“What happened?” Behind the door, they heard Mr. Johnson ask when he saw doctors resuscitating Mark.
“I don’t understand. He was okay just now. The doctors are....” Mary couldn’t hold her tears anymore, nor could Melissa.
Leaning on the door, Robert hugged her tight. Running his hand on her back he soothed her not to make any sound. They were lucky the ward next to Mark’s was empty and Robert got Melissa in before the elevator doors opened.
For a while they stood there, Melissa soaking his shirt listening to the movement outside.
“His health is deteriorating. There is a possibility he won’t wake up again.” The doctor sadly informed them.
“No, my grandson will be okay. He has to wake up. I can’t lose him. Arrange for the best neurosurgeon to treat him.” Mr. Johnson instructed, pacing on the corridor.
Once everything was calm and Mr. Johnson had gone into the room, Robert took Melissa out.
“Why is this happening again?” Mary silently asked herself, watching Robert support Melissa in the elevator.
Looking out the car window, Melissa only saw the flat line on the monitor. The doctor’s report that Mark may never wake up again kept stinging her heart.
“What happened?” Betty rushed to them when Robert got Melissa out of the car, dropping her shopping bags. “Melissa dear, are you okay? Talk to me, honey. What did you do to her?” Betty questioned, turning to Robert.
“She’s a bit shaken up. Let’s get her inside first.” Once inside, they got her to bed as Robert recounted everything that had happened. “They are taking Mark out of the country today.” He told Betty, standing at the door.
“Tommy, what will happen to him?” Betty asked, looking at Melissa lying on the bed, motionless.
“Melissa can’t know this.” He sighed, glancing at her. “They have to take him along.”
“No, it will break Melissa.” She covered her mouth, feeling sorry for her niece. “Can’t you do anything? Can’t you help her get him?” She asked.
“I’m afraid not. But I’ll go with them.”
“Please take care of my grandson and inform us if Mark’s condition changes.”
“I will.” He held her hand. “Nothing bad will happen to them.” He promised before walking out.
Betty stood at the window watching him drive away.
Every time she saw Robert, she felt immense joy in her heart. It was the same feeling she felt whenever she held her son Mathew.
“Aunt, what happened? The security told me you dropped these.” Lisa walked in carrying the shopping bags.
“Melissa was just brought in by Robert. He told me Mark’s condition is worsening, and it’s affecting Melissa gravely.” She explained. “I’ll make some soup. Please watch her for me.” Betty instructed her before heading to the kitchen.
….
In the middle of the night, Melissa jolted up from sleep.
Sitting on the bed, she remembered hearing Robert’s conversation with her aunt. She had to stop Mr. Johnson from taking her son away. She told herself, getting out of bed.
“What? Who’s there?” Startled, Lisa got up from sleep and looked around the room. “Melissa! Do you want to give me a heart attack?” She saw Melissa standing by the door, trying to open it.
“Where are you going in the middle of the night, fully dressed?” Lisa inquired, sitting up on the couch she was sleeping on.
“Give me the key. I have to get my son back.” Melissa turned to her.
“Aunt locked the door. We have to wake her up. But where do you want to go?” She glanced at the wall clock.
It was past midnight.
“I need to get to the airport. They are taking Tommy away.” Melissa sat holding her head, feeling worn out.
Looking at her, Lisa felt sad.
With a heavy sigh, she went to the room to change her clothes. “I’m coming with you.” She said, after writing a note to their aunt. They left it on the table where she could find it.
“The door is locked. Aunt won’t let me go out.” Melissa spoke, staring at her in dismay.
“I have a spare key.” Lisa waved the key at her. “Let’s go before she wakes up.” Lisa silently opened the door and called her regular taxi driver to pick them up.
The moment Melissa got to the airport, the security stopped her.
Her picture was shown to all the airport security personnel with an instruction to stop her from accessing the boarding area. “Tommy!” When she got a glimpse of Tommy, she kneed one guard in the groin as she ran inside shouting his name. She tried to stop Sasha from walking her son inside the gates, but the guards got to her..
“Stop, you are hurting her.” Lisa pulled at the guard holding Melissa. He held her down, detaining her as she kicked and screamed, trying to get to her son.
“Tommy, my son. You can’t take my son. Let go of me. Sir, please stop them. They have kidnapped my son. Please believe me. Let me go, please.” She begged the airport security as they took her out of the busy, crowded area. “You can’t take my son from me, Tommy, Tommy.” She cried, looking outside the glass windows from the room they took her to.
Mr. Johnson held Tommy’s hand with Sasha beside him as the ambulance stopped. The little boy cried as his father was rolled out of the ambulance with monitoring machines surrounding him and tubs connected to every part of his body. Slapping the glass, Melissa shouted from the office, but her son didn’t look back.
Boarding the plane, Sasha looked up at the office. Looking straight into Melissa’s eyes with a smile of victory smeared on her face.
“No matter how much you shout or cry, you will never get to your son and husband.” She murmured, holding Tommy’s hand walking briskly on her high heels.