Wileen Ng Wen Hui, 14

School: Yusof Ishak Secondary School

Topic: Describe how you feel hearing someone close, receiving a heart transplant

Award: Fourth Place, Junior Category, 2023

Sacrifice

To Adeline

Year after year, and yet there’s still no match. Every single time, it simply doesn’t fit.

I’m scared, Adeline. I’m scared. How much longer can I wait? I’ve seen other patients slowly wither away as their hearts give in. I don’t want to end up like them. I can’t.

… I don’t know what to do anymore. There doesn’t seem to be a way out. My parents said it’ll be fine, but I can see it on their face. The end is nearing.

I don’t want to die, Adeline. I can’t fathom ending this way. There’s still so much up ahead.

Please, Ade… I don’t want to go.

Delilah

. . .

“A Second Chance is in Your Hands”

Rain slowly poured over the engraving, encasing the tombstone in a glistening web of water. Small droplets spilled onto the parchment and smudged its words, making it crumble in my hands.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you…” I muttered, words slowly drifting through the air, though no one was there to listen.

There I stood, alone, a bouquet in hand, waiting to join the dozens of other flowers resting on the ground. Holding back a tear, I desperately clutched onto the letter, gazing down at her scribbled name. “I’ve already l-lost too many. I-I can’t lose you too.”

Only the breeze answered me, sweeping a shower of water past my feet.

Silently, I placed the bouquet down onto the grass, petals flowing away with the wind.

At that moment, my phone began to ring, buzzing with a sense of emergency. Quickly, I placed the letter back into my pocket and answered the call.

“Hello. Is this… Adeline Earlis?”

I raised an eyebrow, “Yeah it’s me. Why?”

As I hurriedly tried to cover up the quiver in my voice, a person in the background of the call suddenly called out, excitement tinting its tone. That was when I perked up. “Delilah?”

The person gently told her to quieten down, before turning his attention back to me, “Yes, that is indeed her.”

I felt my heart begin to speed up. Was that really her? She sounded much more energetic than she ever had in the past months. “Wait, are you her doctor?”

He hummed. “Yes, I am. Delilah requested that I inform you about the news.”

“... news?”

“Mhm. We have received news about a suitable heart transplant from a newly reported incident.”

I nearly dropped my phone. “W-what?”

“Your friend is quite a lucky patient, for we were close to running out of time.” A smile filled his voice. “She wanted to see you before the surgery.”

“Ah, of course, I’ll come!” I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, overwhelming my sorrow. “Could I know who her donor was?”

For a moment, he didn’t answer.

And when he did, his voice had seemingly become a whisper. “Amelia Earlis.”

…w-what?

“A-alright. Thanks.”

With a quick confirmation that he had nothing else to say, I hung up.

And a tear slipped from my cheek.

“S-sis…” I whispered, kneeling before her tombstone, trembling hands feeling over her engraved name, “I-it was you who s-saved my friend?”

Her epitaph finally made sense.

Despite everything, I laughed, “I-it was you. . .”

My mind flashed back to Delilah. Her excitement as she waited in the hospital. Her bright smile. Her relief. Her life, which had been saved by my sister.

Resting my head against the tombstone, my tears slowly merged with the rainwater streaming down my face. Smiling, I glanced up at her name one more time.

“Thank you.”

. . .

“Wish you luck…” I whispered, pulling Delilah into another hug before she was called away. Turning back, she waved with an energetic smile on her face.

This situation had felt nearly impossible just weeks back.

And yet, now I could imagine us together once again. Her, living an almost normal life, without her VAD constantly being a worry to her.

Even if my heart still stung from my recent loss, Delilah’s survival made up for it all. Longingly, I imagined my sister’s heart which now beat in her chest, keeping her alive.

I smiled, as a tear slid down my cheek. Even if we had to deal with the pain of losing a loved one, she made sure that Delilah’s family didn’t have to.

On Amelia’s tombstone lay a new ornament, hung right beside her name, its silky surface shimmering from the soft rain.

There hung a green ribbon, a small heart embedded in its center.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2023 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health). To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg