My Kidney Paid for My Brother's Freedom

The day my brother, Aaron Payne, is abducted by human traffickers, an older woman in our town tells me that if I can come up with 80,000 dollars, I can get him back. Desperate to save him, I return to the home I haven't set foot in for two years and beg my wealthy parents for the money. But they fly into a rage. "We sent you two to the countryside to toughen you up, not to give you an excuse to scam us for money!" "Human traffickers? You really expect us to believe someone could kidnap a child and then just give him back? Stop making up stories." With nowhere else to turn, I hear that I can make money by selling a kidney. So that same day, I go under the knife. As soon as the anesthesia wears off, my parents call. "Steve just told us he lost 80,000 dollars, and then we found out you received the exact same amount in your bank account. We were too soft on you. We've raised a thief!" Without giving me a chance to explain, they hang up and transfer the money straight out of my account. Later, my adopted brother, Steve Payne, walks past me with his arms linked through my parents', grinning from ear to ear. "Mom, Dad, thanks for buying me an 80,000-dollar watch. I'm so lucky to be your son." Is he? Without a word, I slip a missing-person flyer under their windshield wiper. If they can help me find Aaron, I'll gladly let him have that luck instead. Chapter 1 I dragged my heavy, tired legs forward. Suddenly, someone called out behind me. "Nathan? What a coincidence. I can't believe I ran into you here." It was Steve Payne, my adopted brother. I ignored him and picked up my pace, desperate to get away, but Dad's furious voice rang out behind me. "Nathan? Stop right there!" He grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me back. I stumbled and turned to face him. His expression was dark with anger. "What kind of garbage flyers are you passing out on the street?" he barked. "Are we starving you? Do you have to skip school and come out here to make money?" Mom had her arm linked with Steve's, her brow furrowed tightly as she looked at me in disappointment. "Nathan, I've told you before. We sent you to the countryside so you could learn resilience and build character. How could you let us down and skip school again?" Their noise drew the attention of passersby, who stopped to watch. Before I could say a word, Dad snatched the missing-person flyers from my hand and flung them into the air. Each flyer had my brother's picture on it. They scattered across the street in the wind, but my parents didn't even bother to look at them. Everything I'd been holding in finally boiled over. I remembered how I'd broken down and begged them for help, only for them to refuse because they didn't believe me. I remembered the 80,000 dollars I'd gotten by selling a kidney to save Aaron's life, only for them to transfer the money away. I clenched my fists, my voice trembling as I confronted them. "Aaron was kidnapped! I'm out here searching for him. You won't even help me. Fine. But why would you throw away my flyers? I had to go hungry just to afford those flyers! Mom, Dad, what is wrong with you?" Watching strangers step on the flyers scattered across the street, a deep sense of helplessness washed over me. Mom paused, looking confused. "Aaron was kidnapped?" She bent down to pick up one of the flyers, but Steve caught her arm. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Nathan, I know you and Aaron are angry that I joined the family, but you shouldn't scare Mom and Dad with some fake kidnapping story." He lowered his head, his voice cracking. "If you really hate me that much, I'll just leave. I can always go back to foster care, even if it means getting pushed around again." Chapter 2 Steve buried his face in Mom's arms, playing the victim just as he had for the past three years. He was adopted by Mom and Dad, but once he settled into our home, he started claiming that his money and valuables kept going missing. Over time, Mom and Dad went from suspecting Aaron and me to openly despising us. We tried to explain ourselves, but it only destroyed whatever trust they had left. Sure enough, the moment Steve said those words, the hesitation on my parents' faces gave way to anger. Dad slapped me across the face. "Even three years in the countryside couldn't straighten you two out!" he yelled. "What makes you think we'd let you come back home? "I'm telling you, Nathan. You and Aaron aren't coming back until you stop lying through your teeth! You manipulate people and will do anything to get what you want. How did I end up with kids like you?" Mom let out a disappointed sigh. "Your dad is right. Not only do you lie, but you're both jealous and spiteful. You can't even accept your own adopted brother. If you don't change…" Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked away from me. "We'll have to pretend we never had sons like you." I let out a bitter laugh. With parents like them, I would've been better off alone. I used to think they were just blind to Steve's little mind games. It took me a long time to realize it was simply their way of keeping Aaron and me under their thumbs. I stopped arguing and crouched down to pick up the flyers scattered across the street. "Excuse me, could you step back a second? Thanks." The pedestrians stepped aside, but many of them were whispering among themselves and judging me. "Kid, just apologize to your parents and go home. Don't fight with them." "Parents only want what's best for you. Look how upset you're making them." "Some kids are just impossible to raise. I feel bad for his parents." A lump formed in my throat, choking back every word I wanted to say. Aaron was missing, and my own parents refused to believe me. This wasn't something a simple apology could fix. Ignoring the sharp, burning pain in my lower back, I gathered my flyers and kept handing them out along the street. My efforts finally paid off the next afternoon when my phone rang. It was an officer from the local precinct, but the news he gave me was devastating. "Nathan Payne? This is Officer Smith. We found your brother. He's at Fairway Hospital. You need to get here right away if you want to say goodbye." My mind went completely blank. "W-What?" I borrowed some cash from the owner of the restaurant where I worked and rushed to the hospital. On the way there, memories of Aaron and me relying on each other through the worst days flashed through my mind like scenes from a movie. When our parents sent us to the countryside, they claimed it was to toughen us up. They only gave us 100 dollars a month so we wouldn't "go astray". If the neighbors hadn't helped feed us, Aaron and I would have starved. We repaid their kindness by helping with chores like cutting grass and feeding their livestock. I never imagined human traffickers would kidnap Aaron while he was simply cutting grass near the main road. That day, I stood helplessly at the edge of town and broke down in tears. Desperate for money to save him, I went back home, swallowed my pride, and apologized to Steve for things I never did. I never expected them to accuse me of trying to scam them for money. With nowhere else to turn, I sold a kidney for 80,000 dollars. But my parents took every cent and gave it to Steve to buy a luxury watch. Chapter 3 I never gave up looking for Aaron, not even for a single day. Even with my body wrecked from the surgery, I pushed through the pain, working odd jobs to pay back the neighbors who had helped us while searching everywhere for him. But now... I walked into the hospital room and finally saw Aaron lying in the bed. He was covered in bruises, his skin stretched tight over his bones. My entire world shattered. "Aaron?" My voice broke. "Aaron, what... what happened to you?" His eyes were only half-open. He tried to lift his arm to touch me, but he was too weak to do so. Shaking violently, I took his hand and pressed it against my face. I was choking back tears and could barely speak. "A-Aaron, don't be scared. Save your strength and hang on, okay? I'll get the doctors to save you. I've made some money. I can pay for it. Yeah, let me get a doctor!" I stumbled toward the door, but then I heard Aaron call out weakly. "Nathan…" My steps faltered. I covered my face and broke down crying. Officer Smith stood beside me and tried to comfort me. A tear rolled down Aaron's cheek as he whispered, "Don't… go, Nathan. Stay with me." I wiped away my tears, bit my lip, and sat down beside him. Just like I used to when he was little, I gently brushed the hair from his forehead. "Don't be scared, Aaron." He was slipping away, barely able to speak. I leaned down, pressing my ear close to his mouth so I could hear him. "Nathan… I'm sorry…" he breathed. "I don't think I can go home with you…" Then his breathing stopped. Tears streamed down my face as I collapsed onto Aaron's body, sobbing uncontrollably. He was only ten years old. He should have been safe at home, being spoiled and loved. How had he ended up on a cold hospital bed, never to open his eyes again? And our wealthy parents, who were supposed to protect us, were the ones most responsible for his death. If it weren't for them, Aaron wouldn't have died. My poor brother. A home like that wasn't worth going back to. Taking pity on me, Officer Smith helped arrange for Aaron to be taken to the funeral home for cremation. "We found your brother in a remote, isolated town," he told me gently. "He… suffered horrific abuse. We've arrested the man who bought him, but the traffickers are still on the run. We'll notify you as soon as we have any updates. I'm so sorry for your loss." "Thank you," I numbly muttered. When I stepped out of the funeral home, the biting winter wind cut through me like a blade, making me shiver. That was when it hit me. When I saw Aaron in that hospital room, he was wearing nothing but a thin shirt stained with blood. I had failed as an older brother. I couldn't even make sure he was fed and warm before he left this world. I buried his ashes beneath a tree, crying until I had no tears left. "You suffered so much, Aaron," I whispered to the quiet earth. "Are you cold? Let me go home and get your favorite jacket for you, okay? I won't let you freeze out here and suffer anymore." … I dragged myself back to my parents' mansion. But when I pressed my thumb to the scanner, a harsh beep sounded—access denied. It felt like a slap in the face. I stood there looking utterly broken, completely out of place in the wealthy neighborhood. After a long while, Mom finally came to the door. She froze when she saw my hollow, disheveled appearance. "Nathan, what