Aoife woke up the next day, still groggy and mumbling “Ethan” in her mouth.
Finn heard her voice and quickly went over, holding her hand tightly. “I’m here.”
Deceiving oneself, Finn could outshine anyone. He had long gotten used to Aoife calling him “Ethan” in her delirium, sometimes finding it easier to lie to himself than to others.
When Aoife woke up and saw Finn, she pursed her lips and fell silent.
“I want to go home, not stay in the hospital.”
“You just had surgery and can’t go home yet.”
Aoife shifted uncomfortably, possibly aggravating her wounds, and twisted her face in pain, crying with a mix of physical and emotional distress.
Finn quickly comforted her, urging her not to move.
“We’ll be discharged after a week in the hospital.”
The first day after waking up was the hardest, with body aches and the inconvenience of a catheter. Thankfully, after a day passed, the catheter could be removed.
Doctors periodically checked on Aoife’s condition in the room, and on the third day, she attempted to get up and move around. Her abdominal wounds healed quickly, but the blood clots in her brain were becoming increasingly dangerous.
Aoife’s dizziness worsened, sometimes bending over the edge of the bed unable to sit up, with nosebleeds and blood stains on the sheets.
The two children were still in the incubator, and once Aoife could walk, her first action was to visit them.
The children in the incubator were quiet, sleeping soundly. The sister was sucking her thumb.
“What are the babies’ names?” Aoife stood by the incubator and asked Finn.
“I’ve thought of their full names. The boy is named Nathan Snearl, and the girl is named Sarah Snearl.” The names reflected a wish for a peaceful, healthy, and happy life, hoping that they and Aoife could make it through the years ahead.
Aoife had no objections to the names and then asked, “Do they have nicknames?”
“You can decide on the nicknames.” Finn regretted his words as soon as he spoke them, realizing that Aoife might struggle to come up with good nicknames, likely suggesting names like buns, milk, or bread.
After some serious thought, Aoife said, “The girl’s nickname is Think, and the boy’s name is Wait.”
Although unique, it was better than buns and milk, which Finn accepted readily.
In the obstetrics department, where many pregnant women and children sought care, Finn watched a family of three passing by. The man held his child in one arm and his wife in the other, a look of envy in his eyes.
He had always wanted a family like that, with his wife and children by his side. Now that he had it, but with Aoife’s illness…
The thought of the blood clots in Aoife’s brain chilled Finn’s heart once more.
In recent days, he had witnessed Aoife suffering from pain. He had thought the aftermath of the accident had disappeared, only to linger until now, threatening her life.
The hospital director provided a comprehensive surgical plan, stating that Professor Lee had to be brought in to perform the procedure.
The professor mentioned by the hospital director was Daniel Lee, whom Old Burns had invited to be his attending physician.
Old Burns’s condition had been up and down, with Professor Lee performing several surgeries.
“As long as we have Professor Lee perform the surgery on Miss Powell, the success rate is seventy percent.”
From forty percent to seventy percent, all it took was to have a skilled surgeon, someone Finn knew.
When was the surgery scheduled?
“On August 10th.” With five days left until the surgery, Aoife would need to be medicated and observed.
The children spent a week in the incubator, and Aoife had been in the hospital for the same duration, clamoring to go home. She disliked hospitals.
No one liked staying in the hospital, even with a private room, TVs, and entertainment. It was never as comfortable as being at home, especially when the hospital was where life and death were so close.
Finn inquired if Aoife could be discharged and brought back for examinations daily if needed. The distance was not far, so he could drive back and forth easily.
As for Professor Lee, Finn would make arrangements to bring him over for the surgery.
Seeing Finn’s confidence in securing Professor Lee’s services, the hospital director had no objections.
With no need for formalities, Finn arranged for the children in the incubator to be taken home after a week.
For the children’s safety, Finn had prepared infant incubators in the villa. As the children were carried from the car and tucked into their cozy incubators, they exchanged glances.
When Aoife felt well, she sat by the incubators, singing nursery rhymes to the children.
“The dark night is falling, with bright stars shining in the sky. The bugs fly, the bugs fly, who are you missing…”
The nicknames she chose for the children, Think and Wait, symbolized the longing and patience for someone who may never return.
The children enjoyed hearing songs, especially from Aoife. Whenever they cried, her singing would soothe them.
Approaching August, the moon grew full and bright, casting its light on the stars in the yard. Aoife would spend evenings gazing at the moon.
The moon in the water is the moon in the sky, but the person in front of you is not the one in your heart.
Due to the blood clots in her brain, Aoife suffered from daily headaches, insomnia at night, and drowsiness during the day. In just a few days, she had visibly lost weight, her face appearing pale and lifeless, like a withered sunflower.
Aoife’s surgery could not be delayed any longer. After settling her at North Bankshire, Finn headed to the Burns family estate.
Before leaving, he gently brushed Aoife’s head, reassuring her, “Aoife, be good at home. I have important matters to attend to and will be away for two days.”
“Will you come back?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow. If you’re scared at night, Linda will be here to keep you company. If you miss me, give me a call.” Finn trusted leaving Aoife at home, knowing that in the two months he had been working away, she had never demanded to accompany him.
Aoife remained the same, simple-minded Aoife. Only a naive Aoife would gaze at Finn as if he were everything. She nodded after a long silence.
Finn didn’t pack his bags, leaving it to his assistant. There was only so much pressure a person could take before even the sturdiest wall would come crashing down under the weight.
Accompanying him to the door in her usual “naive” manner, Aoife stood at the entrance as Finn left.
After taking a few steps toward the car, Finn suddenly turned back, sensing something amiss. He saw Aoife standing there, her eyes red, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The sight of her tears made him rush back to her, embracing her tightly. No matter the circumstances, Aoife’s tears always weakened him, pricking at his heart like needles.
Holding her, he kissed away the tears on her face, struggling to speak, “Aoife, stay at home with the children, and wait for me to return. Listen to Linda, okay?”
Aoife nodded, her tears drying under Finn’s gentle kisses, and she rubbed her eyes without speaking.
Without hesitation, Finn got back into the car, reluctant but knowing he had to return the Burns family estate to make arrangements for Professor Lee to perform the surgery on Aoife. If her ailment was cured, he could spend ample time at home with Aoife, Think, and Wait.
Dreams of the future were often beautiful, but Finn had forgotten one thing.
He forgot those words that sometimes some people can’t stay, and some things can’t be compensated for.