Nick sat there in his living room looking at a picture of his wife, Emily. She was in a car accident and was in the hospital in a coma and the doctors said it was possible that she would never wake up. He didn’t want to give up hope that someday she would wake up. The front door opened and closed and Brian came in with AJ behind him.

        “Hey Frack,” Brian said.

        “Hey Frick,” Nick said. Brian saw the picture.

        “She will come back, Nick, she won’t leave you,” Brian said.

        “I know, I wish I could go back and keep her from going out to the store,” Nick said. The phone rang. Nick picked it up.

        “Hello, yes, what, I’ll be right there,” Nick said. He hung up and looked at Brian and AJ.

        “What is it,” Brian said.

        “The hospital, it’s Emily,” Nick said. He went out the door. Brian and AJ went with him. They went to the hospital. Nick found Dr. Thomas.

        “Dr. Thomas,” Nick said.

        “Mr. Carter,” Dr. Thomas said. Brian’s cell phone rang. He went to answer it. AJ stood with Nick.

        “What is going on,” Nick said.

        “We have some bad news about your wife,” Dr. Thomas said. Nick looked at AJ.

        “What is it,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry but your wife is brain dead,” Dr. Thomas said. Nick looked at him.

        “What!” Nick said.

        “There is no activity going to her brain, we did everything we could,” Dr. Thomas said. Brian came back over to them. AJ quietly told him.

        “I have to go down the hall, Nick, my sister is here,” Brian said. Nick nodded.

        “So she’s gone,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry, Mr. Carter, your wife put down on her driver’s license that she wanted to be an organ donor,” Dr. Thomas said.

        “So you want to take my wife’s organs and give them to other people,” Nick said.

        “It was your wife’s wishes, as stated on her driver’s license,” Dr. Thomas said.

        “How long do I have?” Nick asked.

        “The life support is keeping her body alive,” Dr. Thomas said. Nick nodded and turned to AJ. AJ hugged him. Nick closed his eyes and cried.

        “Nick,” AJ said.

        “My wife is gone,” Nick said.

        “I know, but if you give the okay, parts of her will still live, you can save lives here, people who are desperate to live,” AJ said. Nick sat down. Brian came back.

        “Brian,” Nick said.

        “Brizee’s here, she is in need of a heart transplant, if she doesn’t get it in 24 hours, we’ll lose her,” Brian said. AJ hugged him. Nick looked at them and went to find Dr. Thomas and explained the situation. Dr. Thomas went down the hall. Nick went back to Brian and AJ.

        “Brian, Emily is brain dead, and her wishes were to donate her organs, Dr. Thomas is going to see if Emily’s heart is match to Brizee,” Nick said.

        “Nick,” Brian said.

        “Brian, there is no hope for my wife, she’s gone, but she can save other people’s lives, she might save Brizee, if they are a match, Brizee will get Emily’s heart,” Nick said. Dr. Thomas came back.

        “Perfect match,” Dr. Thomas said.

        “Give Brizee my wife’s heart,” Nick said. Dr. Thomas nodded. Nick looked at Brian.

        “Can I go see Briz?” Nick asked.

        “Yeah, she’s asking for you,” Brian said. Nick went to Brizee’s room and saw Jackie and Harold sitting in there. Brizee opened her eyes and saw Nick and smiled.

        “Nicky,” Brizee said softly. Nick went to her bedside and hugged her gently.

        “Hey sweetheart,” Nick said.

        “I’m sorry about Emily,” Brizee said.

        “Thank you, I know you two were best friends,” Nick said smiling.

        “Yeah we were,” Brizee said.

        “Did they tell you the news?” Nick asked.

        “No,” Brizee said.

        “Nick, what’s the news,” Jackie said.

        “You are getting Emily’s heart, you two are a perfect match for a transplant, Emily’s wishes were to have her organs donated, I gave the go ahead to have you get Emily’s heart,” Nick said.

        “I will cherish it,” Brizee said. Nick kissed her forehead.

        “I know, I’ve already lost my wife, I couldn’t lose my best friend, too,” Nick said. Brizee hugged him.

Chapter 2

Two hours later, Brizee and Emily were wheeled into the operating room. Nick, Brian, AJ, Jackie, and Harold sat in the waiting room. Jackie sat by Nick.

        “Nick,” Jackie said.

        “Jackie, you’re welcome,” Nick said.

        “This must have been difficult for you,” Jackie said.

        “There was nothing to be done, they couldn’t save her, but she can save Briz, you know how much I care for Brizee,” Nick said.

        “Yeah, I do,” Jackie said. Jackie hugged Nick.

        “You know you are another son to me,” Jackie said.

        “And you are like a mother to me, better than my own mom at times,” Nick said.

        “You will always be a part of our family,” Jackie said.

        “I know,” Nick said.

