Heartbreak Brings Mr. Right

The doctor listened, then reassessed her with his stethoscope.

Nodding, he informed, “All looks good.

You should be able to leave the hospital in a few days.

”

“Thank you, doctor,” Lindsey acknowledged, then quickly inquired, “And my mother… Juanita Lopez, how is she doing?”

The doctor’s face clouded over, his eyes shifting away from Lindsey to the medical records.

While jotting down notes, he offhandedly remarked, “Just focus on resting.

Once you’re better, you can visit her.

”

Lindsey felt a twinge of unease at his demeanor.

Leaning in, Lindsey grasped the doctor’s coat sleeve, urgency in her voice.

“Doctor, please, what’s the matter with my mother? I feel rested; I need to see her now!”

As Lindsey began to push back the covers, poised to rise, Domenic gently restrained her shoulder, advising, “Linds, listen to the doctor.

Take it easy!”

Tears welled up in Lindsey’s eyes.

She faced Domenic, her voice trembling.

“She’s my mother, the one I’m closest to.

I need to know what’s happening with her.

” Turning to the doctor, she implored, “Doctor, I need to know.

As her daughter, I deserve to know what’s happening, whatever it is.

”

The doctor exhaled deeply, shutting his notebook, and turned towards Lindsey.

“Your mother has sustained irreversible brain damage from too much smoke inhalation.

She’s still unconscious.

”

Lindsey pressed urgently, “When will she wake up? A week, a month, a year?”

The doctor hesitated, his lips tightening as he grappled with his response.

Finally, he told Lindsey, “It’s difficult to predict.

It might be a year or two.

But there’s also a chance she may never regain consciousness.

”

Lindsey’s body slackened, overcome with emotion, and Domenic swiftly enveloped her in his arms for support.

“Linds…”

Tears streamed down Lindsey’s ashen face, yet her voice retained a surprising steadiness.

Between sobs, she managed to say, “I understand.

Doctor, may I see her now, please?”

Noticing her mental resilience was stronger than anticipated, the doctor chose not to intervene and nodded softly in agreement.

With Domenic’s steady support, Lindsey rose from her bed and trailed the doctor to the ICU.

There, in a solitary room, she found Juanita.

Juanita lay there, ensnared in a web of tubes, motionless and pallid, her eyes gently closed as though in a deep sleep.

More accurately, were it not for the persistent beeping of the heart rate monitor nearby, she would bear a startling resemblance to someone no longer alive.

Lindsey felt her legs give way beneath her, nearly collapsing to the floor.

“Linds!” Domenic’s arms encircled Lindsey’s fragile shoulders, offering support.

In that moment, she appeared so vulnerable, as if a mere breeze could topple her.

Gathering her strength within Domenic’s embrace, Lindsey took tentative steps, inching closer to Juanita’s bedside.

Reaching the bedside, Lindsey knelt down with a soft thud.

She tenderly grasped Juanita’s hand, still connected to an IV, and whispered, “Mom…”

However, as the word escaped her lips, Lindsey’s tears couldn’t be restrained any longer.

“Mom, please wake up! It’s me, Linds, I’m right here! Please wake up, okay?” Lindsey gently swept stray hair from her mother’s forehead.