The Man Who Donated a Kidney to Me Proposed a Month Later, Claiming He Was Terminally Ill and Didn't Want to Pass Alone – But Right After We Said 'I Do,' He Took My Hand and Whispered, 'Now I Can Finally Tell You the Truth'

Nathan sat across from me. "Hello to you too."

His smile faded, but not completely.

"I'm serious."

His smile faded, but not completely. "I heard about you from Mara. We worked together years ago. She said you needed a transplant."

"Lots of people need transplants."

"I know."

"So why me?"

That was all he would give me.

He looked down at his hands. "Because I got tested, and I matched. After that, walking away felt like choosing not to help."

"You don't know me."

"Correct."

That was all he would give me.

Over the next several weeks, there were more tests, more consent forms, and more chances for Nathan to change his mind.

He never did.

"Then you owe me something."

The morning of surgery, he found me crying behind a curtain.

"Hey," he said. "You're supposed to be the brave one."