Chapter 156: I’m Going To Find Mommy
As soon as his grandfather was gone, Liam’s unease returned. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss. He threw off the covers and carefully got down from the bed, his head bandage a reminder of the accident. Despite his grandfather’s assurances, Liam felt an overwhelming urge to see his mother. He was convinced that she was somewhere in the hospital, being treated, just as his grandfather had said.
With a determined look on his face, Liam left the cabin, his small feet padding softly on the hospital floor. "Mommy will be in this hospital," he thought to himself, "and I’m going to find Mommy."
Liam’s quest to find his mother had brought him to the operating room. As he turned a corner, he noticed his father standing outside the door, facing away from him. With a wave of hope, Liam hurried towards his father, his small feet making quick sounds against the floor with urgency.
As he got closer, he observed that his father was standing still, his eyes locked intently on the operation room door. His father’s face bore a look of worry and concern, his brow deeply furrowed and his lips pressed tightly together. His eyes, which were usually bright and warm, appeared dull and lifeless, as if the burden of his worries had dimmed their gleam.
Liam’s father seemed to be lost in contemplation, his eyes fixated on the door as if he was willing it to open and disclose the result of the operation. He was so motionless, so quiet, that Liam questioned whether he was even inhaling. The only indication of life was the slight twitching of his fingers, which were balled into fists at his sides.
Liam arrived at his father’s side and pulled on his arm, attempting to shatter the spell that seemed to envelop him. However, his father didn’t react. He didn’t even move. He was too absorbed in his silent watch, his gaze glued to the door as if he were entranced.
Liam glanced up at his father, then followed his gaze to the door, his eyes focused on the sign that read "Operation in Progress. " The words appeared to tower over him, instilling a sense of apprehension and doubt. What was taking place with his mother? Would she be alright? The queries spun in his mind, leaving him feeling frightened and isolated.
As he lingered there, Liam sensed a wave of helplessness wash over him. He was merely a small boy, and he didn’t know how to act. He didn’t understand how to heal his mother or how to console his father. All he could do was remain there, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty, waiting for the door to swing open. Waiting for the doctor to emerge and inform them of what was occurring. Waiting for his mother to step out of the operating room and re-enter his life.
Liam’s soft voice pierced the quiet, his words filled with fear and doubt. "Father. . . Mommy will be okay, right? " he inquired, his eyes wide with concern as he gazed up at his dad.
However, his father did not answer right away. Instead, he appeared to awaken from a dazed state, his eyes focusing on Liam as though he was seeing him anew. "Lio. . . why are you here? " he questioned, his voice tinged with astonishment and worry. "Where is your grandfather? You’re hurt," he added, his gaze shifting to the bandage that encircled Liam’s head.
As he observed his son’s condition, Liam’s father’s expression transitioned from distant worry to urgent concern. He knelt beside Liam, his eyes examining his son’s face as if searching for any indicators of pain. "What are you doing out of bed, Lio? " he asked, his tone gentle yet anxious. "You need to be resting, not roaming around the hospital. "
Liam’s father reached out and softly pushed a lock of hair away from his son’s face, his hand warm and soothing. "How did you even arrive here? " he inquired, his eyes fixed on Liam’s as if trying to decipher his feelings. But Liam merely shook his head, tears beginning to form in his eyes as he repeated his question. "Father. . . Mommy will be okay, right? "
"Yes. . . your mommy will be fine. " Liam’s father murmured, his voice shaking with emotion as he embraced his son. He kept Liam close, sensing his small frame tremble with sobbing, and attempted to provide a feeling of comfort and reassurance.
At that moment, his phone rang, cutting through the quiet of the hospital hallway. Liam’s father then gently released his son and picked up the call. "Hello? " he replied, his voice quiet and cautious.
As he listened to the person on the line, his expression shifted to one of relief. "Father, don’t worry, Liam is with me. " he reassured, his voice steady and comforting. He paused to hear his father’s reply, then added, "I’ve got him. He’s safe. I’ll look after him. "
Liam’s father’s gaze was locked onto his son’s, filled with profound love and worry. He reached out to softly stroke Liam’s hair, trying to calm his fears. While he continued speaking to his father, he kept his arm around Liam, holding him close and secure, striving to assure him that all would be well.
Grandpa Frank came soon, his footsteps resonating down the hospital corridor as he approached where Liam and his father were waiting outside the operating room. His expression showed worry, but his eyes brightened with relief when he spotted his grandson safely beside his father.
"Liam, let’s take you back to your cabin, alright? " Grandpa Frank remarked, his tone gentle and comforting. "You need to rest,Lio.. "
However, Liam shook his head, his gaze fixed on the operating room doors. "No, Grandpa," he declared, his voice strong and resolute. "I want to wait for my mommy. "
While he spoke, Liam’s eyes swept around the operating room. He looked up at his grandfather, his eyes yearning. "I want to be here when she comes out, Grandpa. I want to see her." he added, his voice filled with a profound yearning.
Liam’s father, who had been observing the interaction, placed a comforting hand on his son’s shoulder. Grandpa Frank, too, nodded understandingly, his expression softening with empathy. "Okay, Lio.." he said. "We’ll wait with you. But you need to promise me you’ll stay close and not tire yourself out too much, alright? " Liam nodded, his gaze still locked on the operating room doors, his heart overflowing with hope and expectancy.
Half an hour later, the door of the operating room swung open, and Liam’s father and Grandpa Frank immediately stood up, their eyes fixed anxiously on the doctor who emerged. The doctor, still wearing a surgical mask, looked somber, and his eyes seemed to cloud over with a mixture of sadness and regret.
Liam’s father, his voice laced with concern, took a step forward. "Doctor, how is my wife?" he asked, his words tumbling out in a rush.
The doctor, with a grave expression, paused for a moment before answering. "Mr. Flynn, we are sorry," he stated, his tone soft yet carrying an air of finality.
Liam’s father felt as though he had been hit in the stomach. He staggered backwards, his eyes wide in disbelief and horror. "What do you mean? " he gasped, his voice hardly audible.
Grandpa Frank, sensing his son’s distress, placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. "What happened, Doctor?" he asked, his voice firm but laced with a hint of trepidation.
The doctor took a deep breath before launching into a detailed explanation. "We did everything we could, Mr. Flynn, but your wife’s injuries were too severe. She suffered significant internal damage, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to save her."
Liam’s father felt like his world had come crashing down around him. He stumbled backward, his eyes fixed on the doctor, as if willing him to take back his words. Grandpa Frank caught him, holding him upright as he struggled to process the devastating news.
Liam, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t fully understand what was happening, but he knew it couldn’t be good. He took a step forward, his eyes fixed on his father, and asked, "Daddy, what’s wrong?"
Liam looked up at his father, but his father just stared back at him, his eyes filled with tears. Liam’s gaze then shifted to his grandfather, searching for answers.