happened to you?" My face was so numb I couldn't manage any expression. "Can I just go inside and get a few things?" I asked, my voice dry and raspy. "I'll leave as soon as I get them." Aaron was gone. I had no reason to ever return to this family. Chapter 4 Mom hesitated for a second before stepping aside to let me in. I was about to head up the stairs when Steve came running out of his bedroom, playing a game on the latest smartphone. The moment he saw me, he frowned instinctively. His eyes darted around before he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Nathan, are you back to ask for money? I gave you all my allowance last time. Six grand, remember? How did you blow through it so fast? Mom and Dad work hard for their money. You really need to be more considerate." Six grand? I hadn't seen a single cent. I shot him a blank look, too drained to play his games. I turned toward the stairs, but Mom called after me, clearly displeased. "Nathan." She sighed. "Your dad and I sent you and Aaron to the countryside so you'd learn to grow stronger through hardship. We wanted you to stop being spoiled and entitled. Why can't you understand that we were only trying to do what was best for you?" What was best for us… People always said parents should do everything they could to support their children. Yet my parents had thrown us into the middle of nowhere to "toughen us up". Steve opened his mouth and tried to say something, but I beat him to it and sneered with a blank face. "Cut your act. Aaron and I already gave you Mom and Dad. What more do you want?" Out of Mom's line of sight, a smug grin flashed across Steve's face. But the second he turned back to her, he put on a look of pure guilt. "I know Nathan resents me. Mom, please don't be mad at him," he sniffled, his eyes welling up with tears on command. "Nathan, it's all my fault for costing the family so much money… That's why you and Aaron can't live like you used to. I'll just pack my things and leave right now. I'll stay out of your way." He turned and ran toward the door, but Mom immediately stopped him. I stood on the stairs, watching the whole thing coldly. I knew calling him out would trigger this whole dramatic scene, but I honestly couldn't care less anymore. This house, these parents—none of it meant anything to me now. "Nathan!" Mom snapped, her voice piercing the air. The usually elegant socialite was breathing heavily, shaking with anger. "Apologize to Steve right now!" When I didn't move, she stormed over, grabbed me, and dragged me in front of Steve. I'd been working day and night, and my body was already exhausted. I barely had the strength to fight back. "Do you even hear yourself?" Mom yelled. "If you and Aaron hadn't been so spoiled, constantly bullying Steve, we never would have sent you away! And look at you! Two years in that town, and you haven't changed one bit! How did I end up with such a useless son?" I stared at her, my eyes burning with tears. Then I bent over and let out a bitter laugh. Her own son had been kidnapped because he couldn't even afford a meal, yet she stood there lecturing me about being spoiled. What kind of twisted logic was that? I stared into her eyes as if she were a complete stranger. "Apologize to him? Not a chance," I said, every word clipped and firm. The moment the words left my mouth, Mom slapped me across the face. I stumbled back, gripping the wall to keep myself from falling. Tears streamed down Mom's face, as if she were the one who'd just been struck. "I poured so much into raising you two! Why can't you just stay on the right path?" Chapter 5 Mom glared at me, her voice cracking. "Where is Aaron? Has he turned into a lost cause just like you? Take whatever you need and leave. But remember, if you don't straighten yourselves out, don't ever come back again!" Hearing her mention Aaron made the numbness in my chest give way to a wave of agonizing grief. "Aaron is dead," I said quietly. "Even if you wanted him back, he can't come back." He could have been saved. But they had personally destroyed every chance he had. Mom's eyes widened in shock. Her lips trembled as she said, "You're cursing your own brother just to get yourself off the hook? I'm so disappointed in you, Nathan. You're beyond saving." With my cheek still burning from her slap, I stared at her blankly. "So are you." Mom stared at me in disbelief. She turned away and went back to her room in tears. Steve smirked, dropping his innocent act. "Too bad. Looks like you just pushed away the only person who still held out hope for you. Guess you won't be moving back anytime soon." I ignored him and walked straight into Aaron's bedroom. The room had been turned into a storage space for Steve's extra stuff. In the corner, I found what little was left of Aaron's belongings. Most of his things had been thrown away, leaving hardly enough to fill a single backpack. I quietly packed everything up. When I came down, Steve was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I tried to walk past him toward the front door, but he suddenly snatched the bag right out of my hand. "Give that back!" I yelled. My eyes were red with fury as I lunged toward him. He darted over to the fireplace with a smug grin, holding the bag dangerously close to the flames. "Stay back, or I swear I'll throw