Cunningham — She knew ‘I would marry this man.’

By Russell Cunningham

Jason overcame the fear of rejection and blurted, “Uh… So, what brings you here?” Then he sighed. “You idiot!” he thought to himself, while trying to avoid eye contact with her. After a short pause, Chloe burst out laughing at the silly question.

“I was thinking of asking you the same thing,” she said with a giggle. Jason feeling relieved, looked up and their eyes met for the first time.

“Sorry, dumb question.” He held up his arm in reference to the IV and smirked.

Chloe’s mind flashed back to that horrible day as she slowly opened her lips, “I’m Chloe. I started donating last year.” She trembled a bit as she continued, “I was in a bad car accident and lost a lot of blood. Someone at this facility saved my life. I wanted to find out who donated the blood for my transfusion, but the nurse could only tell me what was on the label. ‘Ohio Facility 47, Jason1995’. I figured the least I could do was try to help someone else by donating,” Chloe finished.

Jason thought to himself, “could it be my blood that saved her?” “My name is Jason and I was born in 1995. Do you think it’s possible?” He paused and they locked stunned gazes.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Chloe could not contain her excitement. She hugged Jason and before he knew what hit him, kissed him passionately. “I think we were meant to be together. I could feel it as soon as I saw you,” she said lovingly.

“I felt it too, but I didn’t know what to say,” replied Jason. It had to be fate bringing them together. Jason’s act of kindness had saved the woman he would fall in love with.

Chloe knew right then she would marry this man. Their connection was irresistible, and his life saving blood flowed through her. They had everything in common – even being the same age. They made time to see each other every day. Their relationship blossomed, and grew stronger with every moment they shared. Months passed by, and they could not stand to be away from each other. Jason decided he would ask Chloe to marry him. But how would he, and when?

He was meeting Chloe, at Donor Facility 47, later that day to donate blood together. Jason raced to the jewelry store to pick up the engagement ring he had purchased. It was set with a five carat blood red diamond.

Chloe arrived late, but Jason wasn’t there yet. “Where is he,” she thought. Time passed and still Jason did not show. Now Chloe was starting to worry.

Then she got the call from Jason’s mother. “Jason has been shot! He’s at St. E’s hospital,” she cried. It was all Chloe could do not to collapse. Tears flowed from her eyes as she hurried to the hospital.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Chloe arrived to find Jason unconscious. His family hugged her. “Will he be okay?” cried Chloe.

Jason’s mother replied, “The doctors say he should be. He lost a lot of blood, but they gave him a transfusion, and he will hopefully wake up soon.”

Chloe stayed by Jason’s bedside, praying that he would wake up. She wanted to hug and kiss him just like the first time they met. A knock at the door startled Chloe, and a police officer entered the room.

“We captured the man that shot Jason. We think this belongs to you,” he said as he handed Chloe a small jewelry box. She opened the box and wept as she put on the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

Chloe smiled with tears in her eyes and said, “Yes, Jason. The answer is yes.” A single tear fell from her cheek onto Jason’s hand.

Just then, Jason’s eyes opened and he saw the ring on Chloe’s finger. He knew she was willing to be his wife. “You could have waited for me to ask,” he chuckled weakly.

Chloe exploded with joy, hugging and kissing him. “You never needed to ask, my love.” A nurse entered the room to check on Jason and was glad to see he was awake. Chloe had to ask, “Who saved my fiance?”

The nurse checked the charts and spoke, “I can tell you what is on the label, ‘Ohio Facility 47, Chloe1995’.”

Once again, Jason and Chloe locked stunned eyes. They both smiled and said. “We are meant to be.”