Chapter Two

TINA'S POV:

I was lost in a sea of exhaustion, my eyelids heavy with the weight of tears and worry. The beeping of machines and the soft whispers of the nurses faded into the background as I drifted off to sleep. But the sound of the door opening and the soft footsteps of the doctor entering the room jolted me awake. My eyes fluttered open, and I was met with the warm smile of the doctor.

"Good morning, Tina," he said softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "How are you feeling today?"

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the haze of sleep. "I'm...I'm okay, doctor," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor's eyes shifted to the machines surrounding my daughter's tiny form, his gaze scanning the monitors and wires. His expression turned serious, and my heart began to race. What was wrong? Was her condition worsening?

He turned back to me, his voice gentle but firm. "Tina, we need to discuss the surgery. It's crucial that we secure the funds for the procedure as soon as possible. Have you and your husband made any progress in securing the necessary funds?"

I felt a lump form in my throat as I nodded, trying to push aside the fear and uncertainty. "We're working on it, doctor. My husband is taking care of it."

The doctor's eyes held a hint of concern, but he nodded. "I know it's a lot to handle, but time is of the essence. We need to schedule the surgery as soon as possible to give your daughter the best chance at recovery."

I took a deep breath, determination welling up inside me. "We'll make a part payment today, doctor. My husband is taking care of it. We'll do everything we can to ensure our daughter receives the surgery she needs."

The doctor's expression softened, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I know you will, Tina. I'll make sure to update the surgical team. We'll get your daughter the help she needs."

He paused, his eyes locked onto mine. "You know, Tina, your daughter is a fighter. She's strong, just like her mother."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I nodded, a small smile on my lips. "Thank you, doctor. That means a lot to me."

I dialed Sabastine's number, my fingers trembling with anxiety. The phone rang, and I held my breath, expecting to hear his warm voice on the other end. But instead, I was greeted by the cold, robotic tone of his voicemail. "Hello, this is Sabastine. Leave a message."

My heart sank, and I felt a knot form in my stomach. I tried again and again, but each time, it went straight to voicemail. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Where was he? Why wasn't he answering his phone?

I paced back and forth in the hospital room, my eyes fixed on the clock on the wall. The minutes ticked by at a glacial pace, each one feeling like an eternity. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

Finally, after what felt like an hour, I collapsed into the chair beside my daughter's bed, exhausted and frustrated. I buried my face in my hands and let out a sob. Where was Sabastine? And why wasn't he answering my calls?

Hours ticked by, and I waited, my nerves frayed. I tried calling Sabastine's number again and again, but the result was always the same - straight to voicemail. I couldn't concentrate on anything else, my mind consumed by worries about Sabastine and our daughter's surgery.

As the silence stretched on, I knew I had to act. I grabbed my keys and headed to our house, hoping to find Sabastine there. Maybe he was busy with something and hadn't heard his phone. Maybe he was on his way to the hospital. Maybe...

I pulled into the driveway, my eyes scanning the house for any sign of life. But it looked quiet and still, the curtains drawn and the doors closed. My heart sank, and I felt a pang of worry. Where was Sabastine? And where was our son, Jerry?

I parked my car across the road and headed towards the school gate, my heart still racing with worry. As I approached the entrance, I spotted Jerry sleeping by the side of the security personnel. I rushed over to him, relief washing over me. "Jerry, sweetie, wake up!" I gently shook him awake, and he rubbed his eyes, looking up at me with a sleepy grin. I asked the guy if Sabastine had shown up and he shook his head saying the last time he saw him was in the morning when he dropped Jerry off. i thanked the security personnel and scooped up Jerry in my arms, carrying him as I stepped outside still checking my phone to see any message or call from Sabastine.

As we walked, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Where was Sabastine? Why is his phone not reachable, why is my calls unanswered? I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on getting Jerry home safely.

Just as we were crossing the road, my phone rang. I juggled Jerry in my arms and answered the call, expecting it to be Sabastine with an explanation for his disappearance. But instead, it was the hospital. My heart skipped a beat as I listened to the nurse's words. "Tina, we need to schedule an emergency surgery for your daughter. The doctor will explain the details when you arrive." My mind raced with questions and fears. What was happening? Why did they need to operate so suddenly?

I was processing this shocking information, I failed to notice the car speeding down the road. It wasn't until I heard the screeching tires and felt the impact that I realized what was happening. A car had hit me and was speeding away! I cried out in pain and shock, Jerry's weight slipping from my arms as I fell to the ground. Everything went blank.