I lay on an icy operating table and waited in despair for death to take me. Meanwhile, my husband, Arthur Rothe, waited outside Shawna Green’s operating theater.
I had tubes plugged into my body, and the beeping of the instruments around me made me feel like bells were chiming. They were telling me it was time to leave.
As my ECG turned into a straight line, news of Shawna’s surgery being a success came from the other operating theater. The light outside the operating theater went off, and my eyes shut forever.
To my surprise, I appeared by Arthur’s side in the form of a soul. Perhaps it was because I’d been left with overwhelming resentment when I died.
I watched as he held Shawna in his arms, his eyes red with agitation now that she’d escaped death. My heart sank at the sight.
I wanted to ask him whether he’d worried about me for even a second when Shawna and I had been wheeled into different operating theaters at the same time, but I supposed the answer was no.
After all, he’d taken me to court over her illness. He’d hired the best lawyer in the industry to sue me, and I’d lost the case.
I’d been in so much pain when getting my kidney removed that cold sweat had drenched my back. I’d called Arthur and pleaded, “I’m sorry, honey! Please don’t take my kidney—it really hurts, and I feel like I’m going to die!”
I’d never adopted such a soft stance with Arthur before and thought there was a chance he would let me off the hook if I were to admit defeat and take the blame for things I’d never done. We’d been together for five years, and I thought that would’ve meant something.
However, he’d merely laughed cruelly over the phone. “Admitting your mistakes is what is expected of you, and saving Shawna’s life is your punishment. Don’t even think about getting away with this, and don’t think you don’t have to apologize to her since you’re giving her your kidney.
“Think about all the things you’ve done to hurt her over the years. I’ll get even with you for that once she’s better! Even if you want to die, you’ll have to wait until after you’ve apologized!”
I’d tried to deny my involvement in the things he thought I’d done, but I was out of strength.
Arthur didn’t seem to think his rant was enough to vent his anger. He snarled, “You disgust me!”
He’d hung up after that, and my heart had plummeted into an abyss. My love for him went with it.
