Whisper My Name

Chapter 48

April 7, 1992

Salem University Hospital

We're getting older the world's getting colder

For the life of me I don't know the reason why

Maybe it's livin' making us give in

Hearts rolling in taken back on the tide

We're balanced together ocean upon the sky

~ Dog & Butterfly ~ Heart ~

Isabella hadn't told anyone she was sick. It had started with fatigue, and unexplained bruises. Assuming she was anemic she finally went to the doctor, only to find out what she had was much worse. No one had known except her doctor, and finally, Victor and Bo. She'd only told them because she needed to see if one of them could potentially be a bone marrow donor for her, but that likely wouldn't save her. She was already in the last stages of leukemia, and she knew nothing, except a miracle, could save her now. She sat in Dr. Manning's exam room, holding Victor's hand in hers, and she waited for the results to see if her father or her brother were potential matches.

Carly paused outside the door, unsure how to proceed. The news wasn't good, and in this case it would be doubly upsetting. Bo and Victor weren't even related to Isabella, and Carly felt that the news would only cause further detriment to Isabella's health. Taking a deep breath, she knocked twice, and then entered the room. Isabella was already looking wane, with a purple hue under her eyes, and a yellowish tinge to her skin, but she still looked up with hope in her eyes, and it broke Carly's heart to tell her that there was no hope. "I have the results of the blood tests, Isabella."

"I know it's a long shot, Carly. Parents and half-siblings aren't usually a match. Don't try to be nice about it. I can handle whatever it is you need to tell me," Isabella said, trying to sound strong, but with an obvious quiver to her voice. She felt anything but strong. She was dying, and she knew it.

"I'm sorry, but neither Victor, nor Bo are matches," Carly told her softly.

"Surely there's something you can do!" Victor said, as Isabella started crying. He couldn't simply stand by and watch his daughter die.

"I—I need to speak with Isabella privately," Carly said to Victor.

"No. No, Carly. My father can stay. Whatever needs to be said, he can be here for it," Isabella said, wiping her eyes.

Carly wavered, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm sure," Isabella said firmly. If she was dying, which she was almost certain she was, she needed someone she loved by her side.

Carly paused, and finally said, "Based on these blood test results...there's no way you could be related to Victor...or Bo."

"What?" Isabella asked her. She glanced up at Victor, and then back to Carly in confusion. "Victor's not my father? No, wait. That can't be right. My mother's diary, and Ernesto's revenge..."

Carly was quiet for a moment, and then she said carefully, "There was a match in the system, though. Isabella, you had a paternal match with someone within the hospital system—"

"I'm not her father?" Victor asked in momentary shock. Was it another trick of Ernesto's? He saw the heartbreak on Isabella's face, and he touched her cheek softly, "It doesn't matter. I want you to know that. It doesn't matter." Victor looked at Carly hopefully, saying, "She had a paternal match to someone? So you know who her father is?"