L E O N A R D O
"What?" Riona stammered before running out of the bakery.
What happened?
"Put it all on my tab!" I yelled as I ran out of the bakery so I could catch up with Riona.
I saw her standing at the driver's part of her SUV. I jogged to go meet her.
She was trying to put the key in the hole to unlock the door but it proved difficult because she was practically trembling.
The key fell from her hand and went down to pick it up. After she picked it up she tried to fit it into the keyhole but she wasn't able to.
I took the keys from her. "Let me help you." I offered.
"How long have you been watching me do this?" Her shaky voice questioned.
" Where are you going, let me drive you there." I offered but she immediately declined.
" I'll go on my own!" She yelled into the empty parking lot.
"You're shaking, you won't be able to do this, just let me fucking help you!" I yelled back and she seemed quite surprised at my raised voice but it was needed.
"F-fine." She replied and then walked to the passengers seat while I entered into the driver's seat.
After parking in the parking lot behind the hospital's main building, Riona jogged into the hospital and I followed behind her.
How do I calm her down? I don't know what to do in situations like these.
"Patrick Davis?" She said to a caramel skinned nurse at the reception.
"Hold on, I'll check." She sweetly replied before looking down at her computer.
" He was moved to the ICU a few hours ago and doctor Krishna would like to have a word with you in regards to him. Her office is on the second floor, use the elevator." She pointed towards the elevator beside the coffee machine. "Second door to your right." She informed nicely with a firm smile in place.
"Thank you!" She replied sharply before running towards the elevator.
" I'm sorry, are there seats in the hallway of the second floor?" I asked the nurse.
" No, I'm sorry, it's for offices only. If you want to sit down, you can either do it here, the third floor or the last one." She counted with her long nails.
I really want to go up there with her, but what if she doesn't want me to? I could wait in the lobby for her, I just want her to know she has someone close to her. I just I have to wait in this lobby then.
" Leo! What are you doing there? It's open!" She yelled from the elevator and with a smile I ran towards the elevator so I could catch it before it closed.
She wants me there with her.
It feels good to know that she wants me on the same floor, my eyes glanced at her standing in the corner. For once she wasn't the girl that had a frown on her face but instead, her face was tainted with fear and sadness. Her I want to kill you demeanor was replaced with a trembling girl that was scared for her father.
What can I do to help her calm down?
"Riona, calm down, it's going to be alright." I tried to assure her by holding her trembling hand.
She didn't try to shake my hand off but I could feel the heat from my warm hand emitting to her cold ones.
The elevator door opened and revealed the fancy hallway and different doors with name cards of different doctors.
Do I wait outside? Is it too intrusive if I want to go in with her?
"You don't have to come in." Her voice brought me out from my imagination and I nodded.
R I O N A
I took a deep breath before pushing the door with the name card saying Dr Krishna Rathore.
When I entered the fully air conditioned office, Dr Krishna sat on her seat reading a file but when I entered, her eyes lifted up to meet mine.
"Good evening," I greeted with a quick smile.
"Good evening, Miss Davis." She greeted with an Indian accent. " Take a seat." She pointed and I sat down.
She got up from her seat and moved to a cabinet. Dr Krishna is a thick woman who looked to be in her mid thirties had on an brown to orange colored saree which had patterns on them with a long white coat on top. She's a prime example of an Indian woman.
After she got the file she was looking for, she returned to the black leather seat facing me directly.
My heart quickened when she opened her file. I can't go home and give the girls bad news. God please let my dad be fine.
"Your father," she sighed and adjusted her glasses. "He's not well, I read up all the information gathered from the previous neurosurgeon." She paused and glanced at me.
" What's wrong with him?"
" Your father's brain tumor is getting worse. He needs the surgery as soon as possible or it will be detrimental to his health."
Calm down Riona.
" Dr Sofia said due to his coma he should be allowed to wait a bit."
" That is correct but your father had one of his episodes today and it's going to affect his speech totally! The surgery is needed."
No. No.
" Is the success of the surgery guaranteed? Will he be well enough after this?"
" I'm sorry but no. He came out of his coma last month and his brain is still really sensitive. The chances of survival is fifty fifty."
" F-fifty?" I stuttered tears threatening to spill at any point.
" I'm sorry, you need to make a decision, Riona."
"If I don't get him the operation will he die?"
" Yes. His life depends on your decision."
" Can I have some time to think this through and talk to my siblings about it?"
" You do but every moment is important."
" How much would this cost?"
" Around Fourty five thousand dollars."
My jaw dropped.
" That's a lot of money."
" We would be needing experts for this because it's a complex operation."
" I'll get back to you." I pushed the chair backwards and got up to my feet.
" You can get back to me," she closed the file. "Do you want to see him?" She asked.
" No." I shook my head.
The last thing I wanted to do is see my father in this situation. Helpless and alone. My body shaking with fear and sadness, tears were welled up in my eyes but I was fighting them.
You're stronger than this Riona, calm down.
I pushed the door open and slowly walked to the elevator but I saw him leaning against the wall.
When he saw me walking towards the elevator, he began walking towards me. I suddenly stopped walking and so did he even if we were only a few steps away from each other.
I was trying my best to not cry but when he stood there and gave me a reassuring smile, I couldn't. My eyes fluttered repeatedly before a tear rolled down my cheek.
"It's alright." He ran towards me and engulfed me in a tight hug while stroking my hair lightly.
"No, no it's not alright." I sniffled as the built up tears came over pouring.
**