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However, the doctors, despite their expertise and the modern technologies, could not give them a guarantee that he would pull out of this alive. If he did, there was still no assurance that he would recover completely.

“There is a chance of paralysis, leaving him in a vegetative state.” The doctor finally told them his prognosis.

It was like choosing from two evils when she thought about it. Her father could die, in which he would finally be at peace, but that would mean he would be leaving them for good. Or he could live but only to suffer. But was it any better?

But she was praying still for a third option. She had never wished for a miracle more than ever in her life. But now, she wanted one. She would do anything to save her father from this horrible situation.

“Mom, are you ok?” She finally asked when the doctor expressed his sympathy and excused himself to attend to his other patients.

Her focus shifted to the woman who needed her most now than ever. She would be her strength as long as she needed her. She would help her through this, just as her mother was always there for her.

.....

“Yes, I am feeling much better.” Laura bravely said, putting up a forced smile on her lips. But in her heart, she could feel that she was devastated. “I just want to see your father.” She requested, looking directly into her eyes.

She nodded, understanding what her mother needed. She assisted her into the recovery room, where her father rested after his operation.

Not many were allowed to enter, so it was just her with her mom. Once inside the room, she guided her mother to sit on a chair near her father’s bed while she remained standing behind her.

She had never liked hospitals, particularly their white color, meaning the buildings, the walls, the uniforms, or the sheets. It usually signified illness that led to death.

“Your father hated hospitals or doctors, not because he was afraid of dying.” Her mother uttered, extending her hand to his father, enveloping his hands in her smaller ones. “He just could not stand the thought of us getting sick.”

She could only stare at her mother’s action, unable to respond to her as tears threatened to drop in her eyes. But she could not cry again because it would only trigger a chain reaction, keeping her breathing steady, hoping it would be enough to control her emotions.

“Ethan said that he would not know what to do if anything should happen to the two of us.” Then, her mother turned to her with a gentle smile gracing her lips. “He said that we are stronger than him. He needed us for him to survive, not the other way around.”

Dani rested her hands on her shoulders, both of them taking support from each other. Then, she felt one of her mother’s hands touch hers, squeezing it tight as if letting her know that she was also there for her.

Her eyes finally roamed around the room, observing the many changes made to its facility. The white backgrounds were gone, replaced by colors that hid the whiteness of the room. Somehow, it felt more friendly, less eerie.

Then, her attention went back to the man lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully with his eyes closed firmly. It did not even twitch.

“We became strong because of him,” Dani finally spoke up, thinking of the many things her father did for her. “Because of his love for us.”

Then, her mind brought her back to a memory where she first received her first bike. Ethan took her out to the garden, giving her the instructions and the encouragement to learn how to ride it.

She remembered falling several times, bruising her skin in some places, but he never allowed her to give up, making her stand up from her fall and forcing her to ride it again until she eventually mastered it.

It was one lesson she would never forget.

“He never raised us to be weak, Mom.” What else could she say that could bring peace to their hearts.

This time, her eyes moved towards his face, wanting to see him open his eyes more than ever. But his eyes remained shut.

Still, she observed her father’s labored breaths assisted by the machine attached to his nose and mouth. It only showed how difficult it was for him to breathe.

Suddenly, her heart drummed inside her chest, as if it was beating with the machine, beating loudly right next to his bed. If only she could take away his pain, she would. But even that was not possible. She was helpless like everyone else.

“I know.” Laura smiled again at her, patting her hand one last time before letting her go. “I think you should return to your husband. He must be worried about you.” Returning her full attention to her husband.

“What about you, Mom?” She asked, looking at the back of her head questioningly. “Aren’t you coming back with me?”

Laura leaned forward, much closer to the bed. Then, her hands lifted his hand and cradled it on hers like she did not want to let him go.

Eventually, she caressed his skin and placed his palm on her cheeks, like she was transferring her warmth to his, savoring the only contact his situation could allow.

“If you don’t mind, I just want to be alone with him for a while.” Her mother said, requesting a few minutes she could spend with him.

A private moment where she probably could talk to him without anyone else listening. Not even her.

She smiled at her mother, granting her wish. She kissed her mother on top of her head. And then, she moved towards the opposite side of the bed, kissing her father on his forehead.

Afterward, she stepped out of the room, returning to the rest of their family. When she entered the room, she was surprised that many more came to visit her father, family, and friends who cared about his well-being.

Nonetheless, she was surprised that another figure stepped out of the crowd. She was expecting it to be Alex, but it was her brother who walked toward her instead.

She only wondered why he was here. Was it to show his support for the family because he finally considered them family now? Or was it something else?