Yesterday's Pain

Chapter 7

Andrew and I waited for the operation to be done. I thought it will just take three hours but I was wrong it has been six hours but the operation is still ongoing. Andrew is walking back and forth. I tried calming him down but he won't listen to me. When he saw a doctor coming out of the operating room he run towards him.

"How is my father Doc?" He asked with fear and panic in his voice. The doctor tapped his shoulder.

"Your father is fine, for now." That update brought a different level of fear to me, especially to Andrew.

"If another attack happened, I am sorry to say this but I don't think his heart can handle it. Mr. Herman is already old Andrew, risks will be inevitable. I will transfer him to a private room and maybe after a week of staying at the hospital he can continue his medication at home." The doctor explained everything to Andrew and after that, he left to take care of some papers for the operation. When the doctor left Andrew leaned his back on the wall and let himself slide until he is already sitting on the floor. He put his elbow on his both knees and bowed his head. I walked in his direction and sat beside him. I caressed his back to give him comfort.

"Everything will be fine Andrew." He didn't bother to look at me, he just bow his head. After a while, I saw his father laying on the stretcher while two doctors and three nurses are pushing him. They informed us that he will be transferred to a private room. Andrew stood up when he heard that and we followed the hospital stretcher where Mr. Herman is laying.

We are now in a private room where Andrew's father was transferred. It is a big room with a hospital bed and one bed for the patient's guardian, there is also a television and mini-refrigerator to make the patient feel at home. I chose to sit on the chair beside Mr. Herman's bed then I held his hand while he is lying peacefully, regaining his strength. Andrew asked me to look for his father while he is out to buy food for us and I willingly agreed. I insisted that I will be the one to buy food but he rejected my idea and told me to stay here and watch his father. He wasn't gone for too long because after almost half an hour the room's door opened and it revealed Andrew holding a paper bag, which is probably our food.

I stood up to help him. He gave me one paper bag and he held the other two. We put all the foods on the mini table and the perks of being rich are when you are in the hospital it feels like you are at home since all the things you needed are all here. I took out the food in the paper bag. All the foods that Andrew bought looked so expensive. I will be having a hard time swallowing it if I knew the price. He bought steak and salad and other foods that I didn't know the name of.

"Do you want that?" He asked so I looked at him and nodded. All the food looks delicious the only thing that I worry about is its price. It must be tantamount to my one-month allowance.

"I don't know what food do you like but I can buy something else if you want. Do you crave anything?" He asked softly and I felt some butterflies in my stomach. His voice is like a lullaby in my ears.

"Will you act this way for our entire marriage or just for today Andrew?" I am afraid to ask that question but what scares me more is to be kept in the dark having no idea when this kind act of him will fade.

"We will make this marriage work Lauren." It feels like someone touch my heart when he said that. Finally, after the long wait, he gave me a chance to be closer to him.

"Thank you, Andrew. I will do everything to make this marriage work." I said those with teary eyes. He looked at me and held my face.

"We will make this work." He gave me an assuring smile. After that heartfelt conversation, we started eating our food. This is one of the happiest meals that I ever had in my life. When we are done eating I decided to take a bath. I was humming some love song while I soaked myself in soap. It took me one hour and when I am already satisfied I wore the comfortable clothes that Andrew bought earlier. We have no time to go home it will be a hassle for both of us. I have a class later but I might excuse myself since this is an emergency and Andrew need someone to lean on. I should be on his side during hard moments, that is my duty as his wife. I got out of the bathroom while drying my hair. Andrew looked in my direction and then stand up since it is his turn to take a bath. I check Mr. Herman and he is still lying peacefully on his hospital bed with apparatus connected to his body. I held his hand and moved it closer to my face.

"Wake up Dad, Andrew's worried," I told him softly but he didn't respond. My chest got heavy and extreme sadness crept into me. I felt some hot tears fall on my cheeks when Andrew's worried face flashed in my mind. I immediately wipe my tears when I heard the bathroom door open.

"Lauren let's sleep," Andrew called me so I stand up and walk to the bed that was assigned to the patient's guardian. I saw Andrew drying his hair so I patted the side of the bed urging him to sit down. I thought he won't give in but he sat down. I took the towel he was holding and started drying his hair.

"Are you okay?" After everything that has happened, it is the first time I asked him that question. I know Andrew is not okay with this situation but I just want to know how he is feeling. What runs inside his mind?

"I am not Lauren." He admitted and for the first time, I saw his weak side.

"I am here Andrew," I told him while wiping his hair. I wasn't expecting his next action. He turned his body to faced me and hugged me tightly. Like a kid he cried on my stomach. His hugs get tighter as his sobs get louder. I caressed his back thinking that it can lessen the pain he is feeling.

"I don't want my father to die, I am not ready Lauren." It feels like I am hugging a young Andrew who is complaining because he is hurt.

"He won't Andrew, your father is strong, he will get through this we will help him, okay?" He nodded like a kid.

"Let's take a rest I know you are tired." Both of us lay on the bed. Andrew hugged me tightly and buried his face in my neck. He looks comfortable when he did that. I caress his hair and after a while, he let out a deep breath as a sign that he has already fallen asleep.

"I love you." I kissed his hair and hugged him even tighter before dozing off to sleep. I wasn't asleep for too long because voices woke me up.

"I know you married Lauren because of my request and for the ownership of the company Andrew." It was Mr. Herman's voice talking to Andrew. The room is quiet and it is already dark the only thing that lights the room is the lamp on Mr. Herman's bedside table. It feels like someone pinched my heart when I heard those words from Andrew's father. I am aware that Andrew doesn't love me at all but it still hurts when I heard it from other people. It is like a slap on my face that I am only pushing myself toward Andrew.

"I am trying to love her Dad," Andrew answered his father. I watched their movement and I saw Mr. Herman lift his hands to pat Andrew's shoulder.

"Lauren is a great woman, I can see that. I am sure you will love her the way I love your mother." The pain that I am feeling earlier vanished and was replaced with joy. It sounds like Mr. Herman is telling me that I have a chance on Andrew and one day he will love the way I love him. Andrew didn't answer his father. He just kissed his forehead and started walking in my direction. I act like I am in deep sleep so he won't know that I am eavesdropping on their conversation. I felt the other side of the bed sink, he probably lay down.

"How can I love you when you look like a kid in my eyes Lauren?" He whispered that question but I still heard it. The hot liquid started forming in the side of my eyes. I tried stopping them but they continue to fall. I turned to the other side and covered my mouth to stop myself from sobbing. Loving Andrew is like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes it brings me to the highest of highs but in just a blink I will once again experience a great fall that will cause tremendous fear and pain.