Mothers (girlxgirl) (Book 3)

Fear

Buffy's POV

This is bad. This is so very, very bad. Why isn't the doctor here yet? I've been trying like hell to do like my mom asked for the past few days. Avoiding people like the plague after that first night at The Bronze. And then I get a call from the doctor last night, asking me to come in this morning for the results of my mom's tests.

"He should be here by now."

"I'm sure the doctor is just running a little late honey. He must have many different patients to take care of."

I look down at my watch and then at Mom.

"He said 9 though, it's 9:15. When doctors are late they usually have bad news."

"Buffy, you have to calm down. Doctor Gray will be here when he can, and for all we know he'll be telling us how we can improve my treatment."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous."

She just smiles sympathetically at me. Just then the doctor knocks on the door on his way in.

"Good morning ladies, how are you both?"

He's being too nice, we're getting bad news I just know it.

I watch him as he goes around my mom's hospital bed so he can speak to both of us.

"I'm feeling pretty good this morning doctor thank you."

"That's definitely good to hear. And you Buffy?"

I look away from them both.

"I'm okay... I guess..."

They don't say anything for a few moments.

"I'm glad. Did you have a nice couple of days while your mother was here with us?"

My eyes meet Doctor Gray's.

"You mean did I enjoy myself while my mom was sick in the hospital?"

"Yes, well, I have news as you're already aware..."

"Good or bad?"

"Buffy let the man speak."

"It's all right. We may have isolated the problem."

They did?

I look at my mom and feel myself smile with hope before turning to him.

"What is it?"

"We believe it may be related to the injury you sustained some months ago."

Injury? Oh...

"You mean when my mom broke her rib?"

"Yes, when it punctured her left ventricle artery it caused internal bleeding. Thankfully you happened to be in the hospital at the time and we were able to repair it before things got too severe."

"But if you repaired the damage then how does it affect my current condition?"

"We don't believe the wound has healed properly. Due in large part to your pre-existing heart condition. Coronary artery disease reduces the distribution of oxygen and nutrients into the blood stream, which a wound requires in order to heal properly."

Oh god...

"So what does that mean? Is she? Is my mother, gonna...?"

I can't even say it.

I just let my head drop into my hands.

"No, we will do everything in our power to help her. There are a number of different treatments we can try, and there's always surgery as a last resort."