Chapter 7

                         Surgery

      Roslyn wore a frown on her face as she continue to stare down at her husband, “just this morning my husband was healthy but look at ‘im now,” Mrs. Williams stretched out her right out reaching out for the younger woman shoulder, she placed her hand on her shoulder in a soothing manner. “My deah do not be dismayed. I believe God has a purpose for this; we should be happy that he’s still alive”, Roslyn stared; not knowing what else to say because her mother was right, but she can’t help the tears in her eyes. “Perhaps I should go home and get him some new clothes and hot water.” Roslyn eyed David yet again, “yes and ya also need some rest; you look exhausted.” Said Roslyn’s mother; Roslyn swiftly stood to her feet. “Please take your time. I’ll be here.” Roslyn nodded her head in response and reluctantly walked out of the door, with Bella trailing behind her. “Where are ya goin’? Bella looked at Roslyn but said nothing. The two ladies trudged out of the hospital to where their car was parked. They settled in a comfortable, silent. Bella opened her mouth to speak but closed it back, she glance at her sister for the third time and a flutter of sadness passed over her delicate face; she remembered those days at home. Roslyn used to be the happiest and yet emotional one in the family, but seeing her now makes her sad. “I’m awfully sorry about your husband, sis,” Bella said again. Roslyn mutely nodded her head. 

       “Do ya s’posed we should take him to another hospital?”

       “Why, what happened to this hospital?” Roslyn bargained as her eyes gazed at the hospital through the side mirror. 

      “Well, not that somethin’ is wrong with St. Luke but knowing David he’ll like to be taken to the most expensive and well-equipped hospital.”

      “Stop it Bella,” Roslyn said above her normal voice. She doesn’t mean to yell at her sister, but she doesn’t like what she said. “Ya know, for a moment you sound like David; my concern now is for David to come around.” Bella’s body sagged. Now she feels guilty for thinking about stupid things instead of the well-being of her sister’s husband. 

    “I’m sorry Roslyn, but ya think, mother and I didn’t notice the sad look in your eyes when ya came to the house. I know you’re not happy, and I know David is not treating ya like a wife. I worry that he’ll make trouble when he finally comes around.” Bella said apologetically. 

     “Oh, deah was it that obvious?” she asked with a weak smile on her face. “But David isn’t that bad. I know deep down he’s a nice person and I know when he finally comes around he’ll have more things to worry about, like his legs and arm.” She said jokily, attempting to light up the mood. 

     “Yes, right?” Bella quickly sobered from her laughter. She reached out for Roslyn’s hand that was lying on her thigh and slightly massages it. “So, will you allow them to amputate his legs?” Bella softly asked, 

     “No, no,” Roslyn hurriedly said, “I’ll never let them cut off my husband’s legs no matter what.” Said Roslyn with determination, 

    “Roslyn, I think ya should let the doctor do their job. They know what’s best for him at this moment”

     “Please don’t say that. Only God knows what is best for David. I know David isn’t much of a believer, but I have faith that he’ll be fine and he’ll get to walk on his two feet again; I’ll not let them cut off his legs when God can actually heal him.” 

     When they got to the mansion, Roslyn did not bother to let Bella set the brake. She immediately reached for the door handle and stepped out; her gazed, focused on the entrance door. An inaudible sigh left Bella’s lips as she watched her sister hurriedly strode into the mansion. After setting the brake, Bella opened the door on the driver's side and stepped out, imitating her older sister. When she finally got into the sub-standard living room; her sister was nowhere in sight and so she went to make herself comfortable on the sofa, waiting for Roslyn to show up. 

     Roslyn’s lips tremble as she continues to forage through David’s dresser, this is her first time going into his dresser, getting what she need from his dresser was getting more difficult by the moment, it equally annoys her she doesn’t even know where her husband keeps his boxers and singlet. The tears she had been trying to control for a while now came flowing down to her cheeks; she wiped the tears away using the back of her right hand and continues to search into the drawers. Roslyn sigh, feeling a bit of relief when she opened the last drawer and so what she has been looking for, for the past thirty minutes. Without wasting much time she picked some of his boxers, singlet and went for his trousers and shirt, scrutinizing them, Roslyn picked two pairs of trousers and shirts, putting it inside a small bag she dashed out of the room closing the door behind her. 

     “You are done?” Bella asked the moment she saw Roslyn walked into the living room, “jah, can we get back before David wakes up?” she bargained, looking at her sister inquisitively. “Calm down sis, mother is there with ‘im even if he wakes up, perhaps ya should go freshen up. It’ll make ya feel better.” Bella said, looking at Roslyn sympathetically. 

