“Can we talk privately doctor? I would like to tell her the results myself… good or bad,” A’shai stated.

Dr. Simmons nodded and led A’shai to the hallway. A’shai stared at Liberty through the room’s window.

“Liberty has a heart condition called cardiomyopathy. The swelling in her abdomen, ankles, and feet are all signs of impending heart failure,” Dr. Simmons stated.

A’shai’s throat went desert dry and his stomach turned sour as he lowered his head and leaned against the windowsill outside of Liberty’s room. “Don’t say that to me, Doc. Tell me what I can do to make her better.”

“I’m sorry, but there isn’t much that you can do,” Dr. Simmons replied. “She needs a new heart.”

“Then let’s get her a new heart. Money isn’t an object. Whose palms gotta get greased to make this happen?” A’shai asked as he looked up, pinching the bridge of his nose to stop the tears from forming in his eyes.

“This isn’t a problem that money can fix,” Dr. Simmons said.

“Money can fix everything,” A’shai replied assertively.

“Unfortunately it cannot fix this. These things are conducted under a specific set of guidelines, A’shai. There is a list that all heart patients are placed on. Liberty is next on the list for her blood type, but there isn’t a heart available right now,” Dr. Simmons explained.

A’shai’s mind instantly went to the gutter as he thought of what he would have to do to give Liberty a new heart. He would kill the next man to save this one woman. He was desperate for a resolution, but he knew that in reality there was none. He didn’t want to taint Liberty by committing murder on her behalf. She didn’t believe in it, and he knew that she would never accept a heart obtained in such a way.

“So we’ll wait for a heart,” A’shai whispered.