The Sister She Mourned, the Child She Never Knew

CHAPTER 4 - SOPHIA'S REASONS

Saint Luke's smelled of antiseptic, coffee, and sleeplessness.

Claire stood outside Room 814 for a full ten seconds before going in.

Sophia looked smaller than memory had allowed. Her dark hair was gone. Her face was narrow and pale against the white pillow. But when she opened her eyes and saw Claire, the old spark returned so suddenly it hurt.

"You're late," Sophia whispered.

Claire let out one broken laugh that turned into a sob.

Then she was beside the bed, holding the hand she had believed she'd never touch again.

For a while they said nothing useful. Just names. Sorry. I thought you were dead. I thought you hated me. You look the same around the eyes.

Later, when Eli had been taken to pediatric oncology for tests and Mara gave them privacy, Sophia told the truth in pieces.

Their father had not only lied. He had controlled everything after their mother got sick. When Sophia became pregnant at nineteen, he called her disgraceful and drove her out before Claire came home from college. Sophia had written letter after letter. He intercepted them. He told Claire that Sophia had run away and wanted freedom more than family. He told Sophia that Claire had agreed.

"I believed him because I already felt ashamed," Sophia said. "And because I didn't know how to come back after so much time."

Claire sat frozen, rage and grief moving together inside her.

"And Eli's father?" she asked.

Sophia closed her eyes. "He was married. He died before Eli was born. I never told him."

Claire exhaled slowly. Not her son. Not that twist of fate. Yet her relief came with guilt. Eli was still a child in danger.

Sophia watched her face carefully. "I wrote that note because I knew it would make you come inside instead of walking away. Forgive me."

Claire should have been angry.

Instead she almost smiled.

"Manipulative even now," she said.

"Only when necessary."

Then Sophia reached weakly toward the brooch on Claire's lapel.

"Our mother said those brooches meant sisters find each other again," she murmured.

Claire took Sophia's hand and pressed the matching one from Eli's pocket into it.

A doctor entered with a chart.

"We've confirmed it," he said. "Claire is a strong marrow match for Eli."

Sophia began to cry.

But the doctor had not finished.

"There is one complication. Eli has an aggressive infection. If we don't stabilize him tonight, we may lose the window for transplant."

"You need to decide now whether to consent to the procedure and temporary guardianship."