    “No, we need to get back before David wake up, I want to be there when he finally open his eyes”, Roslyn insisted making her way to the exit but her sister has refused to follow her, Roslyn opened the front door and stepped into the frigid air but came to a halt when she noticed her sister wasn’t following her, she sigh with her left hand on her hipbone, not knowing what else to do she hesitantly walked back into the mansion and she was surprised to see Bella with a cup of coffee clutched to her hands. “What are ya doing’?

     “Sipping coffee,” replied Bella, a frown passed Roslyn's face; It clearly irritated her with her sister, but she tried her possible best to stay serene. 

      Knowing her sister will not agree to come with her to the car, Roslyn feet hurried on the staircase as she rushed back to her room to take a quick bath. Slipping to her weary skin she entered the fragrance water she loved the feeling of the hot water on her ached muscles, Roslyn wished she can stay for sometime inside the water but her thoughts lingered on David at the hospital, she doesn’t want her husband to wake up and find her absent. Roslyn tilted her head to the mirror and saw how puffy and red her eyes were. “God, I need ya to talk to me”, she breathes with her gaze still on the mirror. “I hope I’m making the right decision,” she continues to talk to herself through the mirror; her churning thoughts are making her head ache and whirled already. She sat down forlornly inside the bathtub; she prayed that she has made the right decision concerning her husband’s damaged legs. The doctor said they’ll love to carry out the surgery on David tomorrow morning and they need Roslyn to sign and give her consent, but Roslyn has refused to sign. 

     Roslyn neared the dresser with a white towel tied around her chest. She picked the only gown closer to her and closed the dresser. After slipping the gown over her head, she went to her bedside drawer and brought out her bible. She thought of using the old bible her mother gifted to her, but she remembered that she left it together with her bag at the hospital. Meticulously, she opened the scripture that has to do with God’s healings power, “and the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them; and speaks unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.” She breathes to herself. She knows painfully that David is not a believer, and she pondered on how she’s going to change her husband to believe in God because only does who believe and have faith receive God’s healing in their lives. Roslyn passed her right hand over her temple as her head continue to ache. Remembering that she needed to be at the hospital soon, she dropped the bible on the bed and quickly dashed out of her room. She went down the stairs to meet her sister talking to one of their maid. 

     “Good evening ma lady,” Tessa greeted, looking at Roslyn with so much pity. 

     “Evening Tessa, I’ll not be back not until tomorrow; please inform others and please take care of the house.” Tessa mutely nodded her head in response. 

      “I’m sorry for what happened, malady,” Tessa said before Roslyn and Bella could leave the room. 

      “Thank- thank you, deah,” Roslyn shuttered. She could easily feel the trembling of her lips as she swallowed the lump in her throat. 

     “Are you okay?” Bella asked, looking intensely at her sister. Even though she just finished taking her bath, she still looks toned and perplexed.

     “Of course I’m okay,” she said convincingly. Bella did not believe her, but she chose not to pry.

       The two young ladies drove back to the hospital in silent. Roslyn slid out of the car the moment Bella parked the car, and it took them less than minutes to get to David’s hospital room. Mrs. Williams looked past her shoulder when she heard the door opened and her body sagged when she saw Roslyn and Bella. 

    “I told ya to have some rest,” says the older woman, with her eyes darting between the two young women. 

     “Well, Roslyn wouldn’t agree; I hardly get her to take a bath,” Bella said softly, returning to her previous seat. 

      “I know it’s hard on ya, deah, but ya shouldn’t stress yourself too much; we’re here for you.” Roslyn couldn’t help but to cry. She’s happy to know that her family is here with her at this crucial and difficult moment of her life. Roslyn immediately leaped to her mother’s arm and her mother held her tight, placing Roslyn’s head on her firmed breast. 

     “Did he at least blink his eyes?” Roslyn finally asked her mother the troubling question that had been on her mind since they entered the room with her sister. Her mother looked at her with sad eyes and Roslyn immediately know the answer to her question, she sigh and nuzzle out of her mother’s arms. She went to seat at the edge of the bed where she can easily see David’s pale face. 

       Later that evening, Roslyn sat down alone in the empty chair, caressing David’s bandaged head. Her mother and Bella had left an hour ago after praying for David. A faint smile lingered on Roslyn’s face as she remembered her few weeks with David back at the mansion. She never had a wonderful moment with ‘im but she would rather have those sad moments with her arrogant husband healthy than watching him lie down on this horrible hospital bed because his silent is killing her already. 

