Love's war soldiers

Chapter 3

"Mrs. Hall, wake up!" I get up dazedly from the makeshift bed in the hospital waiting room and stare anxiously at the doctor. The thought that something had happened to my daughter sprouted in my mind even before I opened my eyes, and fear took over me. I look at him questioningly, being afraid to ask the question that is now on my tongue: Did something happen to my daughter ?!

My anxiety, combined with the pungent smell of the hospital, makes me nauseous and weakens my legs so that I have to lean with my right hand on the back of the nearest chair. I avoid his pittyfull and compassionate gaze and focus on nurses swarming around even at this late hour to supplement patients needs.

The doctor breaks the silence that plays relentlessly with my heart, but not before giving me a warm smile. "Someone heard your prayers," he says. I just got a heart transplant with the specification for your daughter. My heart is pounding and I can't control the tears of joy and the urge to hug the stranger who has now given me the most important news of my life.

- Mrs Hall, my colleagues are now preparing the operating room because the patient's current condition is not very good and she cannot stand procrastination. But I have to inform you that the hardest part has not yet passed. After the operation, the first 48 hours will be crucial. The patient's body may reject the transplant. I have been following you since she was hospitalized, you have spent all the nights here and you have not rested or eaten properly. The operation will last all night, being an open heart operation and with many risks, it would be best to go home and rest and return tomorrow morning.

For the first time, I look at him as a human and not a robot. Until now, he has never given up the attitude of a seconded doctor and the formalities that I myself admit are ethical on his part to use. Although his gaze has always betrayed him, it is the first time I feel that he speaks to me warmly. And I know he's right, but I can't leave now. I could never forgive myself if something happened to my Aimee and I wouldn't be here. "Thank you, Doctor, but I'd rather stay here." - As you wish. I will ask a nurse to let you know when we take the patient to the operating room, he says, and walks away. As soon as I'm alone, I get on the phone and call my husband to tell him about the transplant.

Until his arrival, I retire to the hospital chapel to thank the Lord and the kind-hearted family who put an end to the torment I was going through. I know the doctor is skeptical, but I know in my heart that everything will be fine. My mother's heart tells me that. The chapel is now empty and dark, and all that can be heard now are the quiet footsteps of the nurses walking in front of the door. I close my eyes and imagine all the things I will do with her, and all the places we will go. A new heart means a new life for her. A better one.

After recovery, her heart will be strong and she will be able to do all the things she always wanted to do, but she couldn't. My heart is filled with happiness at these thoughts. A warm hand grabs my own hand, and I don't necessarily have to open my eyes to know who it is. Although it's been 22 years since we've been together, his skin still sparks on my skin when he touches it. My first boyfriend, my first love. The only man I could love. The one who gave me everything and to whom I gave myself completely. I hold him in my arms and tears flow to both of us. Now we have hope to cling to.

We spend minutes in silence, one in the other's arms, completely lost in his warm arms that give me both security and protection. "We should go to the waiting room, baby," he says, not moving his arms around me. I don't make any sound, but I take his hand and pull him after me.

This expectation is relentless and extremely difficult. The longer we wait, the harder time passes. We try to fill it with discussions of all kinds, with plans and with a lot, a lot of coffee, but nothing seems to work. I don't even feel able to sit down anymore, so I get up from my chair and walk around.

- You'll make a hole in the ground if you don't calm down.

- But how long does it take?

- It's a complicated operation, baby. It's normal to take a long time.

- But 5 hours and 42 minutes have already passed. I don't finish the sentence well, because I notice agitated movements on the color. Nurses walk around and my heart beats hard. I go to them to see which one can tell me something. Anything. No matter how small. Just to know something ..

- Excuse me, could you give me some information about Aimee Hall's surgery? She gave me an ugly look as if I had bothered her enormously with my question and as if I had hit her in the head with something. At this point I really wish I had given it to him.

- Dr. Richards will come and talk to you, she says quickly, and goes in the other direction, leaving me with thousands of questions. I turn to my husband and notice that he is talking to the doctor. I run to them quickly and they both give me a reassuring smile.

- The operation was a success. Everything went well and there were no complications, although it was a difficult operation. The patient will now be taken to a reserve where she will sleep for hours. Unfortunately, we will not allow visits until 11 in the morning. I can assure you he won't wake up until then. We will keep an eye on it, because as I told you, the next period is the most dangerous.

‐ Thank you very much, Doctor, my husband says, shaking hands with him. He gives us a friendly smile and leaves. I breathed a sigh of relief.

- Honey, I'm going to stay here, go home and get some sleep, eat, take a shower and come back here with new strength. The accumulated fatigue puts its mark on me and I nod silently. I kiss him lightly on the lips and head for the parking lot.

*** Redemption code A11KOA07 ***