Tess's POV

"Lift him up carefully," the stern man orders. Three other medics lift Matt on the gurney, and the four of them wheel him away.

Do you ever get that feeling where you seem like you're physically there but not mentally? I feel like that. My mind is away to some other world as my hands cover my mouth, as the tears fall from my eyes and blur my vision. Sirens, voices...Everything is too loud. I want to yell for them to shut up, to make it stop.

"Tess." Now it sounds far away, like we're underwater. A hand rests on my back and brings me to his chest. I can tell it's Jerome. "Tess, there's an ambulance outside. You should take your kids."

I nod wordlessly, and I lift Eva onto my hip and take Michael's hand. "Mommy, what's happening?" Eva says, touching my cheek.

"What's wrong with Daddy?" Michael asks, and I don't say anything, because I can't.

"Why didn't we know?" I hear Dad bark.

I flinch at his abrasive tone mixed with the sharp sound of the sirens. Matthew's in the ambulance, and I take the kids inside, hop in, and the doors are shut.

It's relatively quiet for a moment, then Eva asks, "What's wrong with Daddy?"

I answer as simply as I can, taking a deep breath, because the air is suddenly too little. There is not enough, and hands are grasping my lungs as if it is a frayed rope trying to be kept together hopelessly. I suck in air and release it quickly, even though I should exhale slowly. I feel like sometimes I don't even know who I am anymore. Sometimes I feel like a mere carcass—soulless, airless, and so, so empty. I'm a shell of a girl right now, and I feel like I'm missing something as I look at Matthew's pale face.

I take his pale, limp hand, and my stomach lurches when his hand is colder than winter. I can't live without him. He is not my life, because he is what gives Life. Matthew...I can't lose him. I can't lose any more people I love. Losing Matthew is losing a piece of myself.

"Daddy's heart is broken?" Eva asks, trying to sum up my explanation of his disease. "Daddy's heart is broken, so...so that means he never loved us?"

My heart physically aches, like it has been stabbed over and over again, and all it can do is bleed. "No," I say, wearing a smile through my tears. "Your daddy loved you with all of his heart. He loved you so much, and don't ever think otherwise."

"And Eva, Daddy's heart isn't really broken," Michael says, wiping a tear from his cheek. He tries to be so strong, and he always has. If Matt dies now, the advisers will make Michael rule as soon as he can. But I vow I will do whatever I can to prolong my own reign just so that burden won't settle itself so soon.

"That's right, Mike. Daddy's just a bit sick."

"So just give him medicine!" Eva says, a gleaming hope returning in her blue eyes.

I laugh softly. "If only it were that easy."

Matthew's hand is quickly losing color, and I cry harder when all I can do is kiss it.


Matthew's POV

It's weird. This has never happened before. I heard this could happen during near-death experiences.

I can think, I can hear, I can smell,I can see...me. I can see my own body laying on the stretcher, my children and my wife around me. She kisses my hand, but I don't feel anything. I wish I did. I'd pay to feel her soft lips on my skin again. At least I can see her and my kids. God, they're beautiful.

I remember the first time I laid my eyes on them. Michael was so tiny. He was frail and fragile, a tiny nose and fingers the size of my fingernail. I remember Eva crying and wailing, and still, it sounded like a melody. Michael was still too young to know what was happening, but he was smiling at the presence of his little sister. I probably cried both times, but I denied it.

I can't let go, but it feels so easy to. What will it feel like when I die? It's a question I've asked myself over and over, considering my medical condition. I haven't had any attacks in years, not since Michael was a year old.

What happens if I try to touch Tess now? Will she feel me? I place a hand on her shoulder, but she notices nothing. She doesn't even flinch. All I want to do is take Michael into my lap, or carry Eva into my arms and swing her around. I want to cry, and I can feel tear well in my eyes, but an intense wave of pain overcomes me and I can't breathe. I hear my heart rate monitor begin to beep so, so quickly, and panic pilfers everyone's mind. I can almost feel the anxiety radiation off them, and I try to settle my own heart.

As I watch them rush me to the emergency room, I think about how I'm just one speck in this universe, but in the end I decide I'm more than that to my family. I can't let Tess raise our children alone. I can't let my children grow up without a father. My grandfather was abusive to my father, but having one is better than not. I can't feel the drugs kick in, but my mind slowly gets hazier. I want to stay awake. I take a deep breath, and the edges of my vision are fractionally clearer now.

I follow my family out to the waiting room, and I lean against the wall beside Tess. A doctor comes out and I can't believe the words he says next.

"We need to operate on the king, Your Majesty," he says.

Tess's jaw drops, and she covers her mouth.

"I need your consent for this surgery to happen," the man says, but he says it as if it's a question, as if the mere thought of her consent would be ridiculous. Maybe it's because he expects her to sign it. And she does.

