Shit, I completely get where she’s coming from. She deserves someone to love her because she has so much to give.
“You can come live with me?” I suggest.
She reaches for my face and cups it. “Nnno. Th-thank you, W-W-W-Wes.”
“I get it. You want your independence.”
“Yes. Y-y-you… nnn-need your own… l-l-life. ”
“I’ll always take care of you, mamasita.”
Before we can talk more, the doctor steps into the room.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Hudson,” he says, reaching for my hand, which I shake.
“Wes. I’m the son.”
He looks directly at Mom. “I have your scan results back. It looks like the seizure happened because you stopped taking your anti-seizure medication. Upon further inspection, we’ve discovered a lesion… scar tissue in the left hemisphere. It’s a good thing you fell on your right side.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“I’d like to conduct a lesionectomy to remove the epileptogenic tissue.”
“So, surgery?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes. We have to wait until your concussion is gone and you’re fully healed before we proceed.”
“Will she be okay in the meantime if we wait?”
“She should be fine,” he replies, addressing Mom again. “You need to take your medication, Ms. Ellison. You can’t stop taking it.”
Her eyes spill again, and she nods. “I-I knn-now…”
He squeezes her blanket-covered foot and smiles. “We’ll get you out of here in the morning. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy our terrible hospital food.”
She smiles politely, but if she’s anything like me, humor is beyond us at the moment.
After another round of questions and instructions, he leaves. I talk to her a bit longer until she falls asleep. I leave the room, and my grandparents take over because I have a few calls to make.
I hate taking a leave of absence from work, but Mom needs me. I’ll stay for a few days, then take off more time while she’s having surgery.
When I step outside the hospital, it’s dark. I pull out my phone and call Dennis.
“What’s up, bro?” he answers.
“Hey, so… I need you guys. Mom’s in the hospital for a concussion after having a seizure. She needs surgery. And…” I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Jett dumped the fuck out of me. So, there’s that. It’s not been a great day.”
“Jesus, man. Understatement of the year. So sorry, Wes. Yeah, let’s meet up. Mike and I got you.”
“Thanks. You’re a… good friend.”
Next, I call my boss to let him know I’ll be gone longer than anticipated, and that I’ll have to take more time off when Mom has surgery. He tells me not to worry, that he’ll get my patients set up with the other PTs.
Mom’s sleeping, so I’m still in the waiting room. I refuse to leave until she’s fucking home. I sent my grandparents home to get something to eat and to sleep. They’ll be back in the morning to take her home.
Just as I’m dozing off in the uncomfortable chair, someone shakes my shoulder, and I’m hit with the smells of seafood.
I blink my eyes open to find Dennis and Mike. God, my eyes are leaking again. Jesus.
