Suddenly, silence occupied the plane. Michael clutched his chest, contorting in pain. “Dana, my heart,” he gasped, his voice strained.

“Are you okay?” Dana asked, trembling.

“Gotcha!” he said, smirking. “You really think I’d have a heart attack because you broke my heart?”

“That’s not funny, you idiot!” Dana pushed past him to the exit, boiling over with anger. “Unbelievable!” she shouted as she walked down the aisle.

As Michael stood up to follow her, his smile changed to alarm. He clutched his chest again, but this time, for real. “Dana!” he gasped, stumbling forward. “I’m serious!”
The passengers around him turned in shock as Michael collapsed onto the floor, his body convulsing. Dana spun around in fear, crying out, rushing back to him.

A nearby passenger turned out to be a nurse. “Tachycardia! We need to get him medical attention ASAP!”

Michael’s world was already a blur. Around him, figures moved with urgent purpose.

“BP’s dropping!” he heard. “Where’s Mrs. Carter?” one of the voices asked, tone edged with anxiety. Michael’s mind, sluggish and disjointed, recognized the name. Mrs. Carter—wasn’t that the woman from the airport he framed?

“She couldn’t make her flight,” another voice replied.

“We’re losing him!”

The words sent chills down Michael’s spine. Would he die after setting up the doctor who could help him? Was this real karma’s revenge?

It was the last thing he thought before passing out.

—

Michael woke to the sterile scent of antiseptic and the rhythmic beeping of monitors. He blinked against the harsh lights of a hospital room, feeling a tube in his nose and an IV in his arm. His chest ached, but he was alive.

Dana sat beside his bed, her face a mask of worry. “You’re awake,” she said, relief flooding her voice.

“What happened?” he croaked.

“You had a heart attack, Michael. A real one,” Dana replied. “We were lucky there was a nurse on the plane. They managed to stabilize you until we landed.”

Michael’s mind raced. “Mrs. Carter…?”

Dana frowned. “The doctor? She wasn’t on the flight. Why are you asking about her?”

Michael closed his eyes, guilt washing over him. Mrs. Carter, a renowned cardiologist, was supposed to be on that flight. He had framed her, accusing her of theft to ensure she missed it, thinking it would be a harmless prank.

Tears welled up in his eyes. “I set her up,” he confessed. “I made sure she missed the flight. It was a stupid, petty act. She’s the one who could’ve saved me.”

Dana’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. “You… did that?”

“I thought it would be funny,” Michael whispered, his voice cracking. “I didn’t think…”

Dana shook her head, standing up. “You need to rest. I’ll be back later.”

As she left the room, Michael stared at the ceiling, his chest tight with more than just physical pain. He had always played pranks, pushed boundaries, but this time he had gone too far. He realized now that his actions had consequences, and those consequences had nearly cost him his life.

In the following days, Michael’s condition stabilized. Dana visited him daily, but the tension between them was palpable. Michael spent long hours reflecting on his life, his choices, and the relationships he had damaged.

“Mrs. Carter,” he began, struggling to sit up. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t—”

She held up a hand. “Save it. I’m not here for an apology. I’m here because Dana called me. She explained everything.”

Michael’s eyes darted to Dana, who stood in the doorway, her arms crossed. “You told her?”

“She deserved to know the truth,” Dana said. “And you need to make things right.”

Mrs. Carter approached the bed, her eyes narrowing. “You’re lucky to be alive, Michael. Not just because you survived a heart attack, but because your actions didn’t cause more harm. I’m here to offer you a deal.”

“A deal?” Michael echoed, confused.

“You’re going to make a public apology,” Mrs. Carter said. “And you’re going to volunteer at the hospital where I work, helping patients who need it. Maybe then you’ll understand the gravity of your actions.”

Michael nodded, tears of gratitude and regret in his eyes. “I will. I promise.”

In the months that followed, Michael kept his promise. He apologized publicly, faced the consequences of his actions, and volunteered at the hospital. The work was hard, humbling, and it opened his eyes to the impact he could have, both positive and negative.

Through it all, Dana stood by him, though their relationship was forever changed. Michael’s journey of redemption was just beginning, but he was determined to make amends, to be a better person.

As he watched a patient smile, grateful for his help, Michael felt a sense of purpose he had never known. He realized that true fulfillment came not from pranks and petty games, but from making a real, positive difference in the lives of others.