Chapter 9: The Operation Day
Thursday morning arrived in a haze of gray dawn light. The surgical waiting room was quiet, save for the hum of the air ventilation system and the distant footsteps of nurses on rotation. Lily had been wheeled into Operating Room 4 at seven sharp, leaving behind her small stuffed bunny on Claire’s lap.
For four agonizing hours, Claire and David sat side by side. They did not speak much; words were unnecessary in the presence of life-altering surgery. David held a small prayer book his grandmother had given him years ago, while Claire kept her eyes fixed on the red illuminated light above the surgical doors.
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Every time the door swung open, Claire’s heart jumped into her throat. She replayed every moment of Lily’s short life—her first smile, her weak little laughs when she tried to play tag, her innocent questions about why she couldn't run like other kids.
At eleven fifteen, the red light finally flickered off. Dr. Rostova stepped out into the hallway, pulling off her surgical mask and cap. Her face was weary, but her eyes held a brilliant, unmistakable warmth.
