The Man Who Donated a Kidney to Me Proposed a Month Later, Claiming He Was Terminally Ill and Didn't Want to Pass Alone – But Right After We Said 'I Do,' He Took My Hand and Whispered, 'Now I Can Finally Tell You the Truth'

"I need one promise."

"Anything."

    "No lies."

"No lies."

Nathan held my gaze.

"No lies."

I said yes.

We planned a wedding small enough to fit inside a garden room behind a local restaurant. My parents came. My brother complained about his tie. Mara cried before the ceremony even started.

    The ceremony lasted twelve minutes.

Treatment had not begun yet, and we tried not to count all our meals as last meals.

On the morning of the wedding, I asked him one last time, "Are we doing this because we're scared?"

He squeezed my fingers.

    "We're doing it because we're scared and because I love you."

"Okay."

The ceremony lasted twelve minutes. I remember because my brother timed it and whispered, "Efficient," when we signed the papers.

Nathan laughed.

    His smile vanished so completely that my stomach dropped.

I did too.

Then the officiant pronounced us husband and wife.