After their beautiful reunion, Aurora turned to Mark. "Mark, please ask a nurse to remove all these contraptions from my body. I'm fine now." Mark looked over at William. "Father, is that okay?" William nodded. "Yes, it is."
Mark walked toward the intercom on the wall. "A nurse is needed in VIP Room 483."
"Right away, sir," a woman responded on the other end.
Knock knock.
A nurse walked in with a gentle smile. "Sir, you requested me?" My wife wants you to remove the medical devices," Mark replied.
"Right away, sir. My senior is on her way to assist." Within minutes, the nurses carefully removed the wires and tubes connected to Aurora. Once they were done, everyone moved to the cozy mini living room inside her hospital suite. Kim sat beside Aurora and gently took her hands.
Aurora noticed the look on her mother's face and tilted her head. "Why the sad expression? Did something happen?" Kim sighed deeply before speaking. "Baby… there's something I need to tell you. But first, promise me you'll stay calm. Promise me you'll try to be okay with what I'm about to say." Aurora nodded hesitantly. "I'll try."
Kim's eyes shimmered with fresh tears. "The surgery was successful… but it came with complications. My dear, you won't be able to have children." Huh?" Aurora chuckled nervously. "This isn't true, right? Tell me this is some kind of bad joke. Why me?" Her voice cracked. "Don't I deserve to be happy?" Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned toward her father. "You should have just let me die, Dad."
"No, my dear. Don't say that," William said, clearly shaken. "This is worse than death," Aurora whispered. "How am I supposed to live a life where I can't be a mother? A barren woman?" She tried wiping her tears as she struggled to speak. Her voice trembled. Her hands shook.
"Listen, Aurora," Kim said, squeezing her hand. "It's not a hundred percent certain. There's still a chance… you might be able to get pregnant." Then rate that chance," Aurora demanded. "On a scale of one to one hundred." "I… I can't…" Kim's voice cracked as she broke into sobs. "I'm so sorry, my child." She pulled Aurora into her arms. "This is all my fault. If only I didn't carry the leukemia gene… none of this would've happened."
"No, don't blame yourself," Aurora said gently, pulling away and cupping her mother's face. "Please… don't." Then she turned to Mark, who had been standing silently in the corner, eyes on the floor. "If you would excuse me, I'd like to speak with my husband in private," she said, her voice steady but low.
William and Kim nodded and stepped out quietly.
Aurora watched their retreating figures until the door clicked shut. She sighed heavily, then turned to face Mark, who still hadn't looked her way. "Were you aware of this?" she asked softly. "Yes," he replied. "And what's your take on it?" she questioned, her voice tightening. "Nothing?" she repeated when he said nothing more. He still avoided her eyes.
"At least have the courage to look me in the eye when I'm talking to you," she snapped, her voice cracking with emotion. Tears began to fall again, despite her efforts to keep them in.Mark finally looked up. His eyes were bloodshot, his face a mixture of pain and frustration. "What do you think of me, Aurora?" he said, voice low. "I'm not made of stone, okay? I'm as worried as you are. Maybe even more."
His hands ran through his already disheveled hair. "You don't know what I've been going through. Do you know why I can't even look at you? Because it hurts like hell." He paused, his voice thick with emotion. "Today, I met a little girl. A really cute one. And you can't imagine the joy she filled me with. I felt this sudden, overwhelming desire to be a father… right there."
He shook his head. "And now this. Now I'm being told what? That I may never have that chance? I'm too young to be told this kind of shit by a doctor." Aurora bit her lip. "Do you… want to leave me?" Mark arched an eyebrow. "And why would I do that?" I don't know," Aurora whispered, looking away. "I can't give you a child… so I thought…"
"No." Mark cut her off, his voice firm. "I won't divorce you."
He stepped closer, gathering his courage. "I don't know if this is the right time or place to say this, but I have to. I thought I could bury it, but I realize now… it's impossible." He took a deep breath. "I love you, Aurora. I love you with every damn thing in me. And I will never leave you. Not even if you want to leave."
Aurora's eyes widened in shock. Her lips parted but no words came out.
Mark continued, his voice cracking. "Don't say anything. I know you don't feel the same. That's okay. I can wait. I'll give you all the time you need. Just know this I promise to love and cherish you. I'll make you the happiest woman on earth." Tears streamed freely down his face as he poured his heart out.
Aurora could only stare at him, stunned, her own tears falling silently.