Chapter 12 - THE MORNING JUNY WENT INTO SURGERY
Juny woke before dawn on the morning of her operation.
Delaney was already sitting beside the hospital bed.
She had not slept.
There were too many things to fear.
Anesthesia.
Complications.
The long hours ahead.
The possibility that something might go wrong despite every reassuring statistic.
Juny opened one eye.
“You look terrible.”
Delaney laughed weakly.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Did you sleep?”
“A little.”
“Liar.”
Delaney brushed a strand of hair from her sister's forehead.
“Are you scared?”
Juny considered.
“Yes.”
Delaney felt her throat tighten.
“Me too.”
Juny reached for her hand.
“Then we're both scared.”
The simplicity of it nearly broke her.
For years, Delaney had believed she needed to be fearless for Juny.
Now her little sister was reminding her that courage could exist alongside fear.
Dr. Ragavan arrived shortly afterward.
He reviewed the plan with Juny and Delaney, answered their questions, and introduced members of the surgical team.
Juny listened carefully.
Then asked whether she'd be able to draw afterward.
The doctor smiled.
“As you recover, yes.”
“Good.”
“Any other questions?”
Juny hesitated.
“Will my sister be here when I wake up?”
Delaney's eyes filled.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Dr. Ragavan smiled.
“We'll keep her informed, and she'll be able to see you when it's appropriate after surgery.”
Juny nodded.
“Okay.”
Then she looked at Delaney.
“Don't make that face.”
Delaney laughed through her tears.
“What face?”
“The one where you think worrying harder will make things go better.”
“I do not make that face.”
“You absolutely do.”
They embraced.
Then the team prepared to take Juny to the operating room.
Delaney stood beside the bed until the last possible moment.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Juny smiled.
“Love you more.”
“Impossible.”
“Science says otherwise.”
Delaney laughed.
Then Juny disappeared through the doors.
And the waiting began.
Ruth Anne arrived at eight with breakfast.
Helen came at nine.
Margaret Flynn brought coffee.
Allesio arrived shortly afterward.
He didn't ask whether Delaney wanted him there.
He had already asked the night before.
She had said yes.
So he came.
And sat beside her.
They waited.
For hours, Delaney stared at the clock.
Every movement of its hands felt personal.
Every opening door made her heart jump.
At noon, Allesio offered her a sandwich.
She shook her head.
“I'm not hungry.”
“I know.”
He placed it beside her anyway.
“You don't have to eat now.”
She looked at him.
“Do you ever get tired of waiting?”
He considered.
“Yes.”
“Then how do you do it?”
“Badly.”
She laughed unexpectedly.
He smiled.
Then his expression softened.
“Delaney, your sister is in the care of people trained to help her. You don't have to make the next hour happen through sheer will.”
She looked down.
“I know.”
He reached for her hand.
She let him take it.
Late that afternoon, Dr. Ragavan came into the waiting room.
Delaney stood so quickly that her chair scraped across the floor.
“Juny?”
The doctor smiled.
“The operation is complete. The surgical team is pleased with how it went.”
Delaney covered her mouth.
Tears filled her eyes.
He explained that Juny was stable and would be monitored closely during recovery.
There were still risks.
Still careful days ahead.
But the news was encouraging.
Delaney began crying.
Not the quiet tears she'd learned to hide.
Great, shaking sobs that seemed to rise from every exhausted year of her life.
Ruth Anne embraced her.
Then Helen.
Then Allesio.
He held her gently.
She pressed her face against his coat.
“She's okay.”
He smiled.
“She's doing well so far.”
Delaney laughed through her tears.
“That's enough for today.”
When Juny woke, she was groggy and uncomfortable.
Delaney sat beside her.
“Hey, superstar.”
Juny opened her eyes.
“Did I win?”
Delaney blinked.
“Win what?”
Juny whispered, “The surgery.”
Delaney laughed and cried at the same time.
“Yeah, Junebug.”
She kissed her sister's forehead.
“You did.”
Juny closed her eyes.
Then murmured, “Good. Tell Frederick.”
Delaney stared.
“The basil plant?”
Juny nodded sleepily.
“He worries.”
Delaney laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
And for the first time in years, the hospital did not feel like a place where everything was being taken from her.
May you like
It felt like a place where something precious had been given back.
Hope.
