The Loving Mom Won't Live to See It

My husband Donald said I was too cold. My daughter Flora said she loved Hailey more. And my parents said I never learned gratitude.

So I decided to spend the last seventy-two hours of my life generously giving everything to this "sister" I had picked up from the streets.

The doctor's diagnosis still echoed in my ears. "Stage IV gastric cancer. The spread is extensive. You have maybe a week left."

I had sat on that cold examination table, staring at the report in my hands. Thirty-five years of life, just like that—sentenced to death.

Fifteen years ago, I had found sixteen-year-old Hailey on a rainy night. She had been curled up next to a dumpster, covered in bruises, her eyes filled with despair. I brought her home, cleaned her wounds with my own hands, bought her new clothes.

When she first called me "Miss Audrey", always showing respect to adults, I decided to send her to college, then made her my most trusted assistant. I thought I had saved a life. Turns out I had been raising a snake.

When Donald rushed to the hospital, I expected him to hold me.

"Audrey, there's something wrong with Hailey's uterus. She might never be able to have children." His first words left me stunned. "The doctor says if there's a suitable transplant, there's still hope... could you help her?"

I stared at him as if seeing this man for the first time. His wife had just been told she had terminal cancer, and he was thinking about another woman's uterus.

"She never had family growing up, and she finally has us. She deserves the chance to be a mother. And Audrey, you know she takes better care of Flora than you do." Donald continued, completely oblivious to my shock.

"Alright. I agree," I said calmly.

How ironic. I had saved her life, given her a home, and now I was giving her my womb too.

Four days ago, I had come down from the operating table. My uterus had been transplanted into Hailey. After four days in the hospital, I was discharged today, but I had three days left to live.

The afternoon I was discharged, I sat in the passenger seat while Donald drove and Hailey sat in the back. We pulled up to St. Catherine Elementary, waiting for Flora to get out of school.

At exactly 3 PM, the school gates opened. Flora ran out with her pink backpack, heading straight for Hailey in the back seat.

"Hailey! Guess what award I got today?" she exclaimed, pressing against the car window, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Flora, Mommy would like to hear too..." I turned around, trying to join the conversation.

But my daughter didn't even turn her head.

She continued talking to Hailey: "Miss Johnson said to give my certificate to the person who loves me most, and I want to give it to you!"

Hailey said gently, "Sweetie, you should give it to Mommy."

"No!" Flora shook her head, her voice clear and determined. "Hailey is the best! You help me with homework every day and make yummy food. Mommy is always busy with work."

I quietly turned back around, staring at the road ahead.

What a cruel joke life had played on me. I had worked myself to the bone to support this family, paid for Hailey's education, yet she was the one who had earned my daughter's love.

And now she also had my uterus, my husband, and soon she would have everything.

At 6 PM, back in our living room, I wanted to salvage something—even just a trace of my daughter's affection.

"Sweetie, would you like to read a story with Mommy?" I gently stroked Flora's hair.

Flora pushed my hand away. "I don't want to. I want to wait for Hailey to finish work and play with me. Your stories are boring."

Just then, Hailey emerged from the study, carrying a folder. "How about I spend time with Flora? Miss Audrey, you need to rest."

Hearing her call me "Miss Audrey," I remembered how she had called me that for the first time fifteen years ago.

She had just spent three days in the hospital then, holding my hand and saying, "Miss Audrey, I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

I still remembered her hugging me and crying at her college graduation, saying she would stay by my side forever.

"Hailey!" Flora threw herself at her excitedly. "What story should we read today?"

I sat on the sofa, watching this scene unfold. The girl I had rescued from the streets, the Hailey I had loved like a sister, had even stolen my daughter's love.

I stood up and walked toward the study.

Passing through the living room, I saw Hailey's college graduation photo hanging on the wall—she was wearing her cap and gown, hugging me tightly, smiling so brightly.

Next to it was a small gift she had bought me with her first paycheck: a picture frame engraved with "World's Best Friend."

Back then she had said, "Miss Audrey, you gave me a new life. I want to spend my whole life repaying you."

Now she was indeed "repaying" me—with betrayal.

I had thought gratitude would be eternal. I didn't know some people were born incapable of contentment.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Anger was useless. Tears were useless. I needed a plan. A plan to make ungrateful people understand the price of betrayal.

At 9 PM, I called Hailey to the study.

"Have a seat, Hailey." I took out documents from the safe. "These are the company stock transfer papers and my will. I want to leave everything to you."

Hailey's eyes widened, tears immediately streaming down her face. "Miss Audrey, I can't take these... you've already been so good to me."

She cried so sincerely, just like fifteen years ago when I first bought her new clothes. If I didn't know about her relationship with Donald, I might have been moved.

"Don't cry, my dear." I looked at her tenderly. "I know you and Donald are in love. I bless you both. You're more suited for this family than anyone."

Hailey looked at me in "shock." "Miss Audrey... you know? We didn't mean for it to happen, it's just... it's just..."

"I know." I smiled. "When it comes to love, you can't force anything. You'll take good care of Flora, won't you?"

"I will!" Hailey grabbed my hands. "Miss Audrey, you're the best person in the world. I'll never forget your kindness."

Kindness? Yes. Life-saving kindness, nurturing kindness, and now selfless kindness.

At 11 PM, I moved into the small room that had been converted from a storage closet—the place where Hailey used to live.

The wheel had come full circle in the most bitter way.

I touched the document folder by my bedside—inside were all the evidence I had collected over the years: records of Hailey embezzling company funds, recordings of her performing loyalty in front of me, photos of her affair with Donald...

"Three days left," I said to the small mirror. "Audrey, let them remember a tolerant and loving big sister. When they cry at my funeral, my lawyer will tell them what ungrateful betrayal really means."

The girl I had rescued from the streets, the sister I had loved with my life, was finally going to pay the price.

I knew they would regret it, but by then I would be gone.