I Died to End Their Lie novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Two Corneas

Mom put the phone on speaker, because she couldn't hold it still.

"Mrs. Rittenhouse, I'm sorry to call so soon," the woman said. "We were told the family would want to know."

"Know what?" Dad said.

"Your son registered as a donor when he turned eighteen. His corneas were recovered Wednesday morning, and the surgery was yesterday."

Mom's mouth fell open.

"Both went to one recipient," the woman said. "A sixteen-year-old boy who has been blind since he was nine. The surgeon says the grafts took."

Nobody answered.

"He can see, Mrs. Rittenhouse. He saw his mother's face last night."

Mom slid down the wall until she was sitting on the stairs.

"Jesse did that?" she said.

"Jesse did that."

"Without telling us."

"Donor registrations are confidential," the woman said gently. "The recipient's family would like to write to you. May I give them your address?"

Mom looked at Dad.

Dad was staring at the open front door.

"Yes," he said at last. "Tell them yes."

The call ended.

Mom stayed on the stairs with the phone in her lap.

Dad walked out into the driveway, where the detective stood talking into his radio, and I didn't follow him.

I followed Mom.

She got up after a while and climbed to the second floor, holding the rail with both bandaged hands.

She pushed open Cade's bedroom door.

The bed was made.

His piano was closed.

She went straight to the closet and pulled the top shelf down in a shower of old sweaters.

Behind them was a cardboard box with a picture of a robot on the front.

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