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.