The oxygen therapy worked faster than the nurses had expected.As she started stirring groggily, one of the nurses removed the cannula from over her nose.Maxwell was looking at the window and the slowly darkening sky increased his dread.It would devastate Reyona if anything happened to that girl.For the moment, he did not even dare to think of how much losing her would hurt him.He just knew he couldn’t let Reyona have that weight on her for the rest of her life.Also, no child should have to be dealt such a cruel fate because of the actions of an unhinged parent.He would get the answers he needed, even if he had to shake it out of her.The doctor had been a bit reluctant at first when he told him to reverse the effects of the sedative she had been given.He had to tell him how urgent it was.Then Officer Guy also told the man the importance of waking her immediately.“Maybe you can help to convince her about the amputation as well,” the doctor said.That was when he suggested oxy
One Hour LaterMaxwell ignored the knock on the door again as he continued to check the messages from the broadcast stations he had sent the announcements.The groans, tossing and teeth-chatters from the bed did not faze him as he sent a message to his men to increase their reach and double the rewards offered.“Sir, please we need to check on the patient.” the doctor knocked again.He finally raised his head after he sent the last message and said “There is no need. We are still having a discussion,” he said casually.“It doesn’t seem like it, sir. Please, we need to check on her. Any agitation could affect her splinted arm, and it could rupture the damaged tissues again, which could endanger her life.”“Is that so?” Maxwell said in consideration as he moved closer to where Susan was shaking like a leaf while sweating profusely.He looked like he was about to give in to what the doctors were saying, but at the last minute, he shook his head and said “It is fine. Nobody will miss her.
Maxwell met Reyona having a video call with her parents.Their worried voices and Gladys' sobs cut through Maxwell deeply.In a way, he was responsible for causing them pain again.He stood aside as he watched her reassure them over and over again.Apparently, Celia had stopped the calls after seeing Toria's reaction.Reyona was the one who called them to tell them before they could see the news.She looked at him and inclined her head so he would come closer.Yet, Maxwell couldn't face her parents at that moment without feeling ashamed, so he shook his head and stayed where he was.Reyona told her parents again that they didn't need to come over.Then she promised them to take better care of herself, after which she disconnected the call.“Hello, stranger.” She said wearily as she gave him a curious look.He came closer and gingerly kissed her forehead. “How are you doing?”“Better,” she smiled and added as she patted the space beside her on the bed, “I ate something.”“Oh? That is wo
“What did you…”“What the fuck is he doing here?” Maxwell’s furious voice overshadowed Thomas’s question. “Why is he still here?” “He never left,” Andrew answered.Then he looked at Celia.“I am sorry, but he just said he wanted to apologise to Reyona, and he would leave…” she said with a look indicating she was already blaming herself.Maxwell’s fury was directed at her as he said “You brought him to my wife to apologise? For what exactly?!”“Don’t shout at my wife, Rohan.” Andrew’s voice had undergone an immediate change as he stepped forward and lay his hand on Celia’s shoulder.“Then maybe your wife should learn to think things through before doing them!” Maxwell snapped immediately.“What did you say?” Andrew said as he took a step towards Maxwell, but Celia quickly held him back.“Guys, guys, you two need to…”“Will someone answer me? Did I hear you right?” Thomas chose that moment to speak.“Shut up!” Maxwell, Andrew and Celia shouted at him.He stood there wide-eyed with his
Reyona was telling Maxwell that he also needed to eat something when the doctor came to her room.He asked to speak to Maxwell and the two of them went outside.“What's going on?” Maxwell asked anxiously.“It is almost three hours, sir. I just wanted to ask if you have been able to get anything. We just got a response from the last organisations with such a type of blood reserve. They don't have any at the moment. They are helping us to get in touch with some beyond-border organisations who might have it, but the problem is, even if they do have it, their last documented destination was Sierra Leone. It might be too late to get it down here.” The doctor explained.“I understand,” Maxwell responded. “I think we might have our perfect match soon. They are getting him down here as we speak.”“Great. That is great news” the doctor said. “We will get things ready.”Maxwell nodded, and the man hurried off.He quickly took out his phone and made a call again.“Boss, I was just about to call
Maxwell was waiting in the waiting room when they led the man in.He was draped in cockiness that belied his arrogant nature.Dressed in crazy jeans and a t-shirt that had dried-up spots of God-knows-what on it, he gave Maxwell an assessing look as he entered.He was a bit taller than Thomas and bulkier like one who liked to play around with weights too, but when he removed his cap, Maxwell’s eyes furrowed a bit.The hair colour was not the same, but one could see it.The slight resemblance he had to Thomas.“What is going on here?” Maxwell wondered as he remembered Reyona’s comment about why the kids looked like Thomas.This man had even the shade of blue eye colour she had called the Lanoth’s eyes.“I wasn't expecting a hospital to be our meeting place,” Maze said as he got to Maxwell. He put his baseball cap back on and sat on the couch in front of Maxwell without waiting for an invitation. He looked up at Maxwell and said “Now it makes sense. I think I sold myself short when I ask
When he started, Maxwell wondered why he thought he would be interested in telling anyone about the disgusting acts that he and Susan had gotten into over the years.Even when he learned Maze had helped Susan feed the habit he probably introduced her to over the years, he hadn't given a two fig about it.Until he heard Maze talking casually about how he had ‘helped’ Susan clear up a mess that had to do with her man.Maxwell was on the verge of lunging at the bastard when the nurse came in to inform him that the doctor would like to see him.“Stay here,” Maxwell said sternly to Maze.“Yes, boss,” the latter said with a jaunty salute that showed he had no idea of how much he had fucked up.Maxwell met the doctor in consultation with another doctor as they stared down at some results.Maxwell’s heart thumped as he thought that the whole effort had been nothing but a waste after all.“It didn't match?” He asked immediately after the nurse led him in.“It is a match actually,” the doctor a
Reyona woke up to a sniffling sound in her room.She instantly noticed that Maxwell was no longer in bed with her.As she blearily opened her eyes, she heard a strange, melodic voice say “The doctor said she is fine, ah gah pee moo.”Wait, what?Reyona opened her eyes fully and turned her head towards the direction where she heard the voice from.“Rey!” Toria called her name urgently as she rushed forward to hug her.Then she stopped abruptly before touching her and just repeated “Rey! Thank God you are okay. Are you okay? Your hands, Rey!”More tears gushed out of Toria’s eyes onto her already wet face.Reyona’s sluggish brain was fast to catch up as she reached for Toria’s face and automatically wiped it with her thumb.“Why are you crying?” she asked.That got more tears out of Toria. “Rey,” she said again as she moved forward to hug her but stopped again. “I don’t want to hurt you,” she said.What was it with people around her treating her like an egg?“You couldn’t hug me if you t