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“Violet?” I frohen I heard Mo fro even as I answered Luca

“I’ll wait after school, and you can pick me up I’ll make sure Mo with his phone to his ear His face was deathly pale as he listened But it was the tears in Mo to blink back that hadup before he could say anything

“You and your brother aren’t going to school today,” she told me in a quiet voice as Dad continued to listen

“Wh-why not?”

“Honey, Uncle Drake woke up ill thisLana took hi to spill down my face

“No!” I cried, then whispered, “He didn’t die”

“No, no,” she rushed to assure reen “But he’s very sick The doctors want to do the surgery today rather than wait until next week”

I suddenly felt light-headed I still hadn’t letpart of his liver to my uncle It was too scary to contemplate, so I hadn’t let it enter my head And if it tried, I would push it back But now, there was no , sooner than anticipated, and I couldn’t stop it

I didn’t want to stop it Not really

Dad was going to save his brother by giving a part of hi for Mason or Luca or anyone else init now rather thanand takethan if I were taking the risks

My phone rang inback I lifted it toup his

“Baby” Luca’s voice only made my tears fall faster “I just heard, and I’m on my way to the hospital noith my parents”

Dad gaveto be okay,” he pro about not being able to run for a while You’ll see” He kissed the top of my head then took Mom’s hand “Give me ten minutes, and then we’ll leave”

“Vi?” Luca’s voice murmured

“Luca,” I gasped “I… What… I can’t…” I kneasn’t ether a full sentence I was scared, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to change whatever outco to occur