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"I know, but I'm not there to protect you this time. I just want to make sure you're okay. Anything could happen."
"Thank you," I said.
"I already spoke to Konstantin. He plans to close World Cup tomorrow as a precaution."
I froze midway of pouring the half and half. "What do you mean? It's only a two. Schools don't even close for that."
"He's playing it safe. I don't want you driving in that kind of rain anyway."
Oh God. A whole day alone, possibly more, to stew. My teeth dug into my bottom lip. I grew silent, wondering what I was going to do with my time. Maybe hang my medals and clean? I glanced around. I lived alone and I was rarely home. Who was I kidding? My condo was always clean. Maybe I should get a puzzle.
"Adrianna?" Dad said.
"Yeah?"
"Where'd you go?"
I thought swiftly. "I was thinking that I finally get a day off to rest. Thank you, hurricane!" I faked my enthusiasm.
He chuckled. "Just stay in the condo and don't make me worry. I have enough gray hair as it is."
"You can always dye it," I said, laughing to myself as I thought about how I’d said the same thing to Kova.
"Never in a million years. Listen, I gotta run. Call me and check in tomorrow."
"Thanks, Dad. Love you."
"Love you more, sweetie."
"Wait—" I paused. "Dad?"
"Yes?"
"I've been meaning to ask… Ah, have you gone and gotten tested yet?"
I tightened my grip on the phone. Testing could take weeks and I wanted to be prepared in case anything happened. He hadn't brought it up once to me and I figured I should.
"I actually began the process when you were diagnosed, I just didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure. The first blood test came back as a match." He paused, and my heart jumped so hard I had to clutch my chest. "But the following crossmatch tests ultimately showed we're incompatible and your body could reject the kidney." Dad's voice lowered. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I really thought it would happen. I was waiting to tell you after your gymnastics competitions. I didn't want it to mess with your head."
"Oh, okay," I said, my voice quiet. That's three people in my family with the highest possibility of being a match, and none of them were. I felt like the life had been sucked out of me once again.
"Don't lose hope. I've made some calls and am waiting to hear back from some people to see if they're willing to be tested. I didn't want to tell you yet until I had positive news to follow up with."
"It's okay," I said softly. "Back to square one again, I guess."
"It'll happen," Dad said. I could tell he was trying to pump encouraging words into me. "I know it will."
We said our goodbyes and I stood in my kitchen staring at nothing, wondering where I went from here, trying not to ask myself the one question I'd been avoiding since this shit started.
If I never found a match, would I die? Even with dialysis, would I die?
I knew the answer, though. Dialysis was not a way of life.
While sipping my coffee, I flipped through the weather app on my phone and read up on the impending storm. It was a good distraction to take my mind off what Dad had told me and to get my thoughts steered correctly. I really didn't want to stew on the fact I was back at square one again.
The storm was predicted to grow close to a category three. All the hurricane needed was a small shift and the eye would make landfall in Cape Coral. The feeder bands would last hours and do the most damage. However, I still wasn't too concerned. I had bigger pills to swallow.
I reached forward and picked up the medicine bottles. One by one, I poured out the necessary dose and took them, along with eating an apple. I'd been through countless hurricanes. I was in a secure cement building with shutters and having the proper necessities delivered.
