He Wanted to Be a Hero, I Let Him Fall

In my past life, I desperately tried to stop Lucas from donating his kidney to Chloe, the girl he worshipped.

Because he couldn't receive the transplant in time, Chloe passed away three days later.

Lucas kept his kidney and eventually joined a prestigious NASA-affiliated aerospace program. He had a brilliant, limitless future ahead of him.

But he hated me for the rest of his life.

My parents told me I was cold-blooded. They said I murdered Chloe and ruined Lucas's chance at a perfect life.

Later, they ruined my college graduation opportunities and sabotaged my career.

I ended up dying alone from an untreated illness in a damp, rented room.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Lucas was about to sign the organ donation consent form.

This time, I didn't stop him.

I just quietly turned on the voice recorder on my phone and asked calmly, "Lucas, do you confirm that you fully understand all the risks? And do you promise you won't hold it against me in the future?"

On the table in the transplant center's meeting room sat a thick stack of files.

The top page was the Living Organ Donor Informed Consent Form.

My brother, Lucas, gripped a black pen, his knuckles turning white.

In my past life, today was exactly the same.

I had burst into the room and snatched the pen out of his hand.

I had said, "Lucas, you can't do this. You have your physical exam for the astronaut program next month. You've had high blood pressure and protein in your urine. The doctor said your risk is way higher than a normal person's."

I had screamed until my throat was hoarse.

And Lucas had hesitated.

The surgery was eventually canceled.

Chloe only lasted three days.

After she died, I became the ultimate sinner of the family.

Lucas's career went incredibly smooth after that.

But every time he got a promotion, every time he won an award, every time people praised him for being a young genius, he would stab me with his words:

"If it wasn't for you, Chloe would be alive to see this."

My parents were the same.

They enjoyed the glory of Lucas's health and success, yet they blamed Chloe's death entirely on me.

They took away my tuition money, forced me to give up my opportunities for Lucas, and sabotaged my job interviews and relationships.

They said I owed Chloe a life.

Until the day I died, they never picked up my last phone call.

Now, I was back at the exact moment before Lucas put pen to paper.

Seeing me walk in, my mother instantly blocked Lucas.

"Hazel, I'm warning you. If you make a scene today, I will never forgive you."

My dad looked at me with a cold face.

"Lucas is saving a life. It's a good deed. Don't embarrass yourself with your selfish little thoughts."

I almost laughed out loud.

In my past life, when I stopped him, they had actually let out a sigh of relief.

But after Chloe died, they didn't want to admit they were terrified of their son getting hurt.

So, they needed a villain.

Lucas looked up at me.

"Hazel, I know you don't like Chloe, but she really can't hold on much longer."

Chloe, pale and weak in her wheelchair, looked at me.

"Hazel, please don't blame Lucas. It's my fault. I shouldn't be a burden to him..."

Lucas's heart broke for her, just like I knew it would.

"Chloe, don't say that."

My mom started crying too.

"Oh, sweetheart, don't be scared. We won't just stand by and watch you die."

Everyone was waiting for me to lose my mind.

They expected me to cry, beg, and scream like I did in my past life, taking all the blame onto myself.

But this time, I didn't.

I took my phone out of my bag.

I tapped the record button.

My dad frowned.

"What are you recording?"

"Just keeping a record."

I placed the phone flat on the table.

"No faces, just audio. I want to make sure nobody says I forced Lucas to donate in the future. And I definitely don't want anyone saying I ruined his life by not stopping him."

My mom's face twisted.

"What is that supposed to mean? We're family. Do you have to make things so ugly?"

In my past life, when I was burning up with a fever and drifting in and out of consciousness, I called home seventeen times.

No one answered.

Back then, why didn't they care about being "family"?

The doctor sitting at the table looked a bit awkward.

"Miss Miller, the hospital keeps records of the pre-op interview. You don't need to be so nervous."

"I'm not nervous,"

I said.

"I just want every adult here to be responsible for the words that come out of their mouths."

Lucas stared at me coldly.

"You're disgusting."

In the past, those words would have made me shake with hurt.

Not anymore.

I looked at the pen in his hand.

"Before you sign, I have a few questions."

Suppressing his anger, Lucas sat down.

"Ask."

I picked up the risk disclosure form the doctor had handed over earlier.

I read it out loud, line by line.

"First, after a kidney is removed, the donor needs long-term follow-ups and must avoid high-stress, high-intensity work. Are you aware of this?"

Lucas gritted his teeth.

"Yes."

"Second, you have a history of mild hypertension and occasional protein in your urine. Although your current tests look fine, your surgical risk is still elevated. Are you aware of this?"

The doctor nodded.

"We have explained this. It's not an absolute disqualification, but the donor must be fully informed."

Lucas's voice dropped a bit.

"Yes, I know."

"Third, you are scheduled for the NASA Astronaut Candidate physical exam next month. That selection has strict requirements for kidney function, medication use, and physical stamina. After this donation, you will likely fail the medical clearance. Are you aware of this?"

The room fell dead silent.

My mom panicked first.

