I waited patiently for mom and dad to exit the operation room after we had been outside, sitting and waiting for almost five hours. Jonathan was sleeping next to me as I observed the people across from me leaning on the person next to them for support while the other person beside them was nonchalantly reading a magazine.

In hospitals, time flies more slowly. I imagine the sole measurements of the day's length measured by vital signs being checked by attending doctors, constant changes of IV bags by nurses when it's almost running empty, medicine regimens, occasional diagnostics, mealtimes, short trips to the restroom, and hallway walks to stretch your legs while you could make out every beep of the monitor of each room you pass by.

I twisted and clenched my hands as I glanced down at them, hoping to contain the agitation I was feeling within. Distress was present and permeated the free spaces of the room we shared with strangers, releasing its fumes onto those inhaling—including myself—who worry and others who are trying to choke back the suffering that led them here.

When the doors slide open, revealing a surgeon stepping out of the room, his facial mask covering half of his face, making it difficult to recognize him. He approached us and I quickly shake Jonathan to wake up as I stood up almost immediately.

He removed the surgery cap on his head and said, "The surgery was a success," his eyes crinkled and I could tell he was smiling behind the mask that hid his mouth. Dr. Fhassan pats me on the shoulder, "The nurses will bring them to the recovery room. For now, why don't you two get home and rest? You won't be able to visit them until tomorrow."

Jonathan groans on the chair as he rubs his eyes. When he saw me, he immediately stood up and asked what happened. I filled him in on what Dr. Fhassan told me and he says, "But I want to see mom."

"I know," Dr. Fhassan says as he nods his head, "For now, we don't allow visitors after surgery. They both have to recover. So, I suggest you two get home first and you can visit first thing in the morning, okay?"

He pats Jonathan's shoulder and left before Jonathan could even say another word. Jonathan looks at me and didn't say anything and just left. I sighed defeatedly and followed him.

The circular nurses' stations and continuously branching passageways have a uniform appearance. I remember how I used to memorize the path from the lobby to Dr. Fhassan's office which took me close to a week or two.

With each step I made as I approached and passed by the emergency area, the mixed sound of the wailing family members, equipment, and devices being used in healthcare began to seem louder once again. I could make out the smell of sterilizer as I observed the nurses in white uniforms rushing to the patients, attending to their care.

Jonathan doesn't look back for more than a few seconds as he walks, and I continue to follow him in silence. He hasn't talked to me about anything else about himself since what happened almost three weeks ago over dinner at the Bluewater Grill. Even though I made an effort to ease the tension, everything is still awkward between us.

By the time we arrived at the sliding doors that led us outside, the sound of ringing equipment and nurses soothing noisy family members and patients had gradually subsided.

"I'll be sleeping at my friend's house tonight," Jonathan remarked as he turned back to face me as we exited the hospital with me still trailing behind.

I opened my mouth to say something but he beat me to it, "I'll just see you tomorrow, here, at the hospital."

He said as I watch him walk away, heading towards the bus stop.

I was aware that my actions contributed to what happened between us. But I never truly hated or blamed myself for the things I did, and I don't blame myself for feeling the way I feel about my father, even though a part of me genuinely believes that he is making an effort to change.

As I drove home alone, yawning between exhausted sighs, as soon as I reached home and entered the house, I walked into the living room and dozed off on the couch. When morning came, I got in my car and headed to the hospital, stopping along the way to get some food. Jonathan is waiting outside of Dr. Fhassan's office while playing a mobile game to pass the time.

"Good morning, boys," I hear Dr. Fhassan's voice behind me as I turn around, watching him walk with a clipboard in his hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

He continues to walk, passing by his office as I followed, catching up to him and asking, "So, how's mom? Is she awake, yet?"

Dr. Fhassan takes a sip from his coffee before throwing it into nearby trash. He looks at me, "I haven't heard anything from the nurses, yet. We'll know soon, don't worry."

He stops walking and so did I. When he walked inside the room, he immediately turned to look at me and ask, "Aren't you going to visit your parents?"

I headed inside the room with him. Though the room is unfamiliar to me as we enter. The room was silent apart from the heavy breathing and the beeping sound from the monitor beside my mom's bed. I took in the lonely hospital room with its blue and white color scheme, a window with a mini-blind, and a view of the roof of the next building as I cast a glance around.

I recognize Jonathan's footsteps behind me as he enters the room and quickly moved to the side of Christopher's bed, drew a chair close, and sat down, holding onto his hand. I turn my attention to Dr. Fhassan as I watch him scribble something down on the clipboard he was holding.

"If one of them wakes up, just press this button," he points at the red button on top of mom's bed as I nod my head in silence and watch him leave the room after.

After setting the paper bag of food on the table, I pulled a chair up next to her bed and sat down as I took her hand in mine. I stroked her head and silently observed her as I took in the great feeling of relief knowing that she would feel much better now. I hope.

❀

I was awakened out of sleep by an increasing discomfort in my neck. I opened my eyes, squinting because of the strong sunlight shining through the window next to me. When I stretched my arms to the ceiling, my eyes widened when I watch my mom watching me. I got up and pushed the red button to call a nurse or doctor to come to the room.

I turn to the other side of the room and see Jonathan waking up from the noise I made as he quickly approached us, kneeling on the other side of mom's bed. I watch as he took her hand, pressing it on his cheeks.

A nurse accompanied Dr. Fhassan as he immediately checked mom's vital signs the moment they entered. The nurse wrote something on the clipboard and immediately rushed out of the room. Dr. Fhassan bends down over mom's bed and asks how she is.

"It kind of hurts here," Mom points weakly to the side of her body as she slowly opens and closes her eyes, still sedated by the drugs in her system.

"That's normal. You'll feel a lot better in the next few days," Dr. Fhassan tells her as she moans faintly, acknowledging his response. "For now, just continue to rest."

"H-How's Christopher?" Mom asks with her eyes closed as she moves her head to the side, seeing dad still unconscious.

I felt bad for Jonathan when she didn't seem to acknowledge his presence who was on her side, holding onto her hand. He noticed me staring at him and he glanced at me before saying, "He still hasn't woken up."

Her eyes fall on him and that's when she took in his presence, cupping his cheeks and smiling.

"How are you, my baby?" Jonathan pressed his head onto hers.

"I'll leave you three," Dr. Fhassan looks at me, smiling. Before he could even leave the room, we can all faintly hear dad groaning as he gently moves his body on the bed before opening his eyes.

After assessing his vital signs and pressing the button to call the nurse's attention, Dr. Fhassan filled him in on what to expect now that they are recovering from surgery. Before he eventually left the room with the nurse earlier, Dr. Fhassan informed us all of the things we shouldn't allow them to engage in until they have fully recovered.

Mom opened her arms as she looks at me, smiling. I went in to hug her as she whispers in my ear, "I love you."