Page 85 of Girl Lost
Summer was no more than eighteen or nineteen with a shock of auburn hair pulled back into a tidy ponytail. She wore a crisp white lab coat and a name badge clipped to the lapel. The lab coat was slightly oversized, adding a touch of youthful awkwardness to her otherwise professional appearance.
Corbin’s eyes met Luna’s for a fraction of a second. This wasn’t part of the plan, but they’d have to roll with it.
“Of course,” he said. “Always good to see young people interested in medicine.”
Summer stepped forward, her green eyes bright with intelligence. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I hope you don’t mind my presence. This internship is a crucial part of my college application process.”
There was something about her that tugged at Corbin’s heart. A familiar spark in those eyes, that reminded him of ... Carlie? He’d been staring at her photo for weeks, he felt like he practically knew her.
“Not at all,” Luna said. “It’s admirable that you’re pursuing such a challenging field.”
Summer beamed, her whole face lighting up. “Thank you, Mrs. Sinclair. To be honest, I’m somewhat of a computer nerd. But I’ve always been drawn to medicine, so why not blend the two. I especially love cardiology. The heart is such a fascinating organ, don’t you think?”
Before he could respond, Dr. Forest came in a flurry and plopped behind the desk. “Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“No need to apologize.” Corbin took shallow breaths for effect. “We appreciate you ... seeing us on such ... short notice.”
Dr. Forest’s eyes narrowed as he assessed Corbin. “Yes, well, your case sounded quite urgent. Please, tell me what brings you to our facility.”
Corbin launched into the backstory they’d carefully crafted. “It started about two years ago. Shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain. At first, I thought it was just stress from work, but it kept getting worse. Especially the last six months.”
Luna reached over, taking his hand in hers. The gesture was meant to sell their cover, but Corbin couldn’t help noticing how perfectly their fingers intertwined.
“We’ve seen multiple specialists,” Luna added. “They all say the same thing. Alex needs a new heart, and soon. But the waiting list...” She looked at him, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Oh, she was good.
Dr. Forest leaned forward and laced his fingers together. “I understand your frustration, Mrs. Sinclair. The organ donation system is far from perfect. That’s why we’re working on alternative solutions here at the Center.”
“Alternative solutions?” Corbin prompted, his curiosity genuine.
Dr. Forest smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. “We’re at the forefront of bioengineering technology. Our goal is to create fully functional, lab-grown organs that are compatible with any recipient.”
“It’s truly revolutionary work,” Summer chimed in. “Dr. Forest has dedicated his life to this mission.”
“Indeed.” Dr. Forest nodded. “It’s a personal mission of mine. My daughter, Elizabeth, received a heart transplant when she was just a child. The process was ... harrowing, to say the least. I vowed then to find a better way.”
There was conviction in Dr. Forest’s voice, but also something else. A hardness that set Corbin on edge.
“That’s admirable,” Luna said. “But surely, creating organs fromscratch must be incredibly complex. How close are you to achieving this goal?”
Dr. Forest’s smile tightened. “Closer than you might think, Mrs. Sinclair. We’ve made significant strides in recent months. In fact, we’re on the verge of a major breakthrough.”
Corbin turned his attention to the young intern. “And what made you choose this particular internship, Summer? It must be quite competitive.”
“Well, to be honest, nepotism.” A faint blush colored Summer’s cheeks. “My parents’ connection to the Center. They’ve been helping fund Dr. Forest’s research.”
“Oh, lovely.” Luna placed her hands neatly in her lap. “Your parents must be quite philanthropic.”
Summer’s expression clouded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Dr. Forest cleared his throat. “Now, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, shall we discuss your options?”
As Dr. Forest launched into an explanation of their groundbreaking technology, Corbin found himself drowning in medical jargon.
“...and with our proprietary bioprinting technology, we’re able to create custom organ scaffolds that are then seeded with the patient’s own cells,” Dr. Forest was saying. “This drastically reduces the risk of rejection.”
“It sounds almost too good to be true,” Corbin said.
