My nose stung. I barely held back the sob building in my throat.
She always supported me, no questions asked.
When I got married. And now, when I was ready to end it.
I said a few words to reassure her, then got up to find the doctor.
The scheduled surgery time had already passed, and no one had come in.
My mother had been resuscitated multiple times before. She'd had several critical condition notices issued.
Today was the deadline. There was no more room for delay.
I went to the nurses' station and explained the situation.
Several nurses stood up immediately and wheeled my mother into the operating room.
A short while later, one of them came back out.
"The patient has been given anesthesia. I'll go get the lead surgeon right now."
I nodded gratefully, thanking her again and again.
But minutes passed. The anesthesia had already taken effect, and the surgeon still hadn't appeared.
Then the operating room doors swung open.
Every nurse inside filed out and headed for the stairwell.
I didn't understand. I grabbed one of them at random.
"Where are you going? My mother is still waiting for her surgery!"
"Please don't leave. The doctor said her condition can't wait any longer..."