Shadow's Within

17 : Taking the bullet out of my mom

I help mom on her feet while Chase assist her on the other side. We held her tight carefully, gesturing her into the pharmacy.

The plump man was waiting for us in his counter, taking out all the medication that we need.

He took one look at mom and immediately ran to her side, helping us. We lay mom down on a bed at the back. She couldn't stop twitching her body, shivering from the cold breeze.

Chase stands beside me. "Who is this guy?"

"Oh!" I forgot to introduce them. "Chase meet Joe, Joe meet Chase"

"Hi" Joe said.

Chase nods at him.

Joe continues checking on mom. "This isn't good" he said. "The bullet is way too deep in her intestine. Some of the them are already tearing inside. She needs surgery now!"

"We can't go to the hospital!" I said. "They could track us there. That's why I went to you. You have measurable good medical background experience. Five years in Afghanistan as a medical troop. I know you won a purple heart medal for saving hundreds of soldiers in the war. You can treat her here."

He snarls back at me. "Are you insane! I can't have surgery here. There's no clean room in this building. If I cut her open here, she could be infected! It would make her condition far worse than it is now!"

"Then what do you propose we do!" I shout. "Take her to the hospital and let them catch us and kill us?"

The atmosphere on the room is too stressful. Everybody is tense. Joe got to his feet and grab a bottle of some Vicodin and began swallowing some of it.

"It's for my headache" he said. "Wait here, I'll be right back"

Neither Chase or I speak during Joe's absence. After five minutes, Joe returns to the room, bringing a set of tools in his hand.

"What's that?"

"I'll have the surgery here" he said. "But.. there is a risk like I said earlier. This room is not sanitized like the surgery room in the hospital. She could get infected if I open her up."

"It's better than nothing" I retort. "I just want that bullet out of her. What comes after we can deal then."

"Okay" he agrees. "Don't blame me if her condition worsens after this surgery"

Joe pulls a wheel cart next to him and lay the sets of tools he brings on top of it. He shrugs looking very displease to be doing this surgery due to the risks but he couldn't risk losing a patient in his bed.

"Do any of you know your way around a surgery?" Joe said.

"No" Both Chase and I said simultaneously.

He reaches down for a scalpel. "Good. Now GET OUT! Let me do my work in peace"

We both exit the room and stay on the pharmacy. My fatigue took my body over and I land on the chair behind the counter. Chase follows through.

The next couple of hours is as daunting and chilling as it could be. Hearing my mother aching in pain on the other side of the room unease me. I should be in there helping her but Joe insists on working alone. I try smiling for positive effect but all that I could prevail is some bitterly thinking thoughts.

Chase touches me on the back. "Hey. She's going to be fine"

I manage a courteous smile.

Another hour follows through until Joe emerge from the other room. I quickly ran to him to asks about the surgery.

He pulls his hand upwards. "She's fine. I had a hard time removing the bullet. A few mistakes could have gone badly but I manage it."

"Thank god" I said.

"She's resting now. Leave her for now. Tomorrow I'll take a lot if her condition worsens or by some miraculous treat she avoids any infection." He wipes his hands.

I immediately ran my hand over Joe's shoulder giving him a huge thankful hug. "Thank you" I said. "Now I owe you one"

He laughs. "That you do"