it right in." Rage exploded in my head, my pulse hammering in my ears. "What the hell is wrong with you? Mom and Dad are both home. If you burn this, they'll see right through you!" Steve burst out laughing. "Mom literally told me to keep an eye on you since you're a liar and a thief. Look at you, Nathan. Even your own mother doesn't trust you anymore." I glared at him, every muscle in my body tense. "Give me Aaron's things." Those were the last things I had left of my little brother. I wasn't going to let him destroy them. Steve smiled, clearly enjoying every second of my desperate reaction. Then, without hesitation, he tossed the backpack straight into the fireplace. The few clothes inside caught fire instantly. I dove forward, trying to yank the bag out, but it was too late. Blisters formed on my skin from the heat, and I couldn't save a single thing. A mixture of fury and raw despair tore through my chest, burning hotter than the fire itself. I tackled Steve to the floor, pinned him beneath me, and started slamming my fists into his face. "Aaron is dead because of you! He's dead, and you still had to destroy the last things he owned! Who gave you the right? How could you do this to him?" I lost control, clamping one hand over his mouth to silence him while my other fist kept pounding his face. My fingernails raked bloody scratches across his skin. Hearing the commotion, my parents came rushing into the living room. "Nathan, are you crazy?!" they screamed in horror. Someone grabbed me and yanked me away. My lower back slammed hard against the sharp edge of the coffee table, sending a jolt of pain so intense that my vision went black for a second. Steve burst into tears. "Mom, my face! Look at my face! Is it ruined?" He threw himself into her arms. "I was only trying to calm Nathan down. I told him he could have all my allowance if he stopped. But he snapped and attacked me! He said if he killed me, he and Aaron could come back and get all your money and property!" Chapter 6 Dad roughly hauled me to my feet and pointed at Steve's battered face. "Look at what you did to Steve's face! Were you trying to ruin him?" he roared. "Nathan, you're sick with jealousy! If you can beat your own brother like this, who's to say we're not next?" Hearing him call Steve my brother made something inside me snap. All the hurt, anger, and resentment I'd been holding back exploded at once. I ignored the wounds that had already split open and screamed at the top of my lungs, "He's not my brother! Aaron is my only brother, and he's already dead!" My voice echoed through the house, raw and hysterical. "What right do you have to lecture me? The three of you are murderers! You're all responsible for Aaron's death! "You're grown adults, yet you can't even tell right from wrong or see the truth! You don't deserve to be parents. I hate you!" A suffocating silence fell over the living room. Dad grabbed a mug from the table and hurled it to the floor, shattering it into pieces. "The insane lies you tell just to avoid taking the blame!" he shouted, his body trembling with fury. "Once I'm done dealing with you, I'm going to drag Aaron back here myself! If you turned out this badly, he's probably just as useless!" Seeing his chance, Steve quickly handed Dad his belt. The belt lashed across my back, striking my surgical wounds again and again. "I made a mistake!" Dad roared between strikes. "I shouldn't have sent you two to the countryside! I should've thrown you straight into juvenile hall instead! Stealing money, and now plotting to get our assets? Where is Aaron? Get him here now! I'll beat some sense into both of you!" Blood seeped through my clothes from the reopened wounds, and I was suddenly grateful I was wearing a dark shirt. I refused to show any weakness in front of the people who had caused Aaron's death. Swallowing the pain, I said, "Fine. I'll take you to him." I got into the car and entered the location of Aaron's grave into the GPS. The whole drive there, Mom and Dad kept complaining that we were heading the wrong way. Steve even accused me of deliberately taking them somewhere remote to rob and murder them. I was too physically drained to bother arguing. An hour later, the car stopped at the foot of a mountain. "Aaron's here?" Dad asked, looking out the window. I didn't answer. I just got out and started climbing. By the time we reached halfway up the mountain, my face had gone deathly pale. Dad lost his patience first. "If you dare try to pull something…" "He's right there," I whispered, pointing to a small, fresh mound of earth beneath a tree. Tears welled up in my eyes again. Mom and Dad froze. They exchanged an uneasy glance before turning back to me. "Nathan, this isn't funny," Dad warned, his voice tight. Mom looked too devastated to say another word to me. She turned away and called Aaron herself. I let out a bitter laugh and said nothing. When they sent us to the countryside, they only gave us two outdated, cheap phones that didn't even have GPS. Because they'd been so tight-fisted with us, the police couldn't use Aaron's phone to track his location in time. They cost him his only chance of being rescued. After three calls went straight to voicemail, Mom finally broke down. She looked at me. Her eyes held a skeptical gleam. "Nathan… where did you hide Aaron?"