I have been working day and night, along with my physical assistants carrying out research, compiling manuals and recommending instruments to be used  for the operation due in a few days.
After much debating, I had been assigned the task of carrying out the operation on Sophie's heart.

The Blakes, on the other hand have practically lived at the hospital ever since.

After Mrs. Blake had been discharged, they would each take turns staying at the hospital.
Mrs. Blake though usually was present more often because of her less busy schedule.
The day Mrs. Blake was to be discharged, I had a meeting with both of them to explain the entire situation.

I let them know that an open heart surgery would have to be carried out on Sophie's heart in order to seal up the hole. 
The brain tumor on the other hand is such that there is no cure. The only way around is that the patient lives on treatment to prolong life to an extent.

Boy, was I surprised when the couple refused the treatment. They believed that after the surgery, their daughter would be fine.
As much as I know, they're a very wealthy couple. Mr. Blake owns an automobile company which is doing very well and Mrs. Blake is a successful interior designer.
According to my statistics, the bill shouldn't cost them so much.

So, why take the risk?

I had asked myself this question so many times and not once had I gotten a reasonable answer.

During the meeting, I had to spell out the possibility of Sophie dying if not on treatment but each time, they refused to budge.
After a while, I gave up and now I only hope that Sophie will be fine.
In fact, slowly, even if I wouldn't admit it to anyone, curiosity is getting the better of me.

Could they possibly know what they're doing?

Also, I have noticed something strange.
Mrs. Blake occasionally, would ask to be let into the intensive care unit and then she would lay hands on her child and murmur incoherently under her breath just like I occasionally see mom do when she's praying.
This, Mrs. Blake does day after day and I'm beginning to wonder.
I have heard that Christians usually do that to sick people but I have never really seen it happen.

I think they call it speaking in tongues.

Whenever my mom's friends from church come over, I'm always at work or at a conference or at a work related dinner party so this is totally new to me and as much as I feel she's crazy, I'm curious.

I turn to look at the hospital bed on which mom's still lying motionless.
The drip is connected to her left palm, her eyes are shut and her face pale.
Her usually rosy skin has lost it's color, making her look years older.
I shut my laptop and reach out to stroke her now slightly wrinkled forehead.
Just then, I hear a knock on the door. I pull my hand away, place it on my lap and turn myself in my seat. The door opens just as I  adjust myself and the plump nurse from earlier on walks in.

"Good day ma'am, there's a lady here to meet you." I try to remember if I'm expecting any visitors  but I can recall none.

"You can send her in." The nurse nods disappears through the door and appears again, this time with someone behind her.
Once I notice the visitor, I leap up and charge towards her.

"Tomi!" I throw my hands around her neck and she squeezes my shoulders as she hugs me back.
Once we pull away, she begins stroking my hair and a tear rolls down her cheek.

I frown worridely.

"Oh, Maya.... I'm so sorry, I'm a horrible friend." I roll my eyes and pull her into another embrace while stroking and patting her back at the same time.

And I was already getting worried that something was actually wrong.

"No you're not a horrible friend."

"I am really. Since all this happened, I haven't even come once to see how you were doing."

"You were busy T, don't beat yourself up." I smile and flick away a tear from her cheek. She pulls away gently and blinks at me with her puffy eyes.

"You really aren't mad?" She sniffs and wipes her nose with her handkerchief.

"How can I be, it wasn't your fault. Cheer up, you know I love you." Her eyes light up at that and her down turned lips pull up into a watery smile.

"I love you too." She looks over my shoulder and her face falls. She lets go of me gently and walks till she stops at the side of mom's bed.

"How is she?" She sniffs, her eyes still trained on mom.

I turn and walk to stand beside her, bringing my hand to rest on her shoulder. 

"Not good at all. She needs to wake up, if not, things could get worse."
There's a slight moment of silence when I say that and our eyes meet.
Without her saying a word, I know what she's thinking.

She holds my gaze intensely and the tension in the room heightens.

It's as if she is silently expecting me to refuse.
Unfortunately, I'm too out of options to fight.

I nod.....

..... and immediately, a smile breaks out on her lips and her eyes hold so much pride that I can't help but smile back.

She goes down on one knee, shuts her eyes and places her hands on mom's head just like Mrs. Blake always does to Sophie.
I find myself getting down on my knees too.
I can't explain it but I find myself surrendering to the force.

