Part 24: The Surgery
Edward’s surgery was scheduled for a Tuesday in early spring.
The night before, Maya stayed at the Harrington estate. She and Vivienne sat up late in the kitchen, neither of them able to sleep.
Vivienne
“I’ve been married to him for almost twenty years. I always thought I would be the one to go first. He seemed… indestructible.”
Maya stirred her tea.
Maya
“My mother was the strongest person I knew. And she still couldn’t beat it.”
Vivienne looked at her.
Vivienne
“I’m sorry. I keep forgetting that you’ve already lived through this once.”
Maya gave a small, sad smile.
Maya
“It’s different this time. I actually have a relationship with him now. That makes it harder in some ways.”
Vivienne reached across the table and squeezed Maya’s hand.
Vivienne
“You don’t have to be strong for all of us. You’re allowed to be scared too.”
Maya didn’t answer. She just held Vivienne’s hand and stared out the window until the sky began to lighten.
The surgery lasted seven hours.
When the doctor finally came out and said it had been successful and they had removed the tumor completely, Maya felt her legs go weak. She sat down hard on one of the waiting room chairs and cried into her hands.
Edward survived.
But the recovery was long and painful. He lost weight. He was tired all the time. For the first time in his life, Edward Harrington had to slow down.
Maya visited him almost every day during his recovery. Sometimes they talked. Sometimes they just sat in silence. Sometimes she read to him from her mother’s old journals.
One afternoon, Edward looked at her and said quietly:
May you like
Edward
“I used to think legacy was about what you built. Now I think it’s about who you become before you leave.”
Maya didn’t reply. She just held his hand a little tighter.
