Tim Law is an author of fantasy, horror, detective and general short story fiction as well as the occasional poem or two. He heralds from a little town in Southern Australia called Murray Bridge. A happily married father of three children (plus four cats and a rabbit), family is very important to him. Currently working at the Murray Bridge Library in the role of Library Manager he has dreamed since his early high school years of becoming a full-time author. Working for a library, surrounded by so many wonderful authors it is difficult not to be inspired to write. Tim finds inspiration from playing board games, family movie night, family time and the world around him. The greatest inspiration of all for him comes from asking the golden question “what if?”

Flora’s Heart

Flora looked down on the scene before her and smiled. Both her mom and her dad were there holding hands, listening intently to the doctor.

“No, no, please,” begged Flora’s mom.

“Louise, it is time,” urged Flora’s dad. “We have to let her go.”

The car accident had been tough to get through, lying in bed, wrapped up in pain, vague memories of that drive to the beach with grandma when they did not even make it to the coast.

Flora remembered sitting in the backseat and telling her grandma all about the zoo trip she had been on with her first grade class. The teacher had asked all of the students to find their favorite animal and Flora had been lucky enough to discover that the hippopotamus was one of the very first animals that the class had visited. Tommy Green had cried when he found out he wasn’t going to be the winner that day but the other kids had all given Flora a pat on the back. It had felt good. Just like it had felt good when grandma turned around to give Flora a broad smile.

Before grandma could say anything though the lights for the intersection had changed and a big black car had ploughed right into them.

There had been days after that when Flora had sensed her mom or her dad by her bed, holding her hand tightly, or whispering to her. Grandma had never been there, maybe grandma hadn’t made it. There was a time where Flora had been determined to open her eyes, to smile again, to fulfill those wishes and prayers that she could vaguely hear her parents saying. As days turned into a week though Flora discovered the feeling that she just wasn’t going to make it. It was a sad feeling but also a feeling that this was ok.

Flora looked down on the scene of her mom and her dad talking with the doctor and she heard words like transplant, and new life, and donation. This felt good, this felt like the right thing to do.

“Yes,” said Flora. “I want to help.”

“Good bye, sweetheart,” said Flora’s mom as Flora felt a gentle kiss upon her forehead.

“Good bye to our dear little girl,” sobbed Flora’s dad.

Fiona knew that it has not the end though. Perhaps her eyes were no good, the crash had been hard on her face and her body. Perhaps her lungs had given up. It could have been possible perhaps for her liver to help another child live longer. Flora knew though deep down that it was her heart that beat strongly that was going to be her great gift.

Flora watched on as the medical staff carefully opened up her body. By then her grandma stood beside her, holding her hand and squeezing it tight.

“You are a good girl darling, so kind and so generous to give such a special gift,” said grandma.

Flora smiled and nodded.

“I am so sorry that things have ended up this way, Flora,” said grandma sadly.

“Don’t be sorry, grandma,” Flora replied. “My life was a happy one and I can now help another child continue to live their life too.”

Flora watched closely the journey of her heart.