Chapter 1

She nodded then squeezed her hand. At the same time, her father's palm rested on her shoulder.

"Yes."

Tears welled up in Patty's eyes. "I-I can do what I cannot do before?"

"Yes."

She made sure to look at Doc Blake. He saw the sincerity in his eyes. "I'll be able to live longer?"

He quickly replied, "Yes, Patty."

That did it. She could not stop her tears from falling again. Her dad hugged her, both of her mom. She heard the cries of the parents as well as their gratitude to God and to Doc Blake.

She thought she would only be able to see the sunrise for sixteen years.

But she was wrong.

She has a chance to live longer.

"Thank you, Doc Blake," she said to the man.

His hand rose until it rested on her head. He fondly messed up her hair. "Anything for my favorite and cute patient," he joked with a smile.

When the doctor left, Patty still couldn't believe it. The operation is still scary but the chance that she will recover, reduces the fear she feels.

Her mother handed her a notebook. She took it here and slowly opened it. This is the notebook that contains all the things she wants to do when she recovers. She started writing in this notebook when she was seven years old.

"Thank you for everything, Papa, Mama," she said to the parents.

"This girl is still so silly."

She hugged the notebook with a wide smile on her lips. Yes, there was fear, but above all, there was hope.

Hope for a second chance. Hope for a second life.

/

"Are you sure of your decision, Patty?"

Patty nodded in response to Doc Blake's question. It has been five years since her surgery. A year is set aside for her recovery and rehabilitation stage. When she was sure she was really good she went back to school. She was able to start attending college one year later than the rest but it was okay. It was better than not being able to live.

Nursing is the course Patty took. This is what she chose because of what she went through. She wanted to help saving lives. She wanted to make a change.

The years after the surgery was hard. Patty and her parents could not get rid of the fear that the heart given to her might fail. But God was good to her. Everything went perfect. The heart was perfect for her. And Patty was thankful for the one who gave this heart to her.

She knew it was at the cost of another person’s life and that was the reason why she would cherish this second life. Not just for herself, not just for her family, but for the person who gave this heart to her. She would live for that person as a thank you. She would live for both of them.

“El Corazon is a big place but the Del Valle have a beachfront resort hotel there. You can stay there. Anyway, here’s their home address and contact number at El Corazon. ”