Chapter 169 - LEAVING SUDDENLY
"I want to see him now." I said, wiping the tears from my eyes until my cheeks were dry.
God knows how bad I wanted to succumb into another heart-wrenching sob. The only reason stopping me from crying all over again is the fact that Ace needs me now. I'm not supposed to act like a crybaby while he's in critical condition.
I took a deep steadying breath and pulled myself together. I cast the covers that draped half of my body and sat upright.
I heard father let go a deep sigh before helping me get off the bed. My feet collapsed when I took a step forward. I realize I haven't recovered my strength yet and my legs could barely hold my weight. If it weren't for father assisting I would have already fallen face down on the flawless white floor.
"Careful." Father said as he slowly led me to the nearby wheelchair.
When I reached the wheelchair I immediately sat on it. I was relieved that I was able to stretch my feet for a short moment.
The room was engulfed into a deafening silence. I have father and Claire as company but it feels to me I'm alone because they appear to be absorbed in the world of their own.
My gaze shifted to Claire. I was relieved to see she stopped crying. She's now drying her tears with an embroidered handkerchief.
I could feel the palpable tension in the air. The expressions carved on their faces were like an open book—it could easily be read. I feel that there's something they haven't told me yet.
The silence continued. I decided to keep my mouth shut and wait until they were ready to tell me what I should know. I couldn't squeeze the truth from them anyway and so I must wait until they are prepared.
Father sighed again and it was the fifth time I heard him do that in less than an hour.
He looked towards Claire's direction. She on the other hand sensed him so she shifted her head to his direction until they were both looking each other in the eye.
Claire nodded his head as if she was signaling him to start something. As if on cue, father gently took my hands. There's something we must tell you before you see your husband."
I didn't say a word. I just look at my father with curious wide eyes.
When there was no reaction coming from me, his hands tightened around mine before he continued, "Ace would be leaving today…. And that would be exactly an hour from now." He said calmly but the blow from the shocking news was like a hand slapping my face hard.
Color drained from my face. I thought I was prepared but nothing could have prepared me for this news.
My mouth dropped to the floor. I hastily grabbed my hands away from his hold and I run my fingers through my disheveled hair in exasperation.?"Ace is leaving?" I gasped in disbelief, still unavailable to digest the news.
"Yes, my son is leaving." Claire confirmed. She appeared calm now but I knew deep inside she was doing her best not to burst into tears again. "The operation that would remove the bullet that was still lodged into my son's skull will be performed in the US. He will have a higher survival rate there, that's our only choice now. The Director of this hospital referred us there." She added in a shaky voice.
I blinked my eyes several times. I was surprised that no tears sprung from my eyes. I didn't feel the pain, only numbness.
That moment, I was still battling what to feel when the door flung open and a doctor emerged from the door.
My heartbeat quickened. The doctor's aura spoke of another bad news.
"Sorry to disturb you all." Be began, his face blank and his voice very professional. "The patient in room 208, Mr. Ace Carter Greyson is set to leave right at this moment. The private jet that would transfer him to the best hospital in the US is ready to depart."
The Doctor proceeded to explain that the flight was scheduled ahead of time because the patient is in need of immediate operation. The more time is wasted, the chance of the patient to survive decreases. He explained that Ace had only a forty percent chance of survival and the opportunity for a quick operation should be grabbed while the recovery rate was still high.
"Will my son?be alright?" Claire asked in a voice that trembles.
"That's something I could not answer." The doctor replied with all honesty. "We are doing our best to help him but he must also help himself if he really wishes to survive."
"I-If the patient recovers, how long will it take for him to return back to normal?" When I finally found my voice, I finally asked the doctor.
The Doctor shifted his attention to me and looked me in the eyes. "Patients that undergo head surgery usually end up in a coma. Some patients recover after a six?months of coma while others never wake up at all. In Ace's cases, those who survive result in long term memory loss."
I closed my eyes tightly. I almost couldn't accept that the man I love needs to leave. The possibility that he will return is still unknown.
Imaginary hands squeezed my heart tight. Once Ace leaves our lives will never be the same again.The doctor said that after the surgery there is a huge possibility that if he does recover he will not be able to remember me again. Everything that happened to him will be totally wiped from his memory.
But the operation is Ace's only way to survive and it must be performed so he would live.
Suddenly, I remember what he said in my dreams. He told me he was leaving. He must be referring to this.. He can't talk to me personally so he sent his message in the form of a dream.
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