I'm getting a heart transplant.

And I might not live.

Either way.

It's do or die.

Literally.


Tess's POV

I really didn't want to sign it. I didn't. I didn't want them to cut Matthew's chest open and put someone else's heart inside him. It's so risky. Surgery hasn't been practiced for so long because of Gregory Illéa's ban of it. Except many surgeons went against this law. They knew what was healthy and what was not, even if their king said it was incorrect. I would give a million medals to each of those surgeons for defying a man so ignorant and dictatorial.

The surgeon reassures me that getting a heart for Matthew. He's immediately on top of the list for an organ since he's the king.

"But we need a blood donor," Dr. Hernandez says. "The king is a type O, and though it is the universal donor, that blood type can only receive the same kind. Both of your children are type O, but children as blood donors is highly unsafe as well as utterly ridiculous."

And realization dawns on me. "I'm not type O. I'm AB."

"Precisely. We need a donor immediately."

More family walk in through the door into the room. I blurt to all of them, "We need a blood donor. Fast."

To everyone's surprise, Alex raises his hand first. "I'm blood type O. I'll do it."

"Come with me, Sir," the doctor says, whisking the king of France away.


This was short.

Hey again! I honestly do not remember the last time I updated. I'm betting two, three months? That's what it feels like, I guess. Um, so how y'all been? I'm on tumblr as eadlynschreaveofillea but if I follow you it's going to be under a different URL. I post a lot Selection stuff...It's all Selection stuff sooo :)

Anyways, I've missed you guys! I've wanted to update this for so long. I was actually in Spanish class I think when I started writing this. (I was a bit bored...Sorry Mrs. Garcia.) My first semester is finally over, so no more shiterature class (ahem, excuse my language, I meant literature class)! THANK THE LORD!

I couldn't find motivation to write because after writing essay after essay and explication after explication...I despised writing. I don't know if I still hate it. I just think that maybe I'm not as good as I used to be? I dunno. It took me 6 episodes of America's Next Top Model cycle 20 to finish this (still on the finale, rootin' for Starvin' Marvin and #Marnee). It's my new obsession.

So, QOTD: What's your most recent obsession?

Thank you again for so much support! I'm really hoping for at least 700 reviews by the time this story ends sooo keep reviewing! You guys are fantastic!

SJWrites2014- "Not the End" is a perf title! Not too cheesy :) Thank you so much for still being here!

marial0789- Yeah, I wanted people to know basic things and to catch up with the gang. Thanks so much!

lilythemermaid- Baaaaaaaae I've missed you so much. And I feel like you're never going to see this, and it breaks my heart because I really miss you and I remember you have an actual life. If you see this, happy birthday! Knowing you has been a blessing, and I couldn't be more grateful. I love you. LALOL.

Miaforevez- I love the posts you reblog it's fantastic! And I'm kinda sad it's ending too :) Thanks for sticking around!

Blondie115- I can't say Matthew is going to be fine. :) And they named their children after Michael and Eva because I felt like they would. Tess and Matt would honor the late, older Michael and Eva by naming the new prince and princess after them. They would name their children after them because they want Eva and Michael to live a life they wouldn't get to live. I hope that's a good explanation :) Thanks so much!

prnamber3909- The babies aren't babies anymore ;) Thanks so much!

magicalnerd123- I gotchoo :) Thanks!

Kiren- I don't have a crush cuz I go to an all-girls school *laughs then cries*. Thanks so much!

Please-and-Thankyou's- That was a big time jump. I think I tried looking for you but I couldn't find you? Idk. I'm glad I got you to tear up! Thanks so much!

NotHisDear- HOLY SHIT you're the America twitter account I LOVE YOU! You are queen and thank you so much for reviewing! Thank you so much!

PokemonLuver151- Thank you for reviewing! And thank you for understanding, and I LOVE you! Thanks so much!

ReadLikeYouMeanIt- Your review made my day! And you should totally get a tumblr! It's v addicting but extremely fun :) Thank you so much!

winterprincess- I absolutely adore your long review :* I'm so glad you liked it! Are you kidding me? Fetus Maxon or ol' grandpappy Maxon I will love him foreverrrr. School slays. You slay. You are so cool. I love you for your dedication. Keep rocking out girl! Thank you so much!

tapioca . acoipat- I can't believe you read all of that! That is dedication right there, and I write for fans like you. Thank you soooo much!

LittleMissTori- Aw I love you! Cry your eyes out? Hahaha that's pretty extreme! Thank you so so so much!

Guest- Jerome is from Swendway, so he is Matthew's distant cousin :) And don't curse me! And awww thank you sooooo much!

Love ya!- AcademicGirl