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"Kidneys, my kidneys hurt," uttered Arthur as streaks of cold sweat rolled down his face. "I'm tired of waiting for a donor, of not knowing when it'll all end."
Salimat wiped his face with the hem of her skirt, then slowly kissed him on his forehead, cheeks, and lips.
"Arthur, you know what? How long have you been waiting for a donor? I am here, you don't have to wait any longer. Tomorrow we'll go see a doctor and arrange for an operation. I am healthy, nothing will happen to me, but you shouldn't make light of your condition - kidney disease is a very serious matter."
Arthur raised himself from the couch and looked suspciously at Salimat.
"What did you just say? Say it again! Would you really consider it?" He felt speechless and couldn't make the words come out. After a minute he said: "Do you even know how much a kidney is worth? How much I'd have to pay to buy one?"
"You don't need to pay me anything. I am fine with what I have now, but if something were to happen to you, I'd die! I wouldn't want to go on living without you! It's settled, we'll see a doctor tomorrow, I can't stand you being in pain anymore."
Arthur slumped back into the couch, incredulous at what he just heard. His eyes were closed and his brain felt as if it was about to explode. "Kidney, kidney! She's giving me her kidney! I can't believe I'll be rid of this pain forever! But why is she doing that? What's in it for her? Isn't she afraid of pain? So, who does she love, me or my money? What if I were poor, would she have given me her kidney then? God, I wish she'd just name the price, I'd gladly pay it and be rid of her and this love of hers!"
????????..
A month passed since the surgery. Salimat was still very weak, and the pain never left her side. Yet, she was ecstatically happy, because Arthur was healthy again. He visited her, and she found ultimate joy in seeing him laugh, joke, and otherwise radiate pure happiness. God, just keep him healthy and I'll be all right, she thought to herself.
One night Salimat stayed at Arthur's house, and even though he was his jovial, talkative self, she felt as if something changed in him. She couldn't put her finger on it, but later when it was time to go to sleep, Arthur became cold and withdrawn.
"Salimat, I don't feel well, I think I'll sleep in the next room."
Salimat didn't understand right away what had happened. But when Arthur went into another room and locked the door behind him with a key, the magnitude of what just happened really hit her. She didn't sleep at all that night as she was struggling to understand what had happened.
7/11
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