18th Birthday

15 - "The Best Birthday Gift"

Although saying it calmly, the doctor could see the trembling on his legs. Evon felt the same like her father, but managed to hold it in, and then the doctor thought, (Now that it has come to this point, it’s about time we know the results of your sacrifice, Ian.)

He was about to open and read the Ian’s result when Dorothy suddenly barged inside the room, almost out of breath.

“What seems to be the rush, auntie?” Evon asked. She breathed out, made up an answer, and said, “I just thought it would be nice to sprint once in a while.”

She looked at the doctor’s eyes seriously, as if she wanted to transmit a message. He seemed to have understood what she meant with that look and thought, (You don’t want them to know that this is Ian’s result, right? Don’t worry…)

He proceeded on reading the result, went through several factors and checked if there were problems. Suddenly, he became silent. Fredrick and his daughter held their breaths with unsettling feelings in their hearts.

Dorothy, on the other hand, placed her arms behind her back, crossed fingers, and prayed, (Let his love reach Margaret…)

The doctor’s silence lead Fredrick to a doubtful conclusion and asked, “Did the last donor failed the test, doc?”

Then, the doctor took the paper that contained Ian’s name from the envelope containing the result and handed it over to Fredrick. Upon giving it, he added, “It would be best if you read the result yourselves. You are the beneficiary’s family after all.”

Fredrick was so nervous that he had to ask him, “How can we read such medically explained terms, doc?”

The doctor smiled, pat on his back and answered, “There’s a simplified explanation at the next page, Fredrick.”

With that explained Fredrick was a bit at ease as he skips the front page and read what’s written at the back. He gulped in fear as he loudly said, “There were several examinations that required re-testing, but putting that aside…”

Tears burst out from his eyes, and then cried out loud. Evon’s jaw opened for she assumed her father’s reaction to be something bad. She wasn’t sure what it meant, so she approached him and took the results from him, and then she read it from where he stopped.

“This heart is suitable for the operation…”

These last words echoed in her mind. Fredrick embraced her out of joy and said, “Isn’t it good news, honey? That heart will save Mama!”

Stacked with all the shock brought by the news, Evon muttered, “Mama is… Mama is…”

Her father gave her a pat on the head, nodded and confirmed it, “Yeah… She’ll be joining us on your debut.”

She shed tears of joy and felt a thousand thorns removed from her heart and said, “Thank goodness~”

Dr. Williams exhaled in relief despite knowing the results and said to his self, (Your sacrifice wasn’t in vain, Ian…)

Dorothy kept on holding to her emotions that was already bursting out from her heart and whispered to her self, (Ian… Ian… Can you hear my voice?)

(You managed to fulfill what you really wanted to do… Good for you…)

Putting their happiness aside, Evon suddenly became curious about who the donor was, so she tried asking the doctor. However, he cupped his chin and said, “The hospital personnel are still processing the information of the donor’s identity. That’s why I can’t answer you at the moment.”

Regardless of the donor’s identity, she still thanked the doctor, “This is yet to be the greatest birthday gift ever, doc. Thank you very much!”

“I didn’t save your mama. You should be saying that thanks to the one who donated the heart.” He answered. She agreed with what the doctor said. Hours passed by as the heart transplant operation took place, and all the while Evon and her father patiently waited outside the Operating Room.

Dorothy distanced herself from them and spent the hours reminiscing the times that she had with Ian, especially that time when they sang Evon’s favorite song. She hummed the tune, and sang it sorrowfully, “I thought that it was a part of me, and I dried my tears~”

Dr. Williams saw her sadness and grabbed the chance to talk to her. Worried about not telling them the truth, he asked, “Will it be alright if they won’t know?”

She sighed in confusion and answered, “Now isn’t the right time, doc.” And then she looked at her brother with a bit of fulfillment and added, “Let’s wait for the time where we can freely tell them the truth. By that time, the shock lessens…”

“Are you sure about this, young lady?” he asked. She began smiling and confidently answered, “Yeah, I’m sure.”

The doctor smiled as well and left to check the progress of the operation. Several minutes later, the green light that indicated the end of the operation lit. The surgeons went out to see the patient’s relatives to tell them the outcome.

“Mr. McMillan… The operation was a success!”

Upon hearing the good news, Fredrick and Evon jumped for joy. Dorothy and Dr. Williams were happy as well.

“Would you want to see them shatter once again if you tell them who the donor was?” she asked. The doctor smirked and answered, “Ian wouldn’t want them to know…”

Since the day of Margaret’s heart operation, everything turned back to normal, but they have yet to face another obstacle: Evon’s 18th birthday. It was Christmas Eve when the party was held inside a prestigious hotel in the city. Combined function rooms were fancied with luxurious decorations.

Amidst the crowd that occupied the place, Dorothy walked down through the grand stairs, clothed with a silver-touched white gown. She stepped on to the stage as she began hosting the party.

“Good evening, everyone!” she said with an enthusiastic energy.

“Let us welcome our debutant, my niece, Evon McMillan! Give her a round of applause, please!”

The lights were turned off, royalty-like background music was played, and a spotlight was shone on Evon as she walked on a red carpet.

(So this is how it feels to be a celebrity for a night, huh?) She thought. As she reached the stage, she gave her speech about the family’s gratitude to the people who have helped them during their time of need, and to the donor who saved her mother.

“If it weren’t for you, we would have been mourning instead of standing here, celebrating. Thanks a lot, whoever you are…”

After the speech, the party began. After several minutes, following the order of the program, it was already time for the 18 roses. Evon danced with her guy friends as they gave her the roses. However, the time came for the 18th rose’s turn, but there was no sign of Ian anywhere.

“Where could that jerk be?”