Page 148 of Blossom

Unbearable.

I long for the serenity of Mémé once more, for her arms around me, for—

I open my eyes and look up at the surgeons, except they’re not surgeons. They’re nurses. They smile at me and tell me that everything went well. I smile back, but I know that they do not understand what I have just experienced. For me, it was a journey unlike any other—a journey I will never forget.

Chapter Forty-Four

Mary

I don’t hear from Yvette again, and I don’t have the number for Ronan’s parents.

They won’t be able to get here for at least twenty-four hours, being overseas and all.

But perhaps Yvette can make it by this afternoon or evening.

Normally I love wearing corsets, but it’s become binding and uncomfortable. I long to take it off, to breathe.

But I can’t leave.

Can’t leave until I know he’s okay.

Time passes in a warp.

People walk in slow motion, and then quickly as if I’m above them, on a different point in time.

My imagination has taken over, and my eyes aren’t working properly.

Hours.

The clock on the wall says noon.

And then one.

I should call Trish. I may lose my job, but I don’t care right now.

I can’t talk to anyone. I can’t give her the reason why I’m not at work.

That will make it too real.

“Ronan O’Connor?”

Dr. Ludwig stands near the doorway.

Oh God…

No.

Please no.

I stand.

Walk toward her.

She removes her surgical mask. “The surgery went well, Miss…”

“Sandusky.” I heave a sigh of relief.

“We were able to repair the damage to his organs. But we did find an anomaly.”