Chapter 35

The group wheeled the hospital bed back to the private care unit. Elyse lay on the bed, seeming to have no energy at all. Her face and lips had turned deathly pale. Charlotte held Elyse's hand tightly and began tearing up in distress. Elyse was once as beautiful as a rose. Yet, her illness had caused her cheeks to look sunken, and her eyes hollow. Elyse could barely muster any strength. She tightened her hand slightly and shook her head a little, assuring Charlotte that she was fine. Betty, the department director, and the hospital director whom Charlotte never met before were standing nearby. They were speaking to Daniel about the postoperative complications and care. But Charlotte wasn't in the mood to listen. She already knew everything they were talking about. She even imagined how Elyse's operation would play out multiple times for the past few days. Once everyone else was gone, Daniel sat on the couch. By the time Regina arrived with lunch, 20 minutes had passed. She wa