I didn’t know if I wanted her to go. I wanted her to stay, and I still wanted her to go. So, I said nothing. I only gestured, as I pointed at the door.
We both walked to the door together, and she left. I sat quietly, looking at my son. Seeing him smile was satisfying.
A few minutes later, a squeaky sound pushed the door open. It was Olivia. She looked frustrated. I wondered why she returned, so I’ll ask first.
“I have to go with you.” She busted words.
“Why? What happened? I lashed her with questions as I stood up.
It was only a few minutes since she left, why was she looking so exhausted? What could’ve happened to her? Thoughts went through my head.
“My car refused to start. I tried and tried. The fuel was low on my way coming here, but I thought it could take me all the way here and back.”
“Sorry, Olivia,” Michael said.
“Thank you.” she managed a smile on her face, and it dwindled into a frown in a split second.
“So sorry, Olivia. You can come with us. I’ll drop you off at your place before I take Michael home.” I sprinkled drops of hope on her situation.
“Thank you, Ben.” She said.
I saw the relief in her facial expression. It was like a burden was lifted. She smiled.
I was lost in thought, thinking about things that didn’t matter just to help time pass.
“Mr. Ben.” a female voice called me out of my head. “We’ll do the last check on him now and then We’ll decide if you can take him with you tonight.” She said. She was the doctor.
I couldn’t wait to leave that place. I nodded without uttering a word and she went ahead.
I sat close to my son and quietly observed as the doctor performed a thorough check-up on him. Nervousness clenched my stomach, but I maintained a reassuring smile for him.The stethoscope's cold touch made him flinch, his small hand clutching mine.
My heart raced as I held back the urge to intervene, letting the doctor work. The room's antiseptic scent mixed with the innocence of his questions. “Dad, will I be, okay?”
Relief washed over me with every reassuring nod from the doctor. Seeing my son's bravery, I marveled at his resilience. At that moment, I realized how deeply I cared for his well-being and cherished every shared heartbeat.Michael has been through a lot of issues since he was born. His case was peculiar, and he could have an attack at the slightest provocation.
“Yes, son, you’re going to be fine.” I smiled at him.
In no time, the doctor was done. “He’ll be fine. You can take him home now.” She said.
I nodded. “Thank you so much.”
“Make sure you keep him away from cold and smokey environments. We have also attached a medical inhaler with an alert bracelet that he could use for all emergencies. Try not to let him stress himself. We can’t control when these things happen, but we can at least try.” She advised and nodded to every sentence she made while I got Michael ready.
“Thank you so much. You’re very kind.” I said.
The doctor smirked and left the sick room.
“Now we can go home!” I exclaimed and sighed.
We stepped out with Michael leading.
I helped my son into the truck, and then I climbed into the front seat, greeted by a mix of newness, and worn comfort. I got a bit nervous that Olivia would be joking with me about the truck. I waited for her to get in as I let out a long breath through my mouth.
Glancing around, I spotted stickers and drawings clinging to the windows, capturing memories of family road trips with my son. I smiled and my mind ran down memory lane.
It was a full moon tonight. The moonlight and security light from the hospital filtered through the windows, highlighting the dust particles dancing in the air. A sense of adventure lingered within the vehicle's nooks and crannies.
As my fingers traced the grooves of the upholstery, I imagined the places this truck had been and the stories it could tell. The gentle hum of the engine provided a soothing backdrop, a promise of journeys with my son yet to come. In this world of grown-up machines, the truck becomes my miniature realm of exploration, a place where imagination has no limits. I reminisced while I waited for Olivia. I didn’t know what kept her.