Chapter 76
"The surgery is over."
She dropped her phone, moving closer to the door. She was just a few feet away from the door when it opened.
Doctors came out, removing the gloves from their hands and opening the masks on their faces.
June watched their facial expressions. She was trying to judge if the surgery was a success or not from their expressions.
But it seemed like the doctors had mastered the act of being expressionless.
She couldn’t hold it in anymore, so she moved closer to them. "How was it?"
One of the doctors, an elderly man with bald hair, was the one who responded to June. "She’s stable now. All that’s left is for her to relax, and we will come check on her."
As if that was the response to the question she was asking, they filed away from her presence.
June stared at them with her mouth open as they left her without a proper response.
Was the surgery a success or not?
But before she could yell after them, the door to the operation room opened again. The nurse who had attended to them in the room and two other nurses pushed Serena out of the door. She was asleep on the bed while her eyes were covered in bandages.
Instantly, June was beside them.
"How was it?"
The nurse frowned at June. "We can’t tell yet, but one of the doctors will come and check her."
Again, they started pushing her towards the first room, the same room they had rolled her out from.
June watched them attach her to a line before asking, "When will the bandage be removed?"
It was the same nurse who responded. "Soon. The doctors will be coming to check her progress."
And with that, they also left them alone.
June settled beside Serena, helping to clean her body.
The chain she gave to her was already fastened to her neck.
Serena must have given it to one of the nurses before she started the surgery to help her fasten the hook.
June smiled at it, holding the pendant with a small smile on her face.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Chris stalked into the room.
"How’s she?" he asked, but his focus was on the woman sleeping in the bed.
"Fine. I guess we will know after the bandage is removed."
Chris nodded. He had dismissed the guards waiting for her outside.
June turned to him. "Were you able to do what you went out for?"
Chris didn’t look her in the eyes. "I think so."
June glared at him.
She was tired of being answered in vague language. "It’s yes or no!" she responded, her voice sounding higher than normal.
Suddenly, Chris stood up.
"Mother."
Serena had started pushing her hand to support herself.
"Is that Chris?" she asked.
Chris nodded.
Serena moved her hand slowly in front of her. "I still can’t see anything. Is something wrong?"
"No, Mother," Chris responded immediately.
"Then why can’t I see you?"
For the first time in his life, Chris could hear a hint of panic in his mother’s voice.
"That’s because there’s a bandage on your eyes. Once the doctor removes it, you’ll be able to see just fine."
She nodded.
As if he had summoned them, one doctor and a nurse walked in.
Thankfully, it wasn’t that nurse whose gaze was always fixed on Chris.
The doctor smiled at them. "You don’t need to worry. I’m about to open the bandage."
They nodded.
"Do we have to excuse you or...?"
Before the doctor could reply, Serena said, "No, oh. I want them here. I want them to see the process."
The doctor chuckled. "It’s just to unwrap the bandage. They can stay."
June and Chris stood at the corner of the room as they watched the doctor.
The nurse held a tray where he put everything he removed in. Soon, he was unwrapping the bandage little by little until it was completely removed.
"You can open your eyes now," he told Serena.
Chris and June had moved closer to her bed.
They watched as she fluttered her eyes slowly, then her gaze moved around as if she was eager to see something.
But it didn’t stop.
Soon, it slowed down as if she had decided to see one thing first.
Suddenly, it settled on June as she tried blinking.
The doctor also watched it. And once her pupils had stopped moving, he placed one finger in front of her.
"Can you see this?"
But Serena’s gaze was back on her.
"June!"
It was a whisper.
But it was more than anything to June.
She moved closer to her, touching her hand. "Yes! Yes! I’m June. Can you see me?"
The doctor gave up trying to make her see his hand. He pulled it back.
"Well, since she can see, I would say the surgery was a success."
Serena’s hand was moving down June’s face, and she barely had time for any of the other people in the room.
It was Chris who responded to the doctor. "Thank you. Is there nothing else you want to check on her?"
The doctor’s gaze moved to them as if separating them would hurt him.
"I’ll come back for the rest of the examination."
"Okay, sir. Thank you."
"You look so beautiful."
Her hand was tracing June’s face now.
June had tears in her eyes. Her mouth didn’t make a sound, but the tears were falling rapidly. It was as if she couldn’t think of a single word to say, or her mouth had suddenly gone heavy.
"I’m also here, Mother," Chris announced.
Finally, Serena’s gaze left June and moved to Chris.
"Chris?" The surprise in her voice was obvious. "You look so different now. Look at you."
Chris rolled his eyes. "I’ve grown up, Mother. Of course, everything about me is bigger."
Soon, they were talking about anything.
June watched her as she tugged on the necklace unconsciously, as if it had always been part of her.
June’s heart picked up again. "Do you like the chain?"
Serena’s gaze moved to the chain. "Of course, I like it."
"Then you must like this too," Chris said, pulling the chain out from his mother.
Serena looked up. "Chris!"
He ignored the look on her face and focused on the chain. "I already added our picture."
There was a picture of Serena and Mike on the left side and a picture of June on the right side.
It was an unaware picture.
But at the moment, June didn’t care to fight it.
Serena collected the chain and put it on her chest. "Thank you."
"You’re welcome, Mother."
And again, June started talking to her. The feeling of unease filled her up.
Chris’s phone rang.
He left their presence to take the call.
June watched him go. "I think he’s keeping a secret."
Serena laughed. "I’m sure Chris isn’t keeping a secret. There must be some business he doesn’t want to inform us about yet."
June stared at her. The sort of trust and love she had towards Chris. ℴ
Hopefully, they would be able to build theirs too.
Serena could see the longing in her eyes and decided to change the topic.
"I’m really glad that you’re the first person I saw after opening my eyes," Serena began. "And I’m sorry for not recognising you."
June waved it off.
She still needed to know exactly what had happened and why Serena had left her with Samir.
But this was a happy moment, one she wasn’t ready to ruin.
Chris came back. "I’m sorry, Mother. But something urgent needs my attention."
He moved closer to them, dropping a kiss on their foreheads.
He was about to leave the room when June asked, "Are you not leaving any guard with us this time?"
Chris sighed. "This is you and Mother’s private moment. I can’t let the guards interrupt you. But I will send someone soon." His eyes were focused on June. "Give him a chance to perform his duty."
With him gone, June wondered if she had ever stopped any guard from performing their duty. She had been more than cooperative with them.
Serena saw the look on her face and laughed. "I had no idea you’re this close to Chris. But nevertheless, I am glad you are."
She lifted Chris’s chain up. "Can you help me with the chain?"
June did. She placed the chain right on top of hers.
Just as she finished hooking it, there was a knock on the door.
June skipped to the door. After hearing her child kick and also knowing Serena’s surgery was successful, she felt strangely at ease with herself.
But as soon as she opened the door, a frown settled on her face.
She almost closed the door back on the person, but he placed his leg on the door.
"Please, don’t send me back. The hospital is dangerous, and there is no one to guard you here."
That was Rauf, June thought.
Yet, she turned towards him.
"I would rather be hurt than owe you anything."