Lily gasped for air as she rose from her bed, struggling against the tightness in her chest. Each breath was a battle as she shakily made her way to the full-length mirror across the room.
She knew these were the symptoms - her heart was failing her. Still, when she caught a glimpse of her reflection, she couldn't deny the striking beauty that stared back. Full, pouty lips courtesy of the latest filler. A perfectly sculpted nose from the recent rhinoplasty. And those piercing almond-shaped blue eyes that had always been her best feature, were now enhanced to dazzling effect due to eyelid surgery.
Despite the pain, despite the looming specter of her fate, Lily felt no regrets about going under the knife. The awkward, unassuming nerd girl she'd been was unrecognizable in this bombshell before her. For once in her life, she was gorgeous, radiant, undeniably beautiful.
And it may cost her everything.
The surgeries that unleashed the jaw-dropping beauty Lily now embodied also brutally damaged her heart. According to her doctors, without a transplant, she had maybe a month left to live. A cruel cosmic joke - granting her the one thing she'd always longed for only to swiftly snatch it away.
Lily pressed one trembling hand against the mirror, drinking in her beautiful reflection. She didn't regret it—not even a bit. Even if she died right now, she would be looking gorgeous in her grave.
And that was all Lily had ever wanted in her life—to be beautiful. She had endured so much torment, so many cruel taunts and rejections from the boys she crushed on, all because of her formerly plain, unremarkable looks.
The memories still stung like a slap across the face. The snide comments about her big nose and blemished skin. The mocking laughter that would follow whenever she worked up the courage to talk to a cute guy. The devastated walk of shame back to her lonely corner after being turned down for dates, dances, and any chance at feeling desired.
But never again would Lily be forced to suffer that humiliation. Even if she wouldn't be able to experience life to her fullest with a stunning new look—at least death will free her from the torment she endured so far.
Lily was startled by the sound of her bedroom door flinging open. Her mother Mary rushed in, eyes wide with panic.
"Lilliana! What are you doing out of bed?" Mary scolded, hurrying over. "You know you need to lie down, baby."
Lily simply nodded, unable to meet her mother's worried gaze. Of course, she was feeling fatigued - her heart was slowly failing, each valvular squeeze more feeble than the last until it finally stopped working altogether. But she didn't say that out loud—she didn't dare to put her mother in more misery than she already did. The tears already brimming in her mother's blue eyes already spoke volumes.
"Here, let me help you back into bed," Mary said, sliding a supportive arm around Lily's slender frame. She guided her daughter gently back under the covers, tucking the blankets in tightly. "Don't worry, sweetie. I don't trust what those doctors say. You'll get better soon, I just know it."
A pang of guilt lanced through Lily's chest, sharper than any heart palpitation. She knew her mother was only trying to stay positive, to not lose hope. She wasn't ready to accept that her daughter would be gone. But Lily understood the stark reality - her selfish desire to look beautiful affected her mother even more—her poor mother would be losing her only child.
As Mary fussed over her, ensuring she was comfortable, Lily managed a tremulous whisper. "I'm sorry, Mother… I was never a good daughter to you. But I tried…"
But then she felt a sharp pain in her heart and everything went black. The last thing she was aware of was her mother's anguished cry before the darkness swallowed her whole.
….
Lily's eyes fluttered open, and she was immediately disoriented. Bright fluorescent lights overhead. The steady beeping of machines. A plastic ventilator tube snaked down her throat.
How the hell was she still alive?!
That last episode should have done her in for good. She vividly remembered the world going black, her mother's pained cries echoing in her ears as she slipped into the void. Lily had been certain it was the end.
And yet, here she was - hooked up to an array of wires and tubes in what was clearly an intensive care unit. Various monitors surrounded her bed, struggling to keep her faltering pulse active and her tired blood flowing.
A doctor's voice snapped Lily from her bewildered trance. "Lily? Lily, can you hear me?"
She tried to respond, but the ventilator tube muffled her words into unintelligible grunts. Instead, Lily simply gave a small nod.
"Good, good," the doctor said, making a note on her clipboard. "Are you feeling alright now?"
Alright?! Lily was likely staring death in the face - a day left to live at most, maybe just hours or even minutes before her damaged heart gave out completely.
The doctor seemed to pick up on Lily's skepticism. A warm smile spread across her face as she made another note. "Actually, you're quite lucky, Ms. Smith. You're going to live."
Lily's eyes widened in disbelief. Live?!
"We had a donor heart become available just two hours ago," the doctor explained. "It's an absolute perfect match for you. The surgical team is preparing you for transplant as we speak."
A perfect donor match...after all this time?! It was unbelievable! Her rich parents made a wide search across not just the United States, but the entire world. Everyone from villages in India to peaceful Canadian suburbs had their databases meticulously combed through.
And yet, nothing. Not a single viable heart for Lily's failing body.
Lily's mind was still reeling as the doctor handed her a pen and clipboard holding some official-looking paperwork.
A perfect donor match at the last possible second...it seemed too good to be true.
"Ms. Smith, I need you to sign those consent forms immediately if you want this surgery to proceed," the doctor stated firmly. "It's absolutely critical we have your signature before we can move forward with the transplant."
Lily didn't even think to ask what the paperwork contained. She was too dazed, too focused on simply breathing in time with the ventilator keeping her alive. Reading through legal jargon was the last thing on her mind when a perfect donor heart - her only chance at survival - was suddenly, miraculously available.
The pen dragged across the documents clumsily as Lily's hand shook, IVs and wires restricting her movement. A sharp pain lanced through her forearm as the needle shifted position. But she persevered, scratching out her name wherever the doctor indicated until the papers were finally signed.
Lily sagged back against the pillows, physically and emotionally spent. She might or might not survive this surgery - but she desired to live - for the sake of her mother. She couldn't bear to be the reason for any more of her mother's tears.
Managing a faint nod towards the doctor, Lily steeled herself for the fight ahead. Whatever it took, she would wake up from this surgery beating strong and ready to embrace her beautiful second chance at life.