"But didn't the doctor say people can live a normal life with just one kidney?"

The doctor sighed.

"Mrs. Miller, a normal life and a specialized military-grade physical exam are two entirely different things. We explained this before."

My mom froze.

In my past life, it was this very sentence that made her hesitate.

But later, she conveniently forgot all about it.

Lucas gripped the pen tighter.

"I know."

I kept going.

"Fourth, the surgery carries risks of bleeding, infection, and rare but serious anesthesia complications. Are you aware of this?"

"Yes."

"Fifth, even after a successful transplant, Chloe will need lifelong immunosuppressant therapy. It is not a permanent cure. Are you aware of this?"

This time, I looked directly at Chloe.

"You answer."

Her eyelashes fluttered.

"I... I know."

"Sixth, do you confirm that you are accepting Lucas's donation entirely of your own free will, without any coercion from him or pressure from the Miller family?"

Tears immediately spilled from Chloe's eyes.

"Hazel, why are you asking me this? How could I ever..."

"Answer the question."

My voice was completely flat.

She froze.

In the past, as long as she cried, I would instantly become the bitter, cruel sister in everyone's eyes.

But today, I wasn't giving her that power.

She had to answer.

"I confirm. I am accepting it willingly."

I nodded, then turned to my parents.

"And you two? You fully support Lucas's donation, right?"

My dad said coldly,

"He's my son. He's doing a noble thing. Of course we support him."

My mom hesitated for a fraction of a second.

But quickly, she wiped her tears.

"Yes. As long as it saves Chloe, we support him."

I pulled three copies of a supplemental confirmation agreement from my bag.

I slid the papers across the table.

"Sign here."

My dad slammed his hand on the table.

"Hazel! You actually prepared this? Are you here to help, or are you here to scheme against your own family?"

I looked up at him.

"I'm not here to help."

The room became silent as a grave.

I said every word clearly:

"I am only here to witness your choices."

Lucas let out a cold laugh.

"Fine. I'll sign."

He grabbed the pen and scribbled his name.

The scratch of the pen on paper sounded like he was slicing open his own future.

My dad signed too.

My mom's hand shook as she signed.

When it was Chloe's turn, her tears dripped onto the paper, smudging the ink.

"Hazel, do you really have to push us this far?"

I looked at her.

"I didn't push any of you."

I gathered the papers, took photos of them, uploaded them to my Google Drive, and emailed them to my backup account.

"You all said you were doing this willingly."

Outside the door, my aunt Clara whispered to another relative,

"She's so cold-blooded. Her brother is saving a life, and she's treating it like a business transaction."

I spun around to look at her.

"Do you think donating an organ is that honorable?"

She blinked, startled.

"Of course it is."

"Well, your son is an adult too. Why don't we get him tested to see if he's a match?"

Her face drained of color instantly.

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

I smiled.

"So it's honorable when it's someone else's body, but it's nonsense when it's your own family. Your charity really knows how to choose its targets."

The hallway fell dead quiet.

Lucas handed the consent forms to the doctor.

"Doctor, please schedule the surgery."

He didn't look at me again.

"Hazel, as of today, I don't have a sister anymore."

I nodded.

"Fine."

I had heard that exact phrase too many times in my past life.

This time, it didn't feel like a punishment.

It felt like freedom.

The surgery was scheduled for that afternoon.

Before Chloe was wheeled into the operating room, she held Lucas's hand tightly.

"Lucas, if I survive this, I will owe you my life forever."

Lucas leaned down to wipe her tears.

"Don't be scared. You're going to make it."

My mom was crying uncontrollably next to them.

My dad patted Lucas's shoulder, his eyes full of pride.

"Lucas, I've never been prouder to call you my son."

I stood far away, near the exit.

As the nurse was checking the charts, she asked casually,

"Aren't you going to say something to your brother?"

Lucas cut in coldly,

"No need."

The nurse gave me an awkward look.

I said nothing.

In my past life, I had said too much.

I had screamed until I lost my voice, knelt on the floor, and begged. In the end, every single one of those actions was turned into proof of my cruelty.

This time, I was as quiet as a wall.

The operating room doors swung shut.

My mom finally found the time to put me on trial.

"Hazel, your behavior today is absolutely heartbreaking."

I kept my head down, organizing my bag.

"Okay."

"Lucas is lying in there on an operating table, and you don't care at all?"

"My worrying won't change his surgical outcome."

She choked on her words.

My dad said in a deep, booming voice,

"Lucas is sacrificing his entire future to save Chloe. As his sister, the least you could do is show some support instead of being so sarcastic."

I looked up.

"I warned him about the risks to his career. You both said saving a life was more important."

My mom's eyes welled with tears again.

"Do you have to say things like that right now?"

"Then what do you want me to say?"

I looked her in the eye.

"Do you want me to say you were right, so that when things go south later, you can blame me again?"

Her face froze.

My dad snapped.

"How can you be so vicious? The surgery isn't even over, and you're already cursing Lucas?"

I didn't bother arguing.

I pulled out my phone and messaged my academic advisor. I applied for an early return to campus.

