“Yes. Part of the healing process is facing it. Acknowledge what you fear and take steps to confront it.”
I released a loud sigh, feeling a lot better after talking with Avery.
“Did I get you and Hailey into trouble?”
“Surprisingly, no. Are you close with Tony?”
“No. Why?”
“He seems to be more lenient with you. He told us to let you rest and help you adjust until you’re ready. With others, we’d get a beating and no food or drink for two days. He also gave you the wooden seal right away. Hailey and I don’t even have it.”
Maybe Tony was close to his sister. Did she work for a different chapter?
“I’m not sure if he’s all there, you know?” I pointed to my head. “He’s called me by his sister’s name a few times.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s odd.”
“He’s strange and scary.” She stood up. “Are you ready to start again? We finished the initial batch already. The organs had to be transported out, but a new batch just arrived. Most of the organs have been packaged. Just two hearts are left. I came back to check on you to see if you were up.”
Just two hearts.
It must have taken inner strength and discernment for her to detach herself emotionally from the task.
“Those hearts were stolen from two living people,” I said.
The organs deserved respect and dignity. Perhaps I could give them that.
Rising to my feet, I gestured to the shirt she’d dropped on the floor. “What happened to your shirt?”
“I spilled some chemicals on it. Let’s go before we get into trouble. The organs need to be packaged quickly.”
As we made our way back to the packaging room, I wondered if Shawn had gone home yet. Did Kain receive those links? Did he understand what I was trying to tell him?
“Do you know what time it is?” I yawned.
“Last I checked, it’s two in the morning.”
“What?” My eyes widened. “Do they make everyone work all night long?”
“There’s a first and second shift, depending on the workload. Let’s finish this up, and we can sleep.”
“How long was I out?”
“Two hours. You bumped your head on a small crate. Does it still hurt?”
“It’s sore, but I can deal with it. Where’s Hailey?”
“They have her packing drugs.”
Hawthorne must be a billionaire serial killer with all thisillegal income. We arrived at the same table. I saw Hailey standing at the other table with two boys.
With sweat filming my palms, I stood facing the cooler. Closing my eyes, I inhaled and exhaled slowly. My loved ones were waiting for me, so I had to be strong. I slipped on gloves and a face mask and imagined Kain steeling himself to survive. If he could endure this atrocious act for years, I could be strong for him.
Envisioning him beside me, I looked into the cooler and saw the heart. Anxiety tugged as heat bloomed all over me. Reaching in, I held the heart in my gloved palm and felt its weight and wetness. For a moment, it felt as though I was holding a slab of meat. My hand trembled as I stared at the tissues, arteries, and veins making up the heart. Its symbolism pulsed in my palm, giving meaning to love, life, death, and all the things associated with the heart.
After staring at and studying it, the anxiety subsided. There was nothing terrifying about this organ that also existed in me. This heart was the machine that kept our bodies alive. I shouldn’t fear it. Instead, I should be grateful for it.
