Chapter 23 - The Corridor Outside Operating Room Three
The large clock above Operating Room Three showed 10:42 a.m.
Ethan's surgery had begun.
Lucia waited only two doors away.
Nurses quietly completed final preparations.
Elena was allowed a few final minutes with her daughter.
She gently kissed Lucia's forehead.
"You've already crossed oceans."
She smiled through tears.
"Now cross one more room."
Lucia's sleepy eyes opened just enough to recognize her mother's voice.
Her tiny hand lifted weakly.
Elena immediately placed one finger into it.
Lucia squeezed.
Not strongly.
But enough.
The bracelet reading HOPE rested against Elena's skin.
Behind them, Adrian stood silently.
He reached into his pocket and removed Sophie's bracelet.
BRAVE.
For several seconds he simply looked at it.
Then he walked toward Lucia's bed.
"Would it be alright..."
He hesitated.
"...if this stayed with her until surgery?"
Elena looked at the faded bracelet.
"Was it your daughter's?"
He nodded.
Elena carefully tied it beside Lucia's own bracelet.
Hope.
Brave.
The two words rested side by side on the baby's tiny wrist.
Dr. Harrow noticed as he entered.
He smiled quietly.
"Good."
Elena looked confused.
"Why?"
"Every operating room needs skilled surgeons."
He glanced toward Lucia.
"And sometimes..."
His eyes rested on the two bracelets.
"...a little courage too."
Just then, an intercom announcement interrupted the moment.
"Dr. Voss to Operating Room Three immediately."
A nurse rushed into the corridor.
"Ethan's condition has changed."
Voss immediately turned and ran toward the operating room.
Everyone watched him disappear through the swinging doors.
Only seconds later...
Another nurse emerged from Lucia's room carrying updated laboratory results.
She searched urgently for Dr. Harrow.
"Doctor!"
He turned.
She handed him the report.
His eyes widened as he read the final line.
May you like
Without saying a word, he began running after Dr. Voss.
Something in Lucia's latest test had changed the operation once again.
