Ana sat on a bench outside the hospital, trying to digest what the doctor had just told her about her brother’s condition.
He needed surgery not just to remove his kidney, but to replace it. For that, she needed money she simply didn't have.
She felt paralyzed. She had no savings and worked as a receptionist at a company where she had been hired less than a month ago. Her brother, Andrew, was only a second year high school student. They had been orphaned just two months prior when their parents died in a car accident. The tragedy had forced her to drop out of school, even though she was only months away from graduating with a degree in architecture.
She took a deep breath and looked up. The sky was dark, no moon, no stars. It felt as if the universe were grieving alongside her.
Tears welled in the corners of her eyes. She fought to keep them from falling, telling herself that this would pass and she would find a solution. She had to. For the sake of her brother her baby brother, her only remaining family.
“Are you alright?”
The voice from behind made her immediately wipe her eyes, but she couldn't stop the tears from finally spilling over. She waited a moment until she felt the person move and sit next to her.
“I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you,” the woman said.
Ana looked at her. The woman appeared to be in her forties, dressed simply in a white shirt and blue jeans. She was staring at the hospital building in front of them.
“It’s okay,” Ana replied, shifting her gaze back to the hospital. “Do you have a patient here too?”
“Yes, a friend of mine.”
“I see…”
“Why are you out here? Where is your patient?”
“He’s sleeping now. I just came out for some air,” Ana replied in a low voice.
How she wished she could explain the real reason she was stuck. She had nowhere to go to find the money for the surgery. Even if she went home, there was nothing left of value to sell or exchange.
“You look so anxious,” the woman said sincerely. “I hope your brother is recovering, whatever the reason he was hospitalized.”
The kindness in her tone was the breaking point. Ana could no longer hide her emotions; the tears began to flow freely.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Ana shook her head, sobbing. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. It’s just... since I talked to the doctor, no one has asked how my brother or I were doing. I couldn't hold it in anymore.”
The woman moved closer and patted her back gently. “It’s okay. You can cry. If there is any way I can help you, it would be my pleasure.”
A silence settled between them until Ana felt a sense of relief. She wiped her face with the back of her hands and looked at the woman. Her eyes were warm and caring.
“We may have just met, but you can trust me,” the woman said. “If you need someone to talk to, I am here to listen.”
“Thank you,” Ana replied with a timid smile. Suddenly, a thought struck her. Perhaps this woman could help her find a way to raise the money. “Um, I know this is embarrassing, but... you might be able to help me.”
She reached out and took the woman's hand. Without hesitation, Ana poured out her story of the accident, the cause of her parents death., her lost education, and the desperate need for Andrew’s surgery.
The woman listened intently. When Ana finished, she asked, “How old are you?”
“Twenty two.”
“Have you ever had a boyfriend?”
Ana knit her brows in confusion but shook her head.
“Hmm... would you mind standing up?” the woman requested.
Though curious about why the woman was asking about her age and physical appearance, Ana did as she was asked.
“There is something I want to tell you,” the woman said, her voice turning hesitant. “It might help you, but it’s something you need to think about very carefully. It involves... exchanging your dignity.”
Ana froze. For a second, she feared the woman was a recruiter for a club or a madam looking for girls. But looking at her decent, calm demeanor, it seemed unlikely.
“This could help you in a massive way,” the woman added, her voice dropping. “If you are capable of bearing a child.”
“Bearing a child?” Ana repeated.
“Yes,” the woman said, a hint of excitement returning to her voice. “To put it simply: a surrogate for a billionaire.”
The word billionaire echoed in Ana’s mind. To her, that word meant a solution. It meant life for her brother. She didn't care about the cost to herself, as long as it saved Andrew, she would do whatever it took.