to the moon & to saturn | cate blanchett

chapter 17

Tensions were high between Elle's mother and girlfriend in the waiting room of the emergency wing of the hospital. When they had arrived, a doctor told them that Elle needed to be prepped immediately for surgery. According to him, the young girl's appendix nearly ruptured, causing her an insurmountable amount of stomach pain, which led to her fainting episode.

His words played like a broken record in Cate's head: "It was a blessing that you called her in when you did. If her appendix burst, she might have suffered life threatening complications."

Life threatening complications.

That sentence alone had taken all of the air out of Cate's lungs.

Those words were delivered to them almost two hours ago. Cate paced around the waiting room for the first hour, until she noticed it was making others anxious. After that, she sat down in one of the uncomfortable metal chairs, tapping her foot rapidly.

He had told them that it would only take one hour: "We are confident that the removal will go smoothly. It's a very common procedure."

What if —

No.

Catherine, stop.

She wouldn't allow herself to think like that, but as she sat in the anxiety charged room, she grew increasingly impatient and frustrated. Unable to stop herself, she went up to the front desk.

"Are there any updates?" she asked, twiddling with one of the many rings on her hand.

The receptionist, an older woman with kind eyes and dark curly hair, shook her head.

Fuck.

"Can I see her? Is she okay? I simply want to hear that she's alright. Please tell me something. Anything, I beg of you," pleaded Cate.

Cate always hated hospitals. The atmosphere, the noises, the anticipation, and the lack of answers. She was especially not fond of people who acted like this at hospitals, like she was right now. Impatient and rude, full well knowing that there were no answers to be received.

But she understood. The wait was agonizing, enough to make any sane individual go crazy. It didn't help that her heart felt shattered in her chest; sharp pieces of a broken glass heart scraped against her chest. As each minute on the clock ticked by, another sharp piece hallowed Cate from the inside.

"Ma'am, the doctor will be out soon. He will provide you with the answers you need. I suggest you sit down until then," said the receptionist, barely looking up from her computer.

Cate slapped her open palms down on the counter in frustration, causing her rings to clink, but she did as she was directed. She slouched down in a chair next to the empty shell that presented itself as Elle's mother.

Mary sat with her back perfectly straight and her feet unmoving. In fact, none of her was moving; she stared straight ahead, stiff as a board. The only time she moved was when they first arrived; she needed to fill out paperwork for her daughter.

The two didn't speak to each other, but their anger was replaced by a multitude of different emotions.

Worry fell at the forefront for Cate.

It was still early, nearing 9 am, and the waiting room gradually seated more and more people. Family members anxiously waited for any speck of news that the doctors could offer.

Cate turned towards her girlfriend's mother as Mary mumbled something barely audible.

"I didn't catch that," said Cate in a huff.