Elara
I followed closely behind Ethan as he walked down the stairs to the living room. Mary and Samantha were already seated. Immediately I got down the last step, I looked at Ethan like he'd wronged me– yeah, he wronged me but that morning he'd done nothing– at least nothing to really piss me off.
“What is it?” Ethan asked as he sat beside Samantha on the three-seater couch, expecting that I would join him at the other side. “I thought you said it was a family meeting of some sort,” I looked so wronged for having been woken up that early for no apparent reason. “And it is…” Ethan replied, unsure of what I was implying.
I rolled my eyes, “Oh, come on. You can't be serious, or are you??” Ethan was genuinely confused, then he turned to his mother for help. “Stop with your antics, Elara. Let's get this over with,” she replied, staring at me like she wanted to bore holes into my body. “I didn't know when I adopted Samantha or when she married into my home so what's the familial bond between the three of us with Samantha?” I asked.
Ethan quickly jumped to her defense, “What did Samantha do to deserve you picking at her these days?” I raised my eyebrows in amusement, to think that I actually fell in love with this man. I've honestly not seen anyone as empty-headed as him, so quick to twist facts.
Fake tears welled up in Samantha's eyes, “Honestly Elara, I don't know what I've done to offend you and if I did offend you, I'm sorry. You know I value our friendship.” I scoffed. Typical Samantha.
I walked past them into the kitchen and took a bag of chips, then went to sit at the one-seater couch. Ethan looked at me like I'd suddenly grown two heads but I was so preoccupied with opening the bag of chips that I didn't care much about him. “Uhm… is the meeting not going to start anytime soon?” I asked, taking a chip into my mouth.
Mary snorted before bringing up whatever it was that they wanted to talk about. “So concerning Ethan's health, we've thought of a solution.” I nodded while chewing the chips loudly. “Can you cut back on that for a bit?” Samantha asked me softly. “What?... Oh, this?” I pointed at the chips. “You all can carry on, I'm famished.”
Mary gritted her teeth but still continued. “So he has kidney failure and as much as I'd love to donate mine, I'm an old woman and my organs are failing. Samantha's still young and has got her life to live.” Then she turned to me, “But you, Elara… you're still very much healthy and he's your husband so…” I burst into laughter and looked squarely at my mother-in-law, “Who looks more like the wife in this scenario, mum?” Samantha sat close to Ethan, in her short, silk nightgown. Her cleavage was barely covered, yet she sat there unbothered while I on both the up and down of my night wear was fully covered up and is seated on a chair, alone.
“You don't need to be jealous, Elara. Samantha can sit where she wants. You're the one that chose to go over there.” Ethan sneered. Oh, so now I'm the cause of that? I resumed munching on my chips as I laughed inwardly. Nothing changed– my past life and this life was pretty much the same.
Today's scene only happened a bit differently. In my previous life, Mary was the one who suggested that I support Ethan with my kidney and Samantha seconded the motion.
Three. Two. One.
“Elara, you know I would have loved to but mum doesn't think it's right,” Samantha whined. “Oh, but I do,” I acted concerned, sitting upright. “Elara…” Just then my alarm rang. I smiled and waved my phone in the air, “Duty calls.” I got up with my bag of chips and found my way up the stairs while Ethan called after me, “Elara!”
Ughh, everyone seems to find my name more interesting these days. In the evening, I returned to an empty house. Ethan was still at work. I freshened up, made dinner for both of us, ate and went up to sleep. I woke up to the side of my bed cold and I smirked. How weird for a sick man to be this agile. I didn't bother much and went about my day as usual but this time, I chose to work from home.
Later in the afternoon, my phone wouldn't stop ringing. It was Samantha. What exactly did she want from me? Oh, I forgot so easily. My life. I picked up, waiting for the other person to talk. “Elara, it's Ethan again. Mum and I are both at the hospital, you should co—” I cut the call without even waiting for her to complete her sentence. If I wanted to execute my plan properly I had to play my part. I got dressed and went to the hospital. Apparently, he lost consciousness at work again.
He looked so pale with his mum and Samantha on either side. “Your husband is this way and you're coming by this time? Do you even care about him at all?” No, I wanted to say but I held it in. Mary continued, “You haven't even fixed a date to sign the transplant consent. Do you think my son's life is really that worthless??” Ethan coughed, “Mum… Let her be, she must've been caught up in work.” I waited for them to act out their silly roles before I spoke up. “I won't be giving my kidney to anyone.” “Elara!” Mary exclaimed.
Ethan coughed violently, with Samantha patting his back carefully. “However, I have a better option.” I continued, as they looked at me like eagles eyeing their prey. “After making so many calls, I found a donor. The donor has a severe lung disease and would likely pass away soon. She has agreed to proceed with the surgery.”
“Elara,” Samantha whined. “The idea of a stranger's kidney in Ethan?” I turned to her, “Do you have a better idea? Oh. You could also replace the donor, you know.” Ethan patted Samantha's arm weakly, “Elara loves me. She went through a lot to get me this donor, let her be.”
A quick dark expression crossed Samantha's face, but I was also quick to notice it. Mary snarled, “At least, my son would be fine.” “I would be on my way now to sort things out,” I said.
On my way out, I snorted.
Phase one of my plan has just been set in motion. They may have thought that I just saved his ungrateful life but instead I booked him a one way ticket to hell, free of charge.
And ohh, it's definitely gonna be a bumpy ride.