Four hours later, the doctors came out. They stood up.

        “It was a success, Brizee is going to make an great recovery,” Dr. Thomas said. Jackie hugged Harold. Nick and Brian hugged. Jackie, Harold, and Brian went to see her. Nick sat down. AJ sat beside him.

        “Emily will live through the heart beating inside of Brizee,” AJ said.

        “I know, it’s just sad, but I did the right thing,” Nick said. AJ hugged him. Emily’s parents came in.

        “Nick,” Mrs. James said.

        “Hi,” Nick said.

        “What is happening,” Mrs. James said.

        “Emily’s gone, they declared her brain dead,” Nick said. Mrs. James hugged her husband.

        “So what is going to happen now?” Mr. James asked.

        “Per Emily’s wishes, her organs are being donated,” Nick said.

        “You gave the okay,” Mrs. James said.

        “It was her wishes, she stated on her driver’s license that she wanted to be an organ donor,” Nick said.

        “She told us that,” Mr. James said.

        “We already gave her heart to someone who was in need of it,” Nick said.

        “Who?” Mrs. James said.

        “Brian’s sister, Brizee, they were a perfect match, Brizee was given 24 hours to live if there wasn’t a heart found for her, I couldn’t let Brian go through losing his sister, and Brizee and Emily were best friends,” Nick said.

        “They were like sisters, ever since you two have been together, Emily said that she gained eight brothers and seven sisters, I’m glad Brizee got Emily’s heart, a part of my daughter is still going,” Mrs. James said.

        “Brizee is a great person, she was the bestest friend Emily had ever had,” Mr. James said.  Brian came out.

        “Brian,” Mrs. James said.

        “I’m sorry about Emily, I wish they could have done more for her,” Brian said.

        “I know but something good came out of it, she saved your sister,” Mrs. James said.

        “Nick, Brizee’s asking for you,” Brian said. Nick went to the recovery room where Brizee was with her parents. Nick went to her bedside.

        “Hey sweetie,” Nick said kissing her forehead.

        “Nick, thank you,” Brizee said softly.

        “You’re welcome, sweetheart, I already lost Emily, I couldn’t lose you either, no one could,” Nick said.

Three hours later, Brizee was in her room sleeping. Emily’s parents came in. Brizee woke up and saw them.

        “Hi,” Brizee said.

        “Nick told us everything, we are glad you got Emily’s heart instead of someone we don’t know,” Mrs. James said.

        “I’m sorry about Emily, she was a great person, a great best friend, she was like a sister to me,” Brizee said.

        “And you were like a sister to her, that makes you like another daughter to us,” Mrs. James said.  Brizee smiled.

        “If you need anything, let us know,” Mr. James said.

        “Thank you,” Brizee said. They left. Brizee looked out the window. Nick came in and sat down at her bedside.

        “Hey sweetie,” Nick said. Brizee looked at him and smiled.

        “You probably have stuff to do besides sit here with me,” Brizee said.

        “Nah, Emily’s parents said they will handle the arrangements, they said I should be here with you, Brian and your parents went home to sleep,” Nick said.

        “Nick, you probably need to rest,” Brizee said.

        “I’m fine, Briz, I would rather be here with you than be home alone,” Nick said.

        “Fine, but no complaining about being tired,” Brizee said. Nick zipped his mouth.

Chapter 3

Two weeks later, Brizee was released from the hospital and Nick took her home to Brian’s. He helped her in. Brian came downstairs.

        “Room’s ready,” Brian said.

        “Thanks, bro,” Brizee said as Brian kissed her cheek.

        “And your room is ready, Frack,” Brian said.

        “You’re staying, too?” Brizee asked.

        “Yeah, for awhile, until I’m ready to go back home,” Nick said.

        “I understand, Nicky, I miss her already,” Brizee said.

        “Me, too,” Nick said. Brizee held onto him as he helped her upstairs. Brian came in and helped Nick settle her into bed. They hugged her and went downstairs.

        “Nick, do you have a thing for my sister?” Brian asked.

        “Brian, why would you ask me that, you know I just lost my wife,” Nick said.

        “I know, Nick, but you seem attached to Briz,” Brian said. Nick sat down.

        “You know Briz has always been special to me, you know she is like a sister to me,” Nick said.

        “I know, Nick,” Brian said.

        “Why would you ask me that,” Nick said.

        “You never left her side at the hospital,” Brian said.

        “Because she is the closest person to Emily that I have right now,” Nick said.

        “Because she got Emily’s heart,” Brian said.

        “Because she and Emily were practically like sisters,” Nick said.

        “Nick, if you want to be with Brizee, it will be okay with me and my folks,” Brian said.

        “I’m not ready to date for awhile,” Nick said.

        “I know, Frack, but I’m just saying that whenever you are ready, it’s okay to be with Briz,” Brian said. Nick nodded.