CHAPTER 6

I stood up, stretching my legs after two hours of pacing and praying in the hallway. The red bulb above the operating room door still glowed, indicating that the surgery was ongoing.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I had prayed until I felt a sense of peace wash over me, but the anxiety was still there, lurking beneath the surface.

As I stood there, I noticed a few other families waiting in the hallway, all of us united in our concern for our loved ones.

Some were pacing like I had been, while others sat in chairs, their eyes fixed on the floor. We exchanged sympathetic glances, but no one spoke. We all knew why we were there, and words weren't necessary.

I decided to take a seat in one of the chairs, trying to collect my thoughts. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick update to Rachel, letting her know that the surgery was still ongoing.

She responded immediately, sending a string of encouraging messages and emojis.

As I scrolled through my phone, I noticed a text from an unknown number.

"Hey Aries, it's Emily from school. I heard about your mom and wanted to reach out. I'm sending all my positive vibes your way." I smiled, feeling grateful for the support.

Just then, the red bulb above the operating room door flickered and went out. My heart skipped a beat as I stood up, my eyes fixed on the door. A few moments later, Dr. Ryan emerged, looking tired but relieved.

"Aries, the surgery is complete," he said, his voice gentle. "Your mother is in recovery now. We'll be moving her to the ICU shortly."

I felt a wave of emotion wash over me as I processed the news. The surgery was done, but the road to recovery was just beginning. I took a deep breath, trying to stay focused on the present moment.

"Thank you, Dr. Ryan," I said, my voice shaking. "Can I see her?"

Dr. Ryan nodded. "Soon. We just need to get her settled in the ICU first. I'll come get you as soon as it's okay."

As I stood there, still talking to Dr. Ryan, I heard the sound of wheels rolling towards us. I turned to see two nurses pushing my mother's bed, now empty of all the surgical equipment, towards the ICU.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw my mother lying there, surrounded by machines and tubes, but looking more peaceful than I had seen her in hours.

"Let's get her settled in," one of the nurses said, smiling at me. "We'll take good care of her."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Dr. Ryan placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"I'll come check on you and your mother soon," he said. "But for now, why don't you go with the nurses and get your mother settled in?"

I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. I followed the nurses as they pushed my mother's bed down the hallway, the sound of the wheels echoing off the walls.

We turned a corner and entered the ICU, a large room filled with rows of beds, each one surrounded by machines and monitors.

The nurses expertly navigated the bed through the room, stopping at a bed in the corner. They began to transfer my mother to the new bed, hooking up machines and adjusting tubes.

I stood at the door, watching as they worked, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me.

One of the nurses noticed me standing there and smiled. "You can come in, dear," she said. "We're just getting her settled."

I hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside. The room was quiet, the only sound was the beeping of machines and the soft murmur of the nurses as they worked. I stood at the foot of the bed, looking at my mother, feeling a mix of emotions: relief, anxiety, hope, and fear.

The nurses finished their work and stepped back, smiling at me. "We'll be here if you need us," one of them said. "Just press the call button if you need anything."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards them. They left the room, leaving me alone with my mother. The surgery was over, but the road to recovery was just beginning. My mother was alive, and that's all that mattered.

As I stood there, lost in thought, the door to the ICU room creaked open and Mrs. Jenkins walked in. She had a warm smile on her face, but her eyes were filled with concern. She approached my mother's bed, gazing down at her with a gentle expression.

After a moment, she turned to me, her eyes scanning my face. "Aries, dear, you look exhausted," she said, her voice soft with compassion.

"Why don't you go home and get some rest? I'll stay here with your mother and wait for her to wake up." Mrs Jenkins said.

I hesitated, feeling a surge of resistance at the idea of leaving my mother's side. But Mrs. Jenkins' kind eyes and gentle tone reassured me. I knew she would take good care of my mother.

"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her.

Mrs Jenkins nodded. "Of course, dear. You need to take care of yourself too. Your mother will need you to be strong when she wakes up."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I knew Mrs. Jenkins was right. I was running on empty, and I needed to recharge.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Mrs. Jenkins smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "You'll never have to find out, dear. Now go home and get some rest. I'll be here when you get back."

As Mrs. Jenkins encouraged me to go home and rest, she added, "And don't worry about food, dear. I've already stocked the kitchen with some meals. All you need to do is microwave them."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. It was one less thing to worry about.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins," I said, my voice filled with emotion. "You're a lifesaver."

Mrs. Jenkins smiled and patted my shoulder. "Just go home and take care of yourself, dear. That's all you need to do right now."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I pulled out my phone and dialled a number, waiting for my private chauffeur, Mr Thompson to answer.

"Hello, Mr Thompson," I said, my voice tired but relieved. "I need you to come pick me up at the hospital. I'm ready to go home."

"Right away, ma'am," Mr Thompson replied, his voice professional and reassuring. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Thanks, Mr Thompson. I appreciate it."

I hung up the phone and turned to Mrs. Jenkins. "My chauffeur is on his way," I said. "I'll be going home now."

Mrs Jenkins nodded, smiling. "Good. Get some rest, dear. You need it."

I leaned forward and kissed my mother's forehead, whispering "I love you" in her ear. Then I turned and left the room.

I walked through the hallway, my feet carrying me on autopilot as my mind was still reeling from the events of the past few hours.

I passed by the nurses' station, where the staff were busy tending to their duties, and nodded in appreciation as they smiled and bid me farewell.

As I approached the elevator, I pressed the button indicating the lobby, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as the doors slid open with a soft whoosh. I stepped inside, taking a deep breath as the doors closed behind me, enveloping me in a quiet, temporary solitude.

I leaned against the wall, feeling the weight of my exhaustion bearing down on me. The elevator began its smooth descent, the numbers on the display panel ticking down with a reassuring consistency.

As the doors opened on the lobby level, I straightened up, smoothing my clothes and taking a deep breath to steel myself for the journey ahead.

I stepped out into the bustling lobby, the sounds of conversation and movement enveloping me once more.

I scanned the area, looking for Mr. Thompson, my chauffeur, and spotted him standing by the entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd for me. I nodded in his direction, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he made his way towards me.

"Ready to head home, ma'am?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Thompson. I'm ready to go home."