1 Chapter 1
"Slow down Casey!" I yelled over the loud song playing as my best friend sped through the highway in her boyfriend's car. Tonight we “borrowed” his expensive car to get revenge for cheating on Casey. I hope after this experience she realizes that high school romances are meaningless. I mentality rolled my eyes thinking about all the cliches and declarations of love - I'm proud to never have made a fool out of myself with anyone. And I thought this whole situation was a bit dramatic but, I can't ignore the thrill of stealing his car was exhilarating. My heart was beating so fast against my chest for a second thinking I went deaf because of the thumping I couldn't hear anything but its beating.
"Whoohoo this is so much fun" I screamed at the top of my lungs while Casey zoomed through traffic going above 90 mph. Enjoying the adrenaline flowing through my veins, I closed my eyes feeling the cold autumn wind on my face, all my trouble and problems melting away.
"Oh my god Alexa we are going-" right away, my eyes snapped open before we collided with a huge tree. When you are about to die, some recall how their life, experience, family and love flashes before their eyes. But that didn't happen because my life has always been nothing but emotional pain and loneliness. Instead, I saw my body flying out of the window, rolling on pavement like a bowling bowl then, everything went bright white light. I am dead. I lived a pitiful life as an orphan moving from foster homes until I reached "un-adoptable age" because my families prefer younger kids. I grew up without a family and the only friend I had was Casey who I met in middle school. We became best friends and swore to remain friends till death do as apart. Get the irony? Well, I'm unsure if Casey survived the accident but before losing consciousness, I faintly heard her screaming my name over the loud siren noise. So, other than her, no one cares if I die or live and I'm not going to fight my fate.
Beep, beep, beep
Wait a second, why do I hear beeping in the afterlife. I carefully breathed in confirming I was still alive. Crap. Steading my frantic breath, I cursed at my luck of being unable to die happy. Slowly, I opened my eyes just to be blinded by the bright lights in a white room. Blinking a few times while adjusting my sight I concluded that I was at hospital hooked to multiple machines. I coughed a few times, licking my dry lips tasting like cardboard. It wasn't until someone screamed for the nurse that I realized I wasn't alone. A middle aged lady with raven black hair in purple scrub quickly stood up rushing to my side.
"Nurse, my daughter is awake, call the doctor! Hey, baby, don't get up and wait for the doctor to come" She said with the most soothing voice that I ever heard. Her eyes started to swell up with tears at the same time she was smiling wide and without any warning she kissed my right cheek. I tried saying something but nothing came out, my throat was too dry leaving my mouth to hang open from the sudden kiss. Apart from Casey, no one has ever embraced me in a hug or kiss and now, this strange lady is crying for me and calling me her daughter? A knock at the door announcing nurses and few doctors came in the small room while nurses worked on machines hooked to my body.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Hemsworth. How are you feeling Ms. Lee, can I call you Jayelina?" Looking up, I blinked once since words couldn't come out. This doctor was unbelievably handsome with greying hair that matched a pair of grey eyes. I couldn't help checking him out because he belongs in a movie rather than a hospital. I wanted to correct him that my name was Alexa Costas not Ja- something Lee, but only managed a low groan to escape my dry mouth instead of words. I sounded like a zombie from 'The Walking Dead' and quickly I felt my face heat up. I guess the handsome doctor found this amusing because he chuckled at my attempt.
"Here drink some water. Take it easy your vocal cords haven't been used in weeks." My mind was going haywire with questions that I wasn't paying attention to what's being discussed about my health. Have I really been in the hospital for that long and who is this lady that keeps calling me her daughter?
"You hear that Jaye, we get to go home soon. The surgery was a success!" The lady in purple scrub informed me with the biggest smile across her face. I blinked once giving her a confused look. In the meantime, the handsome doctor went over the guidelines and aftercare thoroughly.
"Now, Jayelina please take care as your body is still healing. Do you have any further questions?" He said, meeting my eyes with those striking grey gaze.
" I- I don't know why I'm here and who are you people?," I finally said, clearing my throat and the pretty lady's smile faded quickly over my words, her joyful face now replaced with a shocked look.
"You don't remember your mother and having a heart transplant surgery?" I shook my head giving him a bewilderment look at the mention of heart transplant surgery.
"Jayelina, you were born with an abnormal heart that can potentially cause heart failure. In other words, you needed a transplant immediately or else you would have died from cardiac arrest. Fortunately, we found a matched donor who tragically died from an accident and to your advantage were able to operate and give you a working heart. Furthermore, you are probably suffering from a mild case of amnesia due to medication. This is your mother, Ms. Giselle Lee. I know this is a lot to process but please remain calm and I'm sure your memories will return shortly." The doctor gave me a confident smile. But I think they mistaken me for the wrong girl because that's not my name, never have I ever met my parents nevertheless my mother, and lastly I don't have a heart condition. If I did it would've came up in the adoption forms. This has to be a mistake and accidentally got some poor girl’s heart. Why don't they see the physical difference between Jayelina and me, unless I'm not really named Alexa but Jayelina?
"Who was the donor? You said she's dead, how did she died?" I asked, stammering each word as I feared for the worse.
"I'm sorry Jayelina but I can't disclose the donor's personal information. All I can say is that she was your age and passed away in a car accident. The donor had no family to claim her body. Poor girl was so young and died in such a horrific way. But you should not concern yourself with those gruesome details. You are given another chance to live your life so, please treasure it." He went over safety measures, medications, physical activities and other preventions. As for my memories, all he advised the lady - or my mother to give me a few days to process and bring in photographs that would trigger my memories. Without further questions left, he gave me one last smile before exiting the room with the others except for one nurse and my mother. The nurse kindly helped me do some light exercises by testing my physical agility while the woman who claims to be my mother quietly sob because I couldn't remember her. After the nurse was done, she informed us that I will be discharged in a week. I let out a long sigh dreading staying here for another week. Sitting up, I motion for Giselle to come sit next to me patting the bed. She joined me in an instant sitting down the bed barely sunk at her lightweight. She was petite, barely five feet tall and probably weighing 90 pounds with Eastern Asian features and pale complexion. There's no way she could be my mother because I'm African descent and to my knowledge with no Asian background. I can't explain why I felt sympathy toward her- I patted her shoulder lightly trying to console her then, lay my head on it while she wrapped her small arms around me. Something warm stirred within me- an emotion I haven't felt before love. A mother's love. It was as if her arms were made out of cotton, warm like sunlight rays on a cool spring day- suddenly I didn't care who she was or what happened to my body because at this very moment I felt a mother's love for the first time.
"Please don't cry, mommy." Astound at my words, I buried my face deeper while she petted my head. It's too late to take it back now. I guess I can call her mom and enjoy my new chance to live a happy life with a family. I sensed her smiling as she placed another kiss on my head. While staying in her arms cradle like a baby, I drifted into a peaceful slumber.
