Chapter 21: Elias's Truth

Lani sat at the breakfast table with Lily and Luca, sipping her coffee and pretending everything was normal. The kids were chatting, mostly Lily excitedly talking about her latest art project while Luca half-listened, scrolling through his tablet.

Elias stood by the kitchen counter, unusually quiet.

Lani had noticed it for weeks—the way his normally sharp presence felt dimmed, the way he hesitated sometimes as if lost in thought. And now, as he leaned against the counter, eyes distant, she knew something was off.

Then, without warning, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her aside.

Lily, who had been reaching for a piece of toast, stopped mid-motion, her brows furrowing as she watched Elias drag her mother toward the hallway.

Lani didn't resist. She let Elias pull her into a quiet corner of the house, away from the kids' curious gazes.

The second they were alone, she crossed her arms and glared at him. "What the hell was that?"

"I'm quitting," Elias said flatly.

Lani's stomach dropped. She stared at him, searching his face for any sign that this was some kind of joke. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he said, his tone unreadable.

Lani clenched her jaw. "So you drag me away from breakfast just to drop this on me?"

Elias exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I wanted to tell you before I left."

"Why?" she demanded. "Why now?"

He hesitated, then ran a hand through his hair. "Because I don't have much time left."

The words hit her like a punch to the chest.

She swallowed. "What?"

Elias finally met her eyes, and for the first time, she saw it—the exhaustion, the weight he'd been carrying.

"My heart," he said quietly. "It's getting worse."

Lani felt cold all over. She had suspected, but hearing him say it out loud… it was different.

"How bad?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He looked away. "Bad enough that if I don't get a transplant soon, I won't make it."

Lani's breath hitched. "Then get one."

Elias let out a bitter chuckle. "It's not that easy, Lani. Do you know how many people are waiting for a heart? Do you know how expensive it is?"

Her hands curled into fists. "So what? You're just giving up?"

Elias's jaw clenched. "I'm being realistic."

"Realistic?" Lani repeated, her voice rising. "You're walking away from the only people who actually care about you, and you call that realistic?"

He stiffened but didn't answer.

Lani's eyes burned with frustration. "And what about Lily? You think she's just going to accept this?"

Elias hesitated, his face tightening. "She'll forget me."

"No, she won't," Lani snapped. "She adores you, Elias. And you're just going to abandon her?"

Elias exhaled sharply. "What do you want me to do, Lani? Let her watch me die?"

Silence.

Lani's chest ached. He was pushing everyone away—pushing her away—because he was scared.

"You don't have to go through this alone," she said, her voice softer now.

Elias shook his head. "I don't want pity."

"It's not pity," Lani insisted. "It's care, Elias. We care."

For a brief moment, his mask slipped. She saw the fear beneath it—the exhaustion, the pain.

But just as quickly, he pushed it back down.

"I've already made my decision," he said, stepping back.

Lani wanted to scream. Wanted to shake him until he understood that he didn't have to face this alone.

But before she could say another word, a small voice interrupted.

"Elias?"

They both turned.

Lily stood there, her big eyes filled with confusion and hurt.

"You're leaving?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Elias froze.

Lani's heart clenched as she watched his expression twist in pain.

Lily took a shaky step forward. "You're not coming back?"

Elias swallowed hard. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

And then, without waiting for an answer, Lily turned and ran.

"Lily—!" Lani started, but the little girl was already gone, disappearing down the hall.

Elias looked shattered.

Lani turned back to him, anger rising again. "You see what you're doing?"

Elias exhaled, his hands clenching into fists. "I—"

Before he could say anything else, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and his face paled.

Lani frowned. "What?"

Elias hesitated, then muttered, "The hospital."

Lani's heart pounded. "Your test results?"

Elias nodded, then shoved his phone back into his pocket. "I have to go."

Lani grabbed his wrist before he could walk past her.

"Let me come with you," she said.

Elias shook his head. "No."

"Elias—"

"No, Lani," he said firmly. Then, softer, "Please."

She searched his face, saw the desperation there, and slowly let go.

