Fragile Hearts

28: I Love Lucy

Christmas break is over and I have shocking news for Morgan. I'm late to school because I've been at the hospital. I wait for Morgan after her first class. I've missed her so much I feel tongue-tied when I see her. I ask her about Christmas just to break the ice. Finally, I say, "Can we find a private spot? I need to tell you something."

She looks concerned and I know she's thinking the worst about Kaylee. She follows me outside and we stop under a tree. The weather is crisp, but beautifully clear. I lean against the tree and grin. "Kaylee had the surgery to replace a kidney. I didn't call because I wanted to tell you in person. She's doing well. The doctors are pleased with her progress."

Morgan responds happily and wants to know about visitors. I tell her Kaylee can't have visitors yet, and then I bend down and whisper, "Lucy was the kidney donor."

As expected, Morgan is shocked. I explain that I found out by accident when I saw Lucy in another room in the hospital. I tell Morgan that Lucy doesn't want Kaylee to know she's the donor and that Lucy's mother didn't even know about the surgery until the last minute.

Morgan wants to see Lucy right away. I understand and drive her to the hospital. When I pull into a parking space and glance at her, she has a smile on her face. I ask, "What are you thinking?"

Her smile widens. "I'm thinking that I love Lucy."

We enter the hospital and I lead her to Lucy's room. There are tears in Morgan's eyes as she approaches her friend. Lucy smiles and says, "They told me Kaylee is doing great."

Morgan responds, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because you're both worry warts."

We visit with Lucy for a few minutes before a nurse comes in to give her a shot, then she gets sleepy and starts talking crazy stuff about Lucille Ball. We take that as our cue to leave. As we drive away from the hospital, I'm reluctant to just take Morgan home, so I suggest we stop at The Coffee Mug. We find an empty table and make small talk. We decide to return to the hospital the next day, and then I ask Morgan how she's doing in swimming. Unconsciously, I reach over and stroke her arm and she gets goose bumps. She tells me about swim practice and then I tell her about a job offer I received. She's really happy for me and wants to know if I'm going to accept. I respond that I don't know. She wants to know why. My emotions scream that it's because leaving this town would mean leaving her. My heart is toast when it comes to Morgan.

The next few days are busy because of tutoring, homework, and trips to the hospital with Morgan. We meet Lucy's mother, who is just as funny as Lucy. We're at the hospital the day Lucy is discharged and after we say goodbye, Morgan and I ride the elevator to the fifth floor to check with the nurse's station about Kaylee's progress. We're told she's been moved to the second floor. Backtracking to that floor, the nurse at the nurse's station grins and says Kaylee keeps asking about visitors.

When we enter Kaylee's room, she gives us a big smile while tossing a book aside. "I was wondering when you two would get here." She then tells us how much the food sucks. After that, she informs us that she's going to become a detective and find out who her donor was. Morgan and I don't let on that we know anything.

We visit Kaylee almost every day. Today, I leave class early because I want to watch Morgan swim. I stand in a spot where she can't see me because I don't want to make her nervous. I'm so proud of her as she pulls herself through the water. Her arms are sleek, strong, beautiful, and I can tell she's kept up the weight lifting. She's swimming against others on her team, and although she doesn't come in first, she looks terrific. At the finish line, she's smiling as she lifts her head out of the water. Her teammate in the next lane gives her a high five and the women laugh.

Watching them, I realize just how far Morgan has come these past months and I know she's going to go much farther. The guilt I feel for putting her in that wheelchair is still there, but it's not as unbearable.Morgan is a remarkable woman and now I have a decision to make. Do I tell her about my part in her accident and risk losing her friendship, or do I remain silent and accept a job in Phoenix after graduation? The latter choice would allow me to leave with my secret and character still intact.