When I confronted her, I collapsed again. The truth unraveled later: my birth mother left when I was a baby, and Mom—my mom—stepped in and raised me as her own. I was furious. Heartbroken. Then my heart gave out for real.
When I woke, Dad sat beside me, tears in his eyes.
“She gave you her heart,” he whispered.
Mom had died to save me. She left a letter:
“You are my heart. Now, quite literally. I will always be with you.”
I sobbed, holding her words close. She gave me life—twice. And I will carry her love in every heartbeat.