Do you understand?” “Surgery will be fine, Ari. You need to quit worrying about me, okay? I’m your mother and it’s my job to worry about you, not the other way around. You just take care of yourself. The doctor said surgery will last for several hours. I’d tell you to go outside and enjoy some of this beautiful sunshine streaming through the windows but I know what a worry wart you are and I realize you won’t leave this hospital. Instead, I need you to do your best to stay calm, and know I’ll be as good as new in just a few hours.” “I love you so much, Mom. Don’t you dare leave me. I mean it.” “I promise you I won’t.” “Ms. Harlow, it’s time to go now.” Ari’s jaw tensed in frustration. Knowing the woman was only doing her job didn’t help because Ari had a horrible feeling in her gut and she didn’t want to let her mother out of her sight.
