Not yet

Not Yet

“Hey baby. How are you feeling today.” I greet my wife as I walk into her hospital room.

“I feel like crap,” Portia responds in a quiet tone. It pains me to see her hurting but I have to be strong for both of us most especially for her.

“Doc tells me that you don’t want the surgery anymore.” I say as I take her hand in mine and place my other hand on her left cheek.

“Am sorry El. I am … just tired of … the drugs and fighting. I don’t think I can do this anymore Ellen.” She breaks down and cries into my arms.

“Sshhh it’s going to be okay. I got you. I know you are tired but we are halfway there. Just this one surgery and the tumor will be gone.” I say to her trying my hardest not to break in front of her.

“Then will pack everything and move to Australia. I’ll even let you buy all the shoes that we find and then live happily ever after for as long as we can.”

“You promise.”

“I promise.”

“What about your show?”

“None of that right now. Our focus is on you and the rest we will figure it out.”

“Let’s do the surgery and then move to Australia.”

“I love you beyond the stars and back.”

“I love you too. Are we seriously moving to Australia?”

“We will do anything you want to.”

“Okay. Come lay with me before the doctor comes in.”

I move onto her bed and lay with her as we wait for the doctor to come check up on her. She lay on my chest as I mindlessly play with her hair. After a few minutes of silence, surgeon Anthony walks in.

“Morning ladies.”

“Hey doc.”

“I keep reminding El that you are a surgeon but she insists on the doc,” Portia says as she pinches me on my arm.

“Ouch, that hurt. The doc doesn’t mind. Save up that energy for the surgery.”

 
“I don’t mind so it's okay. So you’ve decided to have the surgery?” The doc asks.

“Yes.” Portia answers.

“Glad to see you’ve changed your mind. You’ve been very brave and have a wonderful wife who loves you and supports you unconditionally so am glad to be the bearer of good news this morning.”

“Really? I ask smiling as Portia tightness her hold on me.

“Yeah based on the MRI results the location of the tumor is good such that it won’t affect your coordination and also we only have like five percent of the tumor left in the brain.”

“That’s great news,” I say

“Well even better is that the position makes it easy to carry out radiation which reduces the chances of a reoccurrence to next to zero.”

“That’s the best thing I have heard in a while. Thanks a lot, Doctor Anthony .” Portia says.

“Thanks a lot doc. I owe you my life and a lot more.” I say as I wake up and hug him.

“Just doing my job but you are very much welcome. I let you two have a moment surgery will be in a few.”

“Hear that baby you are going to be fine. You will be up and taking care of me before I even know it.”

“We both know that you are not yet ready to take care of yourself.”

“I am just not yet ready to lose you. Promise me you will fight this last round and then from there I will fight all your battles for you while you just get loaded on the good stuff.” I say and Portia laughs a bit.

“I like it when you make me laugh.”

“I love it too. So you promise?”

“I promise. It's not yet time for me to leave. I love you beyond the stars and back”

“Beyond the stars and back I love you too.”

“It's time for surgery ladies.” The doc says as he comes back.

“Take care of her doc she’s all I got.”

“I will.”

“Don’t leave me Portia not yet okay,” I say as they start to wheel her off to surgery.

“Not yet. Beyond the stars El.”

“And back Porshe.”