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ᴍᴀɴʜᴀᴛᴛᴀɴ, ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ 𝙾𝚖𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝙾𝚅
The fluorescent lights of the hospital flickered softly as Ari and Giselle walked down the sterile hallway, Ari clutching a bouquet of flowers in one hand and Giselle's arm in the other. The two was coming from a day of shopping and decided to visit her mom before she went home.
"She's going to be so happy to see these," Ari said, glancing down at the lilies in her hand. "She loves lilies. They remind her of her garden she had at her house."
Giselle nodded, offering a small smile of encouragement. "You're so sweet for real."
As they reached the door to her mom's room, Ari hesitated, her fingers brushing the handle. "I hope she's not sleeping" she whispered.
But as she pushed the door open, the sight inside froze her in place. The monitors were blaring, nurses and doctors swarming around her mother's bed. A voice called out urgently, "We're losing her, start compressions!"
"Mom?" Ari's voice came out in a choked whisper, her legs refusing to move as the bouquet slipped from her trembling hand.
A nurse turned, gently pushing Ari and Giselle back. "I'm sorry, you can't be in here right now."
"That's my mom! What's happening?" Ari cried, trying to push forward. Giselle grabbed her shoulders, pulling her back even as tears filled her own eyes.
"They're doing everything they can," Giselle whispered, her voice shaky. "Ari, let's step back for a second."
But Ari couldn't move. She stood frozen, her breaths coming faster, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the chaos in the room. The thoughts of her losing her mom was starting to feel like a reality and Ari simply couldn't believe it.
Moments later, a doctor emerged, his expression told her enough. He didn't need to say anything. Ari's knees buckled, and Giselle caught her just as the words fell from his lips.
"I'm so sorry. She didn't make it."
Ari let out a strangled cry, her hands flying to her face. "No! No, no, no!" she wailed, her voice echoing through the hallway. "This can't be happening!"
Her breathing became erratic, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. "She can't be gone" Ari clutched at her chest, her vision getting blurry.
"Ari breathe please" Giselle called out, frantically waving down a nurse. "Help her!"
A nurse rushed over with an oxygen mask, gently guiding Ari to sit on a nearby bench. "Breathe, sweetheart. Slow, deep breaths," the nurse coaxed, her voice calm and steady.
But Ari's cries only grew louder. "I need Kay! Please, I need my husband!" she sobbed, gripping Giselle's arm. "Call him, Giselle! Call him now!" She screamed, her voice cracked.