In my past life, after this day, I stayed at the hospital to help. I paid the bills, bought the food, picked up the lab reports, and stayed overnight.

When Chloe woke up and Lucas recovered, they received all the credit.

Meanwhile, because I missed too many classes, I missed the final presentation for my national law competition.

Later, I lost my early-admission slot for grad school because of it.

Back then, my dad had said, "You're just a woman. Why do you need so much education anyway? Lucas's career is what matters."

This time, I was not going to leave my life sitting at the door of their hospital room.

Four hours later, the surgeon stepped out.

"The surgery is complete. Everything went smoothly. The recipient is stable, but the donor will need close monitoring."

My family rushed forward immediately.

"Thank God."

"Lucas is such a brave soul."

"Chloe is so blessed to have him."

In my past life, they had crowded around him just like this.

Except back then, they were praising his promotions, his bonuses, and his bright future.

And then they would add:

"It's a shame Chloe didn't have the luck to live."

And finally, they would glare at me.

"Hazel's heart is made of stone."

My mom sat by Lucas's bed, crying tears of pity.

"Lucas, my poor baby, you've suffered so much."

The anesthesia hadn't fully worn off, and his eyes were unfocused, but he was still asking,

"Chloe... is she okay?"

My dad's eyes were wet.

"Yes, she's perfect. You saved her."

A slight smile appeared on Lucas's face.

It looked like he had finally received the gold medal he had always wanted.

I placed a receipt on the bedside table.

"This is the $3,700 I advanced. Make sure to Venmo me."

My mom snapped her head up.

"Lucas just got out of surgery, and you're asking us for money?"

"It's not Lucas's money,"

I said.

"Chloe's family didn't have enough for the pre-op deposit, and you told me to put it on my card."

My dad's face turned purple.

"Are you really that desperate for three grand?"

"Yes,"

I looked at them.

"My rent is due next month."

My mom stared at me as if I were a stranger.

"You never used to be like this."

Used to be?

I used to think that if I was just obedient enough, they would finally love me.

But I finally realized they just didn't think I deserved to be loved.

I picked up my bag.

"I'm heading back to campus."

My mom panicked.

"What about Lucas?"

"He has his parents, his nurses, and Chloe's eternal gratitude."

I stopped at the doorway.

"I only have myself."

When I left the hospital, there was a food truck selling hot clam chowder downstairs.

In my past life, I had bought countless meals here.

Lucas would complain it was too bland, Chloe would say it was too hot, and my mom would yell at me for taking too long.

This time, I bought a bowl just for myself.

As the warm steam hit my face, tears almost came to my eyes.

Not because I was sad.

But because for the first time in two lifetimes, I had bought a warm meal just for myself.

Chloe survived.

Lucas became the ultimate romantic hero in our social circle.

My mom posted on Instagram every single day.

"My brave son gave a part of himself to bring another beautiful soul back to life."

The post had hundreds of likes.

Someone commented:

"Where is Hazel? Lucas did such an incredible thing, she must be so proud."

My mom replied:

"She's still young and selfish. She doesn't understand."

I saw it.

I didn't comment.

I was too busy preparing my final presentation for the law competition.

Three days after returning, I packed up and moved out of my tiny bedroom at my parents' house.

In my past life, that room was eventually turned into Lucas's home office.

My things had been tossed into cardboard boxes and shoved onto the balcony.

My mom had said, "Lucas is under so much pressure. He needs a quiet study. You're a girl, you can crash anywhere."

This time, I didn't wait for them to kick me out.

I left on my own.

The apartment I rented was tiny. Downstairs was a noisy night market, and the smell of greasy food drifted through my window every evening.

But the lock on the door was mine.

The light was mine.

The yogurt in the fridge was mine.

No one was banging on my door at midnight demanding I make Lucas ramen.

No one was rifling through my drawers to steal my cash to buy Chloe organic supplements.

I had never felt so safe.

Two weeks later, Lucas was discharged.

Chloe was moved to a general ward.

Our family threw a small welcome-back party.

But I didn't go.

My mom called me, her voice dripping with irritation.

"Lucas is finally taking his first steps out of bed today. You're not even going to come see him?"

I kept my eyes on the legal essay on my laptop screen.

"I'm busy."

"What could possibly be more important than your brother?"

In my past life, this question had trapped me for years.

This time, my answer was instant.

"My life."

The line went silent for a few seconds.

My mom's voice turned icy.

"Hazel, don't you dare regret this. If you act like this now, don't expect this family to help you when you're struggling."

I smiled.

"Sounds great. Good practice for the future."

She hung up in a rage.

That night, I got a text from Lucas.

It was just one sentence:

"Chloe said she's going to spend the rest of her life by my side."

I stared at the screen for a long time.

In my past life, after Chloe died, Lucas had said something similar at her grave.

He had said, "I will never love anyone else for the rest of my life."

He never got married.

And everyone blamed his loneliness on me.

But in this life, Chloe was alive.

Would she really stay by his side forever?

Three months later, the decision everyone had praised so highly began to unravel from the inside out.