This situation seems very familiar.

What is happening?

Obviously, Tomi feels my presence beside her, and still closing her eyes, she slips a hand through my waist and pulls me closer.
I slip my hand through her waist too and rest my head on her shoulder.

Then she begins:

Dear father,
I thank you for Mrs. Solana, your precious daughter who currently is on this bed. We thank you because we know that you wish above all things that she prospers and is in good health even as her soul prospers. We give you all the glory because she is made whole. She regains her consciousness immediately in the name of Jesus. She has spent all the years of her life serving you and we know that no one serves you in vain. It is your perfect will O God that she is healed, therefore she is healed and is back with us in Jesus name. Amen.

By the time I open my eyes, tears are streaming down my face. I turn to look at Tomi and she smiles calmly.
She stretches out her hands for me to take and sniffing, I take them and she helps lift me up.
I let go of one of her hands and pull out my handkerchief from my jean pocket to dab at my eyes.

"Why am I feeling this way Tomi. What is happening to me, why am I crying......"

"It's the ministry of the Holy spirit being carried out in you Maya." She smiles softly.

"But, I don't understand."

"Yes, it maybe difficult for you to understand it now, I promise it'll be clearer to you later. But first, I would love you to come with me to church this Sunday."

I hesitate and bite my lip.

"Please Maya."

"Okay." Immediately, she pulls me into a bone crushing bear hug.

"Thank you. I promise you won't regret it." Then she pulls away and just then, her phone buzzes.
She looks at the screen and bites her lip nervously before stuffing it back in her coat pocket and returning her attention to me, immediately masking the nervousness with a big smile.
Unfortunately for her, I caught the previous look before she wiped it away.

"What is it?" I fold my hands over my chest and cock my eyebrow at her.

"It's nothing, don't worry."

"It is something and I know it's important."

She shakes her head. "No, you need me here."

"I'll be fine, trust me."

"Are you sure?" Her eyes laced with concern for me widen.

"Yeah. I need some time alone to think."

Her eyes search mine, before she nods slowly and reluctantly.

"Okay, but please take care of yourself and...." She turns to look at mom, "and mom."

"I will." She drags me into one last hug before picking her bag and heading for the door with me behind her.

"By the way, Max sent these." She reaches into her bag and brings out a rectangular box wrapped in colorful paper. I take it from her and make to tear the wrapping off.

"You can't open it now. When I leave."
My shoulders slump and she chuckles, her curls bouncing around her heart shaped face.

"You're as curious as ever Maya. Remember, curiosity killed the cat."

"I'm not a cat." I scowl and stick out my tongue at her.

"He is really sorry he couldn't come though." She ignores my retort and shrugs giving me a wry smile.

"No problem. Say hi to him for me will you?"

"I will." I place the box on the little table by the chair and return to escort her out.

                          ※※

I sigh and run my hands through my hair as I push open the door to my mom's ward after seeing Tomi off.

Mom is still the same and occasionally the nurse would come and check on her, but strangely, I don't feel scared anymore.
It's as if I know she's going to wake up anytime soon.
I don't know where the feeling is coming from but it's just there.
There's this sudden peace that I can't explain making me unnecessarily happy.

The shiny paper used to wrap the gift from Max glitters suggestively and my curiosity heightens.
My curiosity is one thing that has always gotten me into trouble.

But this is different. It's a gift for me, I'm meant to be curious.

I take it and without hesitation tear off the shiny paper.
My eyes widen as they fall on the famous cursive writing on the box.

"Cadbury!!!!"

I hastily take off the lid and let my eyes drink in the mouth watering sight of the heavenly variety.
Their different shapes and the manner in which they are etched in the shiny foil all add up to the pleasantness of it.
I don't know where I got this love for chocolates but I know I've been denied of it for far too long.

My mom, being a healthy eater, was hellbent on getting rid of my chocolate addiction.
That was why in order to have any at all, I always smuggle them into the house and secretly eat them in my room with the door firmly locked, but I could only do so much.

I also order for some from my office or when I go out for lunch, but because of how busy I sometimes get, I don't have time for lunch or breakfast even. 

So, this, my friend, is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will not pass me by, not by any chance.

"You've earned my love Max."