Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

The emergency department doors slid open as Daisy rushed into Mount Sinai.

Usually, the familiar sounds of the hospital grounded her.

Tonight they didn't.

Because this wasn't one of her patients.

This was Theo.

Her nephew.

The little boy who somehow turned every ordinary day into an adventure.

The little boy who made everyone laugh.

The little boy she loved like her own.

A nurse spotted her immediately.

"Dr. Miller."

"Where is he?"

"Room four."

Daisy headed down the corridor quickly.

Halfway there she nearly collided with Dr. Levin.

The pediatric surgeon looked up from a chart.

"Daisy."

"Update."

Straight to the point.

Because if she stopped moving, she'd start worrying.

And if she started worrying, she'd fall apart.

Dr. Levin glanced at the chart.

"Ultrasound shows inflammation around the appendix."

Daisy felt her stomach drop.

Of course it did.

"What about rupture?"

"Not currently."

Relief flooded through her instantly.

Not ruptured.

Thank God.

"But," Dr. Levin continued carefully, "he needs surgery."

The relief disappeared almost immediately.

Because appendectomies happened every day.

She knew that.

She'd seen hundreds.

Yet suddenly none of that mattered.

Because this wasn't a patient.

This was Theo.

"How's he doing?"

"Stable. In pain. Scared."

The last word hit hardest.

Daisy nodded before looking through the doorway.

Harper sat beside the bed gripping Theo's hand tightly.

Her sister looked exhausted.

Terrified.

Theo lay beneath a hospital blanket looking far too small.

Children always looked too small in hospital beds.

Emotion tightened painfully inside Daisy's chest.

Dr. Levin noticed.

"You okay?"

No.

Not even slightly.

But Daisy gave the same answer she always did.

"Fine."

The surgeon looked unconvinced.

"You don't have to be a doctor right now."

That somehow made everything worse.

Because doctor mode was the only thing holding her together.

Then Theo spotted her.

"Aunt Daisy."

His small voice immediately shattered what little composure she had left.

She walked into the room.

"Hey buddy."

Theo looked miserable.

"My stomach hurts."

Daisy sat beside the bed.

"I know."

"And I threw up."

"I heard."

"Twice."

"Very dramatic."

A tiny smile appeared.

Mission accomplished.

Beside him, Harper looked up.

The second she saw Daisy, tears filled her eyes.

"I got scared."

Daisy immediately wrapped an arm around her sister.

"It's okay."

"No, it isn't."

"He's going to be okay."

Harper nodded shakily.

But neither of them truly relaxed.

Not yet.

Another wave of pain crossed Theo's face.

He winced.

Daisy immediately focused on him.

"Tell me where it hurts."

Theo pointed toward the lower right side of his stomach.

Exactly where she expected.

Exactly where she didn't want it to hurt.

Daisy exchanged a glance with Dr. Levin.

Both already knew.

Theo followed the look.

Then asked the question everyone had been avoiding.

"Do I need surgery?"

The room went quiet.

Harper's grip tightened around his hand.

Daisy crouched beside the bed.

"Maybe."

Theo looked worried.

"A shot?"

"Worse."

His eyes widened.

"Worse than a shot?"

Dr. Levin laughed.

"According to some people, yes."

Theo looked horrified.

Even Harper managed a small laugh.

The tension eased slightly.

Only slightly.

Because surgery was still very much a possibility.

Then Dr. Levin's pager buzzed.

Everyone looked up.

The surgeon checked the message.

His expression immediately turned serious.

The room went silent.

"What?" Harper asked.

Dr. Levin looked at all of them.

Then finally spoke.

"The imaging is back."

Nobody breathed.

"The appendix needs to come out."

Harper's eyes immediately filled with tears.

Theo looked confused.

Daisy closed her eyes briefly.

Surgery.

The word hung heavily in the room.

But Dr. Levin stepped forward calmly.

"We caught it before it ruptured."

That mattered.

A lot.

"The operation is routine," he continued gently. "We'll get him into theatre as soon as possible."

Theo looked from Daisy to Harper.

Then quietly asked,

"Am I gonna be okay?"

Daisy didn't hesitate.

She took his hand and squeezed it.

"Absolutely."

And for the first time since the phone call—

she truly believed it.

The next hour passed in a blur.

Consent forms were signed.

Nurses came and went.

IV medications were started.

Theo became quieter as reality began sinking in.

Every now and then he would ask another question.

"Will there be needles?"

"Probably."

"Can I keep my appendix?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because it's trying to kill you."

Theo thought about that.

"That's rude."

Even the nurse laughed.

Eventually the orderly arrived.

The wheelchair waiting outside the room suddenly made everything feel real.

Harper immediately grabbed Theo's hand.

Daisy stood beside them.

Trying desperately to be strong.

Theo looked between them both.

"Can Aunt Daisy come too?"

The question nearly broke her.

"I'll walk with you."

Theo nodded.

Satisfied.

Together they followed the surgical team down the corridor.

The closer they got to theatre, the quieter everyone became.

When they reached the doors, the anesthetist crouched down beside Theo.

"Ready, buddy?"

Theo looked nervous.

Very nervous.

Then he looked at Daisy.

She smiled.

"You've got this."

He took a deep breath.

Then nodded.

The theatre doors opened.

And just like that, he was gone.

Harper burst into tears the second the doors closed.

Daisy immediately wrapped her arms around her.

For the first time all evening there was nothing they could do.

No tests.

No medicines.

No reassuring words.

Just wait.

The longest wait of their lives.

Hours later, Dr. Levin finally appeared.

Still wearing surgical scrubs.

Harper stood so quickly her chair nearly tipped over.

"Is he okay?"

The surgeon smiled.

And instantly Daisy knew.

"The surgery went perfectly."

Relief crashed through both sisters.

Harper actually cried harder.

Daisy felt her knees weaken.

"The appendix was badly inflamed," Dr. Levin explained. "But we got it out before it ruptured."

Thank God.

"He'll be sore for a few days, but he'll make a full recovery."

Harper covered her face.

Daisy closed her eyes briefly.

The tension she'd been carrying since the ambulance call finally released.

Theo was okay.

A little while later they were allowed to see him.

He was sleepy.

Pale.

Groggy from anesthesia.

But alive.

Safe.

His eyes opened slightly when they entered.

"Aunt Daisy?"

She smiled immediately.

"Hey buddy."

"I survived."

Daisy laughed despite the tears threatening her eyes.

"Apparently you did."

Theo nodded weakly.

Then whispered,

"Can I tell everyone?"

Harper groaned.

Daisy laughed.

And for the first time all day—

everything felt okay again. ❤️