and sobbed there beside the bed.