Page 40 of Damaged
We sit talking while we wait and it’s kinda nice. We both keep the other distracted as much as possible, but we’re getting to know each other.
Both of us jump up as the doctor comes walking over. “Everything went great. A little extra bleeding, but she’ll be back in her room shortly if you want to wait there.”
Relief fills me, making me want to run to her room, but first I have questions. “When will we know? I know you said this afternoon, but when?”
“As soon as the lab gives the initial results we’ll let you know. I don’t have an exact time frame,” he says.
“What do you think from seeing it?” I ask.
“Impossible to say,” he says. “We’ll know soon. Try not to worry.”
He’s full of shit. He knows what he saw, he just won’t say it. “Yeah okay. Mary, you ready?”
We get back to her room and she’s just being wheeled back in. She looks tired, which I hate. How the hell is anyone supposed to get better when they can’t rest?
“Hey, how are you?” I ask, moving to her side.
“I’m fine, just tired,” she says, trying to force a smile.
And we wait...and wait...and fucking wait.
“Both of you go for a walk or something. Sitting here worrying isn’t helping me. Checking the clock isn’t going to make time go any faster. Go for a half hour, I’ll call if the doctor comes in,” Eva says annoyed.
“I’ll go get a cup of tea. Brett, come on she needs a minute,” Mary says.
Just as we go to leave, the doctor walks in. Fuck. I’ve never been this nervous before. I can’t help thinking that my life is about to be altered. One way or another things will never be the same. I stand beside her, grabbing her hand while Mary stands on the other side. Eva looks up at me and I give her a quick kiss on her forehead.
“Everyone take a deep breath. It’s not cancer. Just some scar tissue from your mastectomy,” he says, with a smile.
Closing my eyes, I let the relief wash over me. Not cancer.
“I’ll get your discharge paperwork going, but you’ll need to follow up in a week to check the incision site. Good luck.” Eva’s crying, Mary’s crying and I can’t stop smiling.
Mary and Eva share a long emotional hug while I move aside. Mary whispers in her ear and pulls back wiping her tears with a smile. “I’ll give you kids some space,” she says and squeezes my hand on the way out.
Sitting on the bed, I gently fold my arms around her. “Thank fuck,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry,” she replies.
Pulling back, I search her golden eyes. “Don’t you ever apologize for this. Look I’m not good at any of this, but the thought of losing you was more than I could bare. You’re everything to me and I knew it before, but now I’m saying it. I love you. Like happily ever after, knight in shining armor, kiss the sleeping princess, love you,” I confess, before pushing my lips to hers.
“I love you too,” she says, around her tears.
Life altering, I knew it. I never thought I’d let anyone in, never mind fall in love. But Eva was everything I was never looking for. We’re two damaged hearts that needed the other to beat as one.
