The tests felt oddly familiar—like race prep, only quieter. No crowds, no finish line. Just sterile rooms and hushed instructions. Maya didn’t tell Aiden she was doing it. Not yet. She wasn’t even sure why. Maybe she wanted to be certain first. Or maybe part of her feared he’d say no.
A week later, the coordinator called her back. “You’re a match,” she said. “Not just compatible—an excellent match. If you want to proceed, we’ll walk you through next steps.” Maya stared out her window at the empty running track. She exhaled slowly.
Her body had always been a machine. She never imagined it would become someone else’s spare part. She told him over dinner, halfway through a quiet evening at her apartment. He was curled on the couch, blanket around his shoulders, sipping tea.
“I got tested,” she said. “For compatibility.” He looked up slowly. She didn’t wait. “I’m a match, Aiden. A good one.” His mouth parted like he was about to speak—but no words came. She watched his eyes scan her face, looking for a catch. “You… got tested? Without telling me?”