Page 63 of Ruthless Serenade

All I know is that it’s true.

And in my heart, I know there’s no turning back.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mindy

"It’s okay, sweetie," I whisper, brushing Sharon’s sweaty hair back.

I’m trying to sound calm, but inside, I’m falling apart. Each little whimper from her feels like it’s tearing me apart from the inside.

The hospital looms ahead of us, all bright lights and stark walls. We screech to a stop, and suddenly, everything’s mayhem. The gurney rattles across the floor, doctors are yelling words I don’t understand, and before I know it, they’re whisking away my little girl.

"Mommy!" Her faint cry echoes as the doors slam shut, leaving me alone in a sea of strangers.

I end up in the waiting room, surrounded by uncomfortable chairs and the smell of bad coffee. There’s no way I can sit still, so I pace. Back and forth, back and forth. Like a lioness in a cage. The clock on the wall seems to mock me with each tick.

I abruptly stop my pacing. There’s no way I can work today. Not even from home. I quickly reach for my phone and type out a text to Christine.

“Hi Christine, sorry, but I need to take the day off. Sharon’s in hospital."

I take a deep breath and hit ‘Send’. Surely, this is my last day with Vision Media, but it doesn’t matter anyway. I sealed my fate last week when I flashed my nudes in the boardroom. And with Sharon in hospital, can’t even bring myself to care about my job. The office feels distant and unimportant. Those spreadsheets, the reports, the deadlines; all of it fades into insignificance. All I can think of is my daughter. My entire world has narrowed down to this hospital corridor and the emergency room where Sharon was taken.

She has to get well.

After what feels like forever, a doctor finally comes out with a thin manila folder in his hand. His serious face makes my stomach drop.

"Ms. Williams," he says. "Unfortunately, your daughter’s condition is more severe than we originally believed. Immediate surgery is necessary." His voice is neutral and professional, but his words knock the breath out of me.

Severe condition?

Immediate surgery?

"I… understand. What’s the problem?" I choke out. It takes all my willpower to not lose balance and pass out from anxiety. "What’s going on with her, doctor?"

The doctor's face remains serious. "Appendicitis. Her appendix is severely inflamed and needs to be operated on immediately." He hands me a piece of paper and a pen. "Could you please sign this?"

Sign what?

"What exactly am I signing?" I ask as my shaking hand fumbles for the pen.

"The agreement for us to perform emergency surgery on your daughter."

My hand stops, hovering above the form. "Is there absolutely no other option?" I have no clue what I’m hoping for but the idea of these doctors cutting my baby girl open feels unbearable.

"I’m afraid there isn’t, Miss Williams," he says. "If Sharon doesn’t undergo surgery, there is a high risk of rupture which can lead to dangerous infections like sepsis," he explains.

I stare at him dumbly. "What does that mean?"

"To put it simply, her life may be at stake."

The corridor spins around me and I have to hold onto something to steady myself. I nod and sign the paper without really understanding what’s happening. My brain has shut down, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation. The words "Sharon’s life may be at stake" just don’t fit together in my mind.

The doctor senses my fear because he adds, "Try not to worry too much, Ms. Williams."

Yeah, right.

Like that’s possible.

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