Without another word, Elias turned and walked away.

Lani stood there, feeling completely helpless.

But one thing was clear—she wasn't letting him walk out of their lives so easily.

Lani stood frozen, her heart pounding as Elias disappeared through the front door. A heavy silence filled the space he left behind, and she clenched her fists.

She wasn't going to let him go that easily.

With a deep breath, she turned on her heels and marched toward Lily's room. She found her curled up in the corner of her bed, her small arms wrapped tightly around her favorite stuffed rabbit.

"Lily…" Lani sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing her daughter's hair back.

Lily sniffled, her big brown eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Why is Elias leaving?"

Lani exhaled slowly. "It's complicated, sweetheart."

Lily shook her head. "I don't want him to go."

Lani's chest ached. "I know, baby."

For a moment, they sat in silence, Lani stroking Lily's back while the little girl clutched her stuffed rabbit tighter.

Then Lily mumbled, "Is it because of me?"

Lani's breath caught.

She quickly pulled Lily into her arms. "No, honey. Never."

Lily sniffled into her shoulder. "Then why?"

Lani hesitated, debating whether to tell her the truth.

After a moment, she sighed. "Elias is sick."

Lily pulled back slightly, her little face scrunching in concern. "Sick? Like a cold?"

Lani shook her head. "No. It's more serious than that."

Lily's lower lip trembled. "But if he's sick, shouldn't we help him?"

Lani swallowed hard. "That's what I want to do, but he doesn't want us to worry."

Lily frowned. "That's silly."

Lani let out a weak chuckle. "Yeah, it is."

Lily wiped her eyes and sat up straighter. "Then we should make him let us help."

Lani blinked at her daughter's determination.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "You're right."

Lily nodded firmly, her sadness replaced with newfound resolve.

Lani kissed the top of her head before standing up. "Come on, let's get some food in you. You didn't finish your breakfast."

Lily hesitated. "Will Elias come back?"

Lani knelt down and cupped her face. "I don't know, baby. But I promise I'll do everything I can to make sure he does."

Lily gave a small nod, but Lani could tell she wasn't convinced.

As they left the room, Lani's mind was already racing with her next move.

She wasn't going to sit back and let Elias push them away. Not when he had become such a big part of their lives.

Not when she…

She pushed the thought aside.

For now, she needed to find out what the hospital had told him.

And she needed to make Elias understand that walking away wasn't the answer.

At the Hospital

Elias sat in the doctor's office, his fingers drumming against his knee.

Dr. Morales, his cardiologist, studied the papers in front of him, his face unreadable.

Elias had a sinking feeling he already knew what was coming.

Dr. Morales finally exhaled and met his gaze. "Elias, your condition has worsened."

Elias stiffened.

The doctor continued, "Your heart function has decreased significantly. We need to get you on the transplant list as soon as possible."

Elias let out a humorless chuckle. "I've been on the list for months."

Dr. Morales nodded. "I know. But now it's more urgent. If we don't act fast, you might not have long left."

The words settled in his chest like a heavy weight.

Elias leaned back, rubbing his temples. "And if I don't get a heart in time?"

Dr. Morales hesitated. "Then we'll have to consider other options to prolong your life. But Elias… the reality is, time isn't on your side."

Elias closed his eyes, trying to push down the fear clawing at his gut.

He had already accepted that his days were numbered.

But now, as he thought about Lily's tear-streaked face, Lani's desperate eyes…

For the first time in a long time, he wished he had more time.

Dr. Morales sighed. "Do you have family? Anyone who can support you through this?"

Elias let out a dry laugh. "No. Just… some people I work for."

Dr. Morales studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then lean on them, Elias. You don't have to do this alone."

Elias swallowed hard.

But wasn't that exactly what he was trying to avoid?

Dragging them into his mess?

Yet, as he left the hospital and stepped into the cold afternoon air, he couldn't shake the image of Lily's broken expression.

And for the first time since he was diagnosed…

He wondered if maybe—just maybe—he didn't want to die alone after all.