would be dead before help arrived.
Everyone remained quiet as they waited for Doug’s signal to begin. The sounds of the various devices filled the void while Doug waited for the vital readings to settle. This procedure was something he only witnessed before by way of video in the classroom. He didn’t want to wait too long , but beginning too early could prove just as disastrous.
When he felt the time was right , he nodded. “Doctor Howell, if you would please…” His voice froze when Franklin’s eyes opened despite the anesthesia. “What the… Nurse put him under!” His voice rose at the thought of the young man waking while he was inside his brain. If I hadn’t waited…
The nurse fumbled with the anesthesia mask as she tried to put it into place over Franklin’s mouth and nose. When she finally managed to get the mask in position, the patient caught her by the wrist before she could put it tightly over his face. With an inch at most separating him from the gas, he wouldn’t breathe in enough of it to become unconscious for several minutes.
“No, please. I’m alright.”
The room took a collective breath as all five pairs of eyes locked on him. The only sound was the rhythmic droning and beeping of the machines. The first one to find his voice was Doug. “But… your embolism…”
Franklin’s eyes moved from one person to another before settling on Doug. “I don’t know what that is, but I can tell you I’m fine.” He paused while he looked into the doctor’s eyes. “I’m fine, Doctor Doug. Would I be talking to you now if I wasn’t?” After a moment, he added, “Things are more complicated than you could possibly imagine.”
Doug couldn’t find an argument to counter him aside from demanding more tests. Franklin nodded his agreement and the rest of the operating room remained quiet, staring at each other in disbelief. This was an unprecedented turn of events.
*****
In the waiting area, Winfield Bowen sat with his hands clasped together in his lap. He wasn’t praying, it was something he gave up years earlier after his wife became sick. He believed in God, in fact, he could recite the Bible cover to cover. He just didn’t understand why a being as all-knowing and powerful as Jahova, would allow a woman like his wife to get sick and then his son to follow suit.
He was being punished through them, it was the only reason he could think of as to why any of it was happening. It was something Winfield realized when he talked to his wife Nancy after learning of Franklin ’s accident. Winfield had been in the business of measuring one life against another’s for a long time. He did it to make a difference and he did, his name would go down as the man that saved countless American lives, but at the cost of his family. Since they took his son away for surgery all he could ask himself was, “Was it worth it?” and he didn’t like the answer.
Janice tried to ease his pain as best she was able, but she understood he could only be helped by himself. Still, she remained with him for the duration unless she went for coffee or other necessities. Winfield was grateful for all of her offered help but he preferred to be alone. A private man, he didn’t like for others to see him while at his weakest. Luck turned to favor him when Janice was outside on her cell phone calling her boyfriend to let him know what was happening.
So lost was he in his thoughts that Winfield didn’t notice the figure walking toward him until it stopped. With vague indifference he glanced up and leapt to his feet at seeing who it was. Doctor Doug’s face looked as though he just weathered a severe storm, but there was a gleam in his eye. Later, Winfield thought he imagined seeing it, right then it was worth anything in gold.
“How is he?”
Doctor Doug felt every bit as haggard as he looked. Unsure about what to say, he did what he did best. He told the truth. “We never operated.” Winfield’s gaze
Everyone remained quiet as they waited for Doug’s signal to begin. The sounds of the various devices filled the void while Doug waited for the vital readings to settle. This procedure was something he only witnessed before by way of video in the classroom. He didn’t want to wait too long , but beginning too early could prove just as disastrous.
When he felt the time was right , he nodded. “Doctor Howell, if you would please…” His voice froze when Franklin’s eyes opened despite the anesthesia. “What the… Nurse put him under!” His voice rose at the thought of the young man waking while he was inside his brain. If I hadn’t waited…
The nurse fumbled with the anesthesia mask as she tried to put it into place over Franklin’s mouth and nose. When she finally managed to get the mask in position, the patient caught her by the wrist before she could put it tightly over his face. With an inch at most separating him from the gas, he wouldn’t breathe in enough of it to become unconscious for several minutes.
“No, please. I’m alright.”
The room took a collective breath as all five pairs of eyes locked on him. The only sound was the rhythmic droning and beeping of the machines. The first one to find his voice was Doug. “But… your embolism…”
Franklin’s eyes moved from one person to another before settling on Doug. “I don’t know what that is, but I can tell you I’m fine.” He paused while he looked into the doctor’s eyes. “I’m fine, Doctor Doug. Would I be talking to you now if I wasn’t?” After a moment, he added, “Things are more complicated than you could possibly imagine.”
Doug couldn’t find an argument to counter him aside from demanding more tests. Franklin nodded his agreement and the rest of the operating room remained quiet, staring at each other in disbelief. This was an unprecedented turn of events.
*****
In the waiting area, Winfield Bowen sat with his hands clasped together in his lap. He wasn’t praying, it was something he gave up years earlier after his wife became sick. He believed in God, in fact, he could recite the Bible cover to cover. He just didn’t understand why a being as all-knowing and powerful as Jahova, would allow a woman like his wife to get sick and then his son to follow suit.
He was being punished through them, it was the only reason he could think of as to why any of it was happening. It was something Winfield realized when he talked to his wife Nancy after learning of Franklin ’s accident. Winfield had been in the business of measuring one life against another’s for a long time. He did it to make a difference and he did, his name would go down as the man that saved countless American lives, but at the cost of his family. Since they took his son away for surgery all he could ask himself was, “Was it worth it?” and he didn’t like the answer.
Janice tried to ease his pain as best she was able, but she understood he could only be helped by himself. Still, she remained with him for the duration unless she went for coffee or other necessities. Winfield was grateful for all of her offered help but he preferred to be alone. A private man, he didn’t like for others to see him while at his weakest. Luck turned to favor him when Janice was outside on her cell phone calling her boyfriend to let him know what was happening.
So lost was he in his thoughts that Winfield didn’t notice the figure walking toward him until it stopped. With vague indifference he glanced up and leapt to his feet at seeing who it was. Doctor Doug’s face looked as though he just weathered a severe storm, but there was a gleam in his eye. Later, Winfield thought he imagined seeing it, right then it was worth anything in gold.
“How is he?”
Doctor Doug felt every bit as haggard as he looked. Unsure about what to say, he did what he did best. He told the truth. “We never operated.” Winfield’s gaze
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