A Heart for a Heart Chapter 10
I wasn’t there when James was to be executed.
Instead, I was visiting Stan’s grave.
“I’ve finally avenged you, Stan. Everyone who hurt you has received their just deserts.
“We’re divorced, but you have nothing to worry about-he gave me everything he had in his will, and I will se up a charity fund with the money to help children like you, who had their organs stolen, or families who have lost children because of that.
“Oh, I miss you so much…”
A year later, I was volunteering at an orphanage and playing with some children when I noticed a familiar face.
The boy was sitting alone in a corner, keeping his head down and playing with a broken airplane model.
I quietly went over, crouching beside him and called out, “Nathan?”
He looked up, studying me for a while, and eventually said quietly, “I remember you, ma’am.”
I felt a mess of emotions looking at him now. Revenge clouded my mind when I abducted him from Sue’s home back then, but he never became wary of me.
He ate the snacks and soft drinks Stan loved and had a good time playing with Stan’s toys.
Even the way his eyes narrowed like crescent moons reminded me of Stan.
My tears were quickly moist, so I turned away.
Nathan was sharp enough to notice anyway and asked worriedly, “What’s wrong, ma’am? Did I upset you?”
So mature… just like my dear Stan.
I shook my head, choking with tears. “I just remembered my son…
“Where is he now?”
I patted Nathan’s head. “Up there, among the stars.”
Nathan seemed to understand. “It’s alright, ma’am. You’ve been so kind to me, so I’ll visit you and keep you company.”
Eventually, he got tired and curled up beside me like a kitten, falling asleep before long.
I pressed my ear against his chest, listening to my son’s healthy heart pounding powerfully inside his chest.
At that very moment, the seething hatred inside me subsided, as I realized that this might be Stan’s last gift to me, so that I didn’t go astray because of hatred.
Ultimately, I never hurt Nathan.
I then remembered how plump his cheeks were just a year ago, but he was now scrawny and a lot less lively.
Suddenly, he said so softly it was almost inaudible, “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
I froze as I turned to find him hanging his head, his fingers clenched tightly into his clothes.
“I know my heart was your son’s, and my parents killed him. It’s wrong… I’m sorry.”
My heart skipped a beat, my tears moist right then.
I dropped to a crouch and held him, pressing my ear against his chest again.
I could hear his heartbeat, thumping powerfully through his thin shirt.
It was such a familiar sensation.
It was Stan’s heartbeat.
As I closed my eyes, my tears flowed ever so quietly.
We stayed like that for a while, and as I wiped my tears, I held Nathan firmly in my arms once more.
“Please live a good life with Stan’s heart.”
Nathan walked with me to the gates of the orphanage, but I never once turned to look at him again.
I knew that I’d never return to this orphanage, but I would move on with my memories of Stan.
