Meredith's sister

40

Mia's POV

The days that followed were a blur of appointments and waiting. Surgery was looming over me, an unavoidable reality, and yet, there was no escaping it. I tried to keep my focus on the little things that mattered—Allison's laughter, the quiet moments with Teddy, the comfort of being surrounded by my sisters. But no matter how hard I tried to push it aside, the fear was always there, creeping into every corner of my mind.

The morning of the surgery arrived before I was ready. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection, taking in the pale face staring back at me. I wasn't sure if it was the fear or the sleepless nights, but I looked different somehow. Vulnerable, maybe.

Teddy was already up when I walked into the kitchen, her face set in that quiet determination I'd come to rely on. She didn't say anything at first—just handed me a mug of coffee, her fingers brushing mine in a gesture that was both reassuring and tender.

"You ready?" she asked after a beat, her voice low, but there was a softness to it that made my heart ache.

I hesitated, the question hanging in the air between us. Was I ready? No. How could anyone ever be ready for something like this? But I knew I had no choice.

"I don't know," I said honestly, feeling the weight of the moment press down on me. "But I don't have a choice, do I?"

Teddy smiled gently, the kind of smile that spoke of a thousand unspoken promises. "No, you don't. But I'm here with you, Mia. Every step of the way."

Her words wrapped around me like a protective shield, and for a moment, I almost believed everything would be okay.

We made our way to the hospital, the drive a quiet one, filled with the hum of the engine and the occasional soft comment between us. The familiar sight of the hospital came into view, and my stomach twisted with nerves. I hadn't even realized how deeply afraid I was until now.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I saw my sisters waiting outside. Maggie, Amelia, and Meredith. They were all there, their faces filled with concern and love. Meredith immediately crossed the lot to meet us, her arms open, pulling me into a hug before I even had a chance to speak.

"You're going to be okay," she said softly, her voice steady, but her eyes were betraying her own worry.

"I know," I said quietly, my voice tight. "I just want this to be over with."

Amelia stepped forward then, her hands clasped together, her gaze unshaken but filled with an intensity that matched mine. "You will get through this, Mia," she said, her voice strong. "You're stronger than you think."

Maggie, ever the pragmatic one, gave me a tight-lipped smile and a nod. "We'll be right here, Mia. All of us. You won't face this alone."

I felt the warmth of their words wrap around me, the support of my family and Teddy giving me the strength I hadn't realized I'd been missing.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling the lump in my throat grow, but I fought it back. I had to stay strong—for them, for Allison.

We walked through the hospital together, and as we approached the operating room, I was overwhelmed by the surreal feeling of it all. I wasn't ready for this—how could I be? But there was no time left for second-guessing.

The nurses ushered me into a small room to change into the hospital gown, the sterile smell of the room familiar and cold. Teddy stood by my side the entire time, holding my hand, never letting go. I tried to keep my breathing steady, tried to focus on her warmth and the feeling of her hand in mine. But it was hard.

"I'll be right here when you wake up," she promised softly, kissing my forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," I said, blinking back tears. I didn't want to cry—not now, not here. But the fear was too much to hold inside anymore.

The nurse came in then, a calm and efficient presence, explaining the next steps and offering me a sedative to help relax me before the surgery. I nodded, barely hearing her words, my mind still fixated on the fact that in a few moments, they would be wheeling me into the operating room, and there would be no going back.

Teddy squeezed my hand one last time before I was taken away, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I love you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You've got this. You're going to be okay."

"I love you too," I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips.

And then, before I could say anything else, I was being wheeled down the hallway, the world around me fading to a blur. The cold, sterile environment of the hospital became a blur of white walls and busy nurses, and I closed my eyes, focusing on the sound of my own breathing.

Please, I thought, over and over. Please let me wake up. Please let me survive this.

When I woke up, the first thing I felt was the weight of exhaustion. My body ached, and my head throbbed with a dull pain that matched the emptiness in my chest. The sterile smell of the hospital was still all around me, and I tried to open my eyes, but the light felt too bright, too harsh.

A soft voice broke through the fog of anaesthesia. "Mia?" It was Teddy, her voice so familiar, so comforting.

I slowly opened my eyes, squinting against the light, and saw her standing there, her face pale but filled with relief. "Hey," I whispered, my throat dry. "Did it work?"

Teddy leaned down, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. "It's over," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "The surgery went well. They got most of the mass out, but we'll have to wait for the biopsy results to know what comes next."

I nodded slowly, the words settling in. Most of it. But not all.

The fear settled back in, heavy and cold, but I focused on Teddy, on the way she was holding my hand so tightly, as if she was afraid I might slip away.

"We'll deal with whatever comes next, Mia," Teddy said softly, as if reading my mind. "But for now, you rest. You've been through enough."

I closed my eyes again, the exhaustion threatening to pull me under. But even as sleep began to overtake me, one thought lingered: I'm still here. And that's all that matters right now