Chapter 60 Truth on trial
Flora
The week passed in a blur of research and sleepless nights. I read everything I could find about embryo adoption, about genetic twins, about children raised from frozen embryos. I spoke with doctors, ethicists, adoption specialists. Everyone had an opinion. No one had easy answers.
"You are overthinking this," Rafael said on the sixth night, finding me at the kitchen table surrounded by papers at two in the morning.
"How can I overthink this?" I demanded. "These are lives we are talking about. Seventeen human lives that will exist or not exist based on what I decide."
"Not just you," Rafael reminded me. "The authorities have the final say."
"But they are waiting for my recommendation," I said. "Dmitri made that clear. Whatever I say, they will follow."
Rafael sat down across from me. He looked exhausted.
"I am sorry," I said softly. "I know I am being difficult."
"You are being thoughtful," he corrected. "There is a difference."
I pushed the papers away and rubbed my eyes. "I keep coming back to the same question. If I say yes, am I saving them or condemning them?"
"Why would you be condemning them?" Rafael asked.
"Because they will always be genetic experiments," I said. "They will never have normal lives. Just like I will never have a normal life."
"Your life is not so terrible," Rafael said gently.
I laughed bitterly. "Is it not? I cannot go anywhere without wondering if someone recognizes me from the news. I cannot make friends without wondering if they want to know me or just want to study me."
"And now there might be another me," I continued. "Another person with my exact DNA. How do I live with that? How do I meet them and not feel like I am looking at a replacement?"
Rafael came around the table and knelt beside my chair. "You are not replaceable, Flora. You are unique. Your experiences, your choices, your soul, those things make you who you are, not your DNA."
"You keep saying that," I whispered. "But what if you are wrong?"
"Then explain this," Rafael said, taking my hand and placing it over his heart. "Explain why my heart beats faster when you walk into a room. Explain why I cannot sleep when you are upset."
Tears spilled down my cheeks. "Rafael..."
"That is not DNA," he said firmly. "That is love. That is real."
I pulled him close. He held me while I cried, his hand stroking my hair.
"I am scared," I admitted.
"I know," he said. "But you do not have to decide alone. Whatever you choose, we will face it together."
I pulled back to look at him. "What would you do if you were me?"
He considered this carefully.
"Honestly? I think I would give them the chance. Not because it is easy, but because every person deserves the opportunity to live."
"Even my twin?" I asked.
"Especially your twin," he said. "Because maybe they will surprise you. Maybe they will be nothing like you."
I thought about that. About the possibility of meeting someone with my DNA but their own personality.
"Or maybe they will be exactly like me. And that is okay too. Having someone who truly understands what it is like to be a genetic experiment could be good."
Rafael smiled. "There is the Flora I know."
I kissed him softly. "Thank you for not letting me spiral."
"Always," he promised.
The next morning, I called Dmitri. "I have made my decision."
"And?" he asked.
I took a deep breath. "I want to move forward. Find families for all seventeen embryos. Give them a chance at life."
"Including your twin?" Dmitri asked carefully.
"Including my twin," I confirmed. "But I have conditions."
"Name them," Dmitri said.
"First, the families must be thoroughly vetted. No scientists looking for test subjects. These children deserve real parents."
"Agreed," Dmitri said.
"Second, I want regular updates on their health and wellbeing. To ensure they are safe."
"That can be arranged," Dmitri said.
"Third," I continued, "I want to be involved in their lives if they want me to be. Not as a parent."
"As a mentor," Dmitri said.
"Exactly," I said. "And finally, I want their identities protected. No media exposure. They deserve privacy."
"These are all reasonable requests," Dmitri said. "I will present them to the committee."
"When will they decide?" I asked.
"Within the month," Dmitri said. "But Flora, the committee is very impressed with your thoughtfulness."
"Of course I care," I said. "They are like me. They deserve better than what I got."
After I hung up, Rafael wrapped his arms around me from behind. "I am proud of you," he murmured.
"Do not be proud yet," I said. "The hard part is still coming."
"What hard part?" he asked.
I turned in his arms to face him. "Meeting them. And seeing seventeen versions of what my life could have been."
"You will handle it," Rafael said with certainty.
"How can you be so sure?" I asked.
"Because you are the strongest person I know," he said. "And because you will not be alone. I will be right there with you."
I rested my forehead against his. "Promise?"
"I promise," he said. "Through everything. I am not going anywhere."
Later that day, Catherine came by with news. "The first trial date has been set. Dr. Chen goes before the court in three months."
My stomach dropped. "Three months."
"You will have to testify," Catherine said gently. "Are you ready for that?"
"No," I admitted. "But I will do it anyway."
"We can prepare you," Catherine offered. "Practice questions, mock testimony, whatever you need."
"What if I fall apart on the stand?" I asked.
"Then we will be there to catch you," Rafael said firmly. "Me, Catherine, Marco, Vittorio. We will all be there."
I nodded, trying to feel brave even though terror was crawling up my spine.
"There is something else you should know before the trial." Catherine said hesitantly.
Catherine pulled out her phone and showed me a news article. The headline made my blood run cold.
Dr. James Chen Claims Innocence: "I Was Trying to Save Humanity."
I read the first paragraph with growing horror. Dr. Chen was claiming he had acted in humanity's best interest. That Project Genesis was necessary to prevent genetic diseases. He was painting himself as a hero.
"He is going to fight this," I whispered.
"Of course he is," Catherine said. "Men like him always do. They never think they are the villain."
I looked at Rafael, saw the anger burning in his eyes.
"He will not win," Rafael said. "We have too much evidence. Too many witnesses."
"But what if people believe him?" I asked. "What if they think genetic experimentation is okay if it is for a good cause?"
"Then we will change their minds," Rafael said. "With your testimony. With the truth."
I wanted to believe him. But looking at Dr. Chen's confident smile in the photo, I felt a chill run through me.
This was not over. Not by a long shot.
And somehow, I knew the hardest battles were still ahead.