No cake for attention seekers

Claire stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floor. David gripped her hand tightly, both holding their breath as Dr. Rostova approached.

“She did remarkably well,” Dr. Rostova said, a soft smile spreading across her face. “The cardiac repair was a complete success. Her heart is strong, and her vitals are fully stabilized. In a few weeks, she will have more energy than you’ll know what to do with.”

Claire fell back into the chair, sobbing tears of overwhelming gratitude. David bowed his head into his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent, desperate relief. The nightmare that had hovered over their family for five long years had finally parted like mist before the morning sun.

An hour later, they were permitted into the recovery ward. Lily lay under soft blankets, her cheeks already showing a delicate, healthy pink tone she had never possessed before. As Claire knelt beside the bed, Lily’s eyelids fluttered open slowly.

“Mommy?” Lily murmured faintly, her voice tiny but clear. “Did the doctor fix my heart?”

“Yes, my brave sweet girl,” Claire kissed Lily’s soft knuckles. “Your heart is completely fixed.”