Save a Life Institute: Chapter I ????

“You have less than a year to live Mr. Beddau.”
The Doctor announced coldly as he handed him the final results from the tests he had taken. Elionai had been expecting such news. He felt how his body grew weak and cold after the Doctor’s words. It was over then, he had an expiration date. His thoughts were interrupted by his mother’s arrogance.
“No! there must be something else. A cure, surgery, medicine, therapy, anything, everything, just something. Something!”

“Mrs. Beddau, I know this must be hard, it’s not an easy thing, but you must understand we have tried all those things for months. Time is running out. We can keep trying but we cannot promise anything.”

“There must be something we have not tried! You must understand he’s our only son, the inheritor of everything we have worked for, our name carrier. He is a Beddau for God’s sake!”

“I clearly understand Mrs. Beddau, no one takes such news well. We still have time to try therapy again or if you would like to continue the medicine. I must admit he is not showing any improving results on any of the therapies he has tried.”

“If for a second you think I will not try everything you are wrong Dr. Vineyard.”
“I understand Ma’am, please let me explain what we can do now. There are various options that
he can take now. Three to be exact. The first options there is, is to continue with the regimen we have him in now. We can keep doing the therapies and give him a stronger dose of medicine. The second option is to simply relocate him to an institute where he and the family can be prepared for his death. They help with the arrangements necessary for his funeral, give him pain medicine and make him feel no pain, such things.”

“ He shall go to no such place!”

“Yes, well, there is a third and final option, which is to put him in a waiting list for -”

“Put him in a waiting list? Since when do we have to wait? We are the Beddaus!”

“Yes, I know, but please let me finish, a waiting list for “Save A Life Institute”. It is another institute where people give their lives to other people.”

“And why was I not told of this before?”

“Mrs. Beddau, not many are even given such option. It is a complicated, long procedure and very expensive.”

“I am sorry Doctor, but are you blind? You are talking to a Beddau!”

“Yes, I know, but not even the few we have given such option took it. To be even considered for the pre-waiting list ranges up to a million. Would you like to consider the first two options or should I continue?”

“I don’t see why you even ask.”

“Very well, once in the pre-waiting list, he has to fill out papers and documents. Once that is
done then he is transferred to the institution and placed in the waiting list. From there other steps are taken. This could add up to more than a billion. If you are interested in this option I can give you their number that you could call and let an Institute worker give you more details on the procedures and such.”

“Yes, please. I seriously cannot believe you waited until now to tell me.”

“Very well. Here is their card. Please let the nurse know if you need anything else.”

The doctor left the room quickly. They were alone. His mother contemplated the dull gold card with the silver lettering and the bright red heart. It was a lot to take in on one day for Elionai. He was still not used to his mother and the doctor talking about him as if he was not there. He felt like a thing rather than a person. A thing that had no more use, that was fading. Could he really have another chance to live? What was this institute the Doctor mention? Can it really be possible to give a life to someone else? A million questions shoot through his mind, but the most important one question was: is he willing to do it. “Yes” he thought to himself. He did not want to die, not yet at least.