15

Elizabeth sat in the doctor's office, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that the results of the test for her kidney failure were finally open, and she was terrified to find out what they said.

The doctor entered the room and took a seat across from her. He had a look of concern on his face, and Elizabeth's heart sank.

"Elizabeth," he said gently. "I'm afraid the test results are not good. Your kidneys are failing and you will need a transplant in order to survive."

Tears stung Elizabeth's eyes and she struggled to take in the news. She thought of all the things she still wanted to do, the places she wanted to go, the people she wanted to meet. And now she was faced with the prospect of possibly only having a few months left to live.

She reached for her phone and dialed Alex's number. He picked up on the third ring, and she could hear the concern in his voice as she told him the news.

"I'll be there in ten minutes," he said. "We'll do this together."

Elizabeth waited for him in the lobby, her mind racing with fears and questions. What would happen to her if she couldn't find a donor match? Would she have to spend the rest of her life hooked up to machines, living in a hospital room?

As Alex pulled up in his car, Elizabeth's heart lifted a little. She knew that no matter what, he would be there for her. They got into the car and started driving towards the hospital where Elizabeth would receive treatment.

As they drove, Alex told Elizabeth of his plans to visit his coma-stricken mother. He needed to go to Paris to see her, and he wouldn't be able to stay with her during her time in the hospital.

Elizabeth could see the hurt in his eyes, and the determination to help her that came with it. She knew that he wanted to help her out with the bills, and he didn't have that kind of money on his own.

Suddenly, Alex got a call from his father, a wealthy businessman who could easily help him out, but refused to do so. Alex knew that he had to go to Paris to ask for a loan, and his father refused.

Determined to help Elizabeth, Alex traveled to Paris and pleaded with his father. After some persistence, his father finally broke down and wrote a check for the amount needed to cover Elizabeth's medical bills.

Elizabeth couldn't believe it when she received the news that Alex had paid for her bills. She couldn't have asked for a better partner throughout this journey, and she felt an immense amount of gratitude for everything he had done to help her.

She knew she only had a few months left, but with Alex by her side, she knew that she would make the most of the time she had.