Chapter 6: A Difficult Decision

Chapter 6: A Difficult Decision 

She nodded and watched quietly as he drank the chilled water. “Father invited me to his place tomorrow.”

He stopped drinking and placed the bottle on the table, covering it carefully. “He must be eager to see you tomorrow.” He raised his head and stared at her carefully, his expression changing slowly. “Is that why you're here tonight? So we can leave together for his place tomorrow?”

She held the rechargeable broom with one of her hands raising her other to flick the strand of hair sticking out against her forehead. “I had the intention that we would leave for his place tomorrow, together and I will get to update my followers…

“Maria?”

“Yes?”

“I have a lot to do before heading to my father's place tomorrow. I don't think we will be able to leave for his place together, so just don't get too excited.” He retorted calmly and made his way to the entrance, holding the bottle of water. 

She held his wrist as she reached her side and he stopped, looking down at her grip. After a few seconds, she released her grip and stepped out of the kitchen.

“I will leave tomorrow morning before you wake up, you don't have to worry about me.” She let out softly and walked away. 

Michael closed the door behind him and went back to his room, sipping the water as he stepped into the room. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Next Day.

The scent of antiseptic and different medicines filled the air in the hospital while the faint beeping of machines created a steady hum in the background. Nurses walked to and fro holding medical equipment while Luca and his grandma walked to the doctor’s office.

Grandma clutched her bag firmly while Luca turned his gaze to her. 

“You look so scared. Are you afraid the doctor will give you long injections?” He inquired playfully and she eyed him squarely. 

“Rascal. I'm not afraid of injections, the doctor should be afraid of me instead.” She replied and Luca beamed lightly. 

They got to the front of the office and Luca opened the door for his grandma, She walked in, followed by him. 

He turned to the female doctor in casual clothes, sitting on a chair. She had glasses on, her brunette hair styled in a bun, and a file in her hand. 

She looked up at Luca and his grandma and placed the file on the table carefully. 

“Mr and Mrs Graham?” She inquired softly and urged Grandma to sit before her. 

Luca nodded as he sat beside his grandma. “Good morning, Doctor.” 

“Good morning, I'm Dr. Smith.” She said as she placed her hands on the handle of her chair and shifted closer to the table, then removed her glasses and lowered them to the table carefully. “I know we have discussed this before and I told you not to worry but, unfortunately, her cancer has progressed.” 

Luca could hear his grandma let out a weary breath but he reached out his hand and held her hand tightly, then locked his gaze on the doctor. “She has been taking her drugs regularly and also coming for a check-up up and there has still been no improvement?”

She shook her head instantly. 

“What do we have to do now?” Grandma questioned calmly. 

“I had a discussion with my other colleagues and the best decision we could arrive at is to recommend surgery to remove the tumour, completely.” She retorted as she picked a blue file before her and handed it over to Luca. “It is a critical step and requires funding .”

“There is no problem about the funding if that's what you think will delay the surgery, ma'am,” Luca said as he stared at the file in his hands. “I will prepare the funding as soon as possible and grandma will come for the surgery.”

“That is great. We will schedule the surgery as soon as you inform me about the payment, Grandma needs to be as strong as she can be soon.” Doctor Smith answered back wryly and Grandma smiled. 

“Don't make my grandson worry too much, he has too much on his plate apart from me.” Grandma let out mockily but Luca was not fazed.

His only priority was his grandma and his grandma alone and he was scared for her. She has been the only one for him all his life and he can't risk losing her, not now, not ever! He knew she had to get that surgery and treatment and he vowed under his breath to make the payment as soon as possible. 

“The nurses will attend to you outside. One of them will give you your weekly injection.” She shifted her gaze to Luca. “Please, see grandma out. We have to talk.”

“Talk? But what about me? Why will you talk behind my back about me?” Grandma asked as she turned her gaze to Luca. 

“You should not worry about yourself, Grandma. I will tell you everything she says, okay?” He said as he stood up, supporting grandma as she stood up from the chair reluctantly. 

“Well, don't treat me like an old woman. I can walk to the reception myself, you should hear the doctor out.” She scowled as she walked out. 

Luca closed the door behind her and took his seat. “What is it, doctor? Do I need to pay for anything apart from that?”

“There are things more important than money and they’re support, patience, and resilience. You have to stay with her during these hard times, I know you’ve been with her but more will be needed.” She heaved a sigh and clasped her hands together then added. “This cancer is more deadly than I thought. I just said that as not to scare her, so please, be with her.” 

“You don’t have to worry about that doctor. I have always stood by grandma and I’ll do that forever.” He replied confidently and she nodded. 

After the discussion, Luca left the office and walked down the hospital corridor. He turned a corner and stopped as he saw somber nurses moving a gurney from a ward with a loveless person covered in a white sheet on it. 

He froze as he realized the person was dead and the members of the patient came out of the ward, sobbing loudly as they followed the nurses. The soft sound of the gurney’s wheel filled the air as other patients looked away. 

He knew that pain. That hurt and pain when one lost their dear one, it was painful and one could never recover from it. 

He stood against the wall, his heart racing as he closed his eyes slowly. He could hear the cries begin to reduce to soft whimpers then fade in complete silence that enveloped him. He hated this feeling! He took a deep breath, trying to control his rising emotions but it was of no use. 

A touch. 

“Luca?”

He opened his eyes immediately and stared at his worried grandma. 

“Grandma?” He adjusted his clothes immediately and forced a smile. “I was just looking for you…

“You don't need to hide anything from me. It is normal for you to feel like that sometimes.” She replied as she patted his shoulder. 

His face dropped and he embraced her softly then muttered. 

“I miss them.”