   “I’ve missed you.” She said, talking to the sleeping figure in front of her, not caring if he hears her or not. “Believe it or no David I missed ya, they might force me to marry ya but I love ya because I know deep down in ya is a nice and loving man.” She continues to speak. She covered her face with her hands as the salty tears continue to drop from her eyes, but she did not care to wipe the tears away. Roslyn stroked her hair. “I won’t let them amputate your legs, I promise.” If David was to be awake, what Roslyn said could have tugged his heartstrings for sure. Not knowing what else to do or say, Roslyn reached out for the old bible in her bag and opened it effortlessly. She prayed softly and read the scripture to the unconscious man before her. Through her prayers, the door opened, revealing the doctor in his white lab code. 

      “Good evening doctor,” Roslyn greeted softly, standing to her feet. The doctor walked past her and stood close to the bedside, looking down at David with a faint smile on his face. 

       “Good evening, ma’am,” replied the doctor, writing on his chipboard. “We’re still waiting for ya in case you change your mind.” He began. 

      “I trust God to heal my husband. I s’pose there are other medications ya can administer to ‘im.” The doctor stares at Roslyn like she was crazy; the doctor thought that Roslyn was a brave woman to make such decision even when it concerns her beloved; in his ten years as a medical practitioner, he has never seen a woman who has chief hope and faith in God like Roslyn. Most women would have signed the paper for their husband’s legs to be amputated but here stand Roslyn with her bible clutched to her chest insisting that her husband legs shouldn’t be cut off because God has promised his people healing and she believe God will never fall them.  

    “Well, the best thing we can do for your husband is to administer some pain relievers that will help reduce the pain when he finally comes around and I’ll get ya a nurse to help clean and treat the legs daily; that’s all we can do for him, like you said God does all things well, let’s keep hoping and believing in ‘im.” Said the doctor making his way to the exit, he stood at the door and turned to Roslyn, “I like your bravery,” a sad smile appeared on Roslyn’s face, with her head bow low she softly mutter thank you to him and he walked out of the room. Roslyn went back to reading her scripture, determined not to corral her thoughts and the empathy she felt or else she lose faith in God. 

          Two weeks had passed, and David didn’t even blink an eye or move a finger. Roslyn feels sad and didn’t know what to do anymore. Her daily routine has been cleaning David up, disposing of his excretes; making sure he is comfortable, praying and reading the scripture to him. Her mother and her sister Bella have been of tremendous help to her and she’s grateful to them. Sometimes she find herself by asking God what she did to him to put such a heavy burden on her, but her mother kept encouraging her never to lose faith in God. 

        Roslyn blew out a sigh when she opened the entrance door to the mansion, the last time she’d been home was six days ago when she came to get David more clothes, she has refused to leave his side even when her mother and Mrs. Leo plead with her to go home and get some rest, she always have an excuse not to go. Mercy ran to the door the moment she sighted Roslyn at the door. She was happy to see that Roslyn has finally come home even if it was just for a while. 

    “Welcome malady,” she reached out for the small bag in Roslyn’s hand and moved aside, making way for Roslyn to pass. Roslyn’s hand left her side as she used her hand to wipe away the invisible sweat on her forehead.

    “Thank-thank you Mercy, how’ve ya been?” she bargained, making her way to the nearest sofa. 

     “We’ve been good, ma lady; any improvement on boss yet?” Mercy couldn’t help but to notice the sudden change in Roslyn’s mood and she felt a twinge of concern for her mistress. “I’m awfully sorry ma lady, we worry about ya and the boss and we’ve been praying earnestly for the both of ya.” 

     “Oh deah, thank you all for your prayers; I still believe David will arouse from his slumber soon and we’ll come in no time.” Roslyn didn’t know if she was only trying to assure her maid or trying to reassure herself. “Excuse me if ya don’t mind, I’ll love to get to my room now for a warm bath.” She stood up and shuffle her way to her room. Roslyn could easily feel her aching legs as she climb the stairs. Her eyes are burning due to lack of sleep because she stays awake and fretted all nights just to check up on David and sometimes change his pant. Roslyn allowed her weight to fall on the bed and another sigh escaped her lips. It feels so good to lie down on her queen-size bed again. 

      Roslyn woke up later in the evening, scrutinizing her environment. She looked confused at first, but when she tilted her head to the side and saw that she was in her room, her mind calm down for a bit. Checking the watch on her bedside, she realized that she’d indeed over slept, but she feels better now. Having no reason to remain in bed, she quickly slid out of bed and went straight to the bathroom; she took a quick bath and dressed up in a simple long gown before dashing out to David’s room. Shoving more clothes inside the small bag on David’s bed, Roslyn dashed out of the room with the bag hanged on her shoulder, her feet hurried on the stairs as she make her way outside the mansion skipping yet another dinner at home, she was fortunate to leave the mansion meeting none of the maids on her way out.