“They are keeping him sedated. Even if he wakes up, you won’t be able to meet him.”
“But at least he will be awake and I’ll know it.”
“You will know it at home too. I will call you as soon as he does.”
“But he will wake up and find neither of us here…” She found her hands being taken into his as he pulled her up.
“He is not waking up before tomorrow morning. Those sedatives are fun to sleep with, I would know.” Samar smiled.
“Don’t joke with me.”
“He is right,” her mother got to her feet. “Dad will sleep if they keep him sedated.”
“But what if something happens?”
“His doctors are here, I am here, we will take care if anything happens.” Samar took her hand between both of his and patted. “If you want, you go home and give me a call, I will be on line with you all night and give you live updates.”
She scowled at him — “Why are you being like this?”
“Like how?”
“Like…” she scowled.
“Ok, ok,” her mother intervened. “Fighting later. Amaal, come on, let’s go home. Samar, I will be back in the morning.”
“Me too!”
Samar was smiling at her like he adored her, she couldn’t take that smile.
“You too.” He left her hand and stepped back. “Good night.”
————————————————————
Amaal woke up the next morning and grabbed her mobile, pressing for Samar’s number. She ventured out of her bedroom and found the hall of her parents’ flat empty.
“Mom?”
The bathroom door opened and out strode Samar, in a fresh pair of pants, shirt untucked, buttons open, rubbing at his hair. “Your Mom came to the hospital early morning.” He held his mobile out, cutting her call.
“Why? What happened to Dad?” She began to rush to the door when he caught her elbow. “What happened?! I told you to call me! You promised…”
He gathered her back in — “He is fine.”
“Then?”
“Your mom woke up early and came. We talked for a while. She forced me to come back and shower. You dad was fine so I came.”
“How did you know where we live?”
He smirked, throwing his towel over his shoulder — “I know how to locate an address.”
Amaal exhaled, then peeked at him over her lashes — “How is he?”
“Absolutely on track. A scan was done early at 4 and the swelling has shrunk to half its size.”
“Which is good news, no?”
“Yes, it’s very good news.” He cupped her cheeks, brushing away at the tears that she didn’t even know were flowing down her face. “You are going to get dehydrated like this.”
