CHAPTER 41

The next day Shirley walk up in Josh arms, she thought she was dreaming until he heard his deep voice calling her.

" Hey, princess." Josh spoke.

" Hey!" Shirley said and Josh hugged her.

" Thank you for yesterday." Josh said.

" You don't have to thank me really. I enjoyed it too." Shirley said smiling back at him.

" I love you Josh!" Shirley admitted.

" I love you too princess." Josh said kissing her forehead.

" We are going for check up after breakfast." Josh said.

" Today?" Shirley asked surprised.

" Yes today. We don't have much time you know." Josh said and thinking through it for a while, Shirley agreed.

" Okay, then we better get started." Shirley said getting off the bed.

Josh admired her beautiful naked body.

" You're so beautiful Shirley." Josh said and Shirley blushed rushing into the washroom.

" Can I join you? I'd love that!" Josh shouted from outside the washroom door.

" You're such a perv you know!" Shirley said and chuckled.

" I don't mind being one when it comes to you!" Josh said getting into the washroom.

Shirley laughed when she saw him standing before her naked.

" You have such a fine body, damn!" Shirley exclaimed and Josh chuckled.

They had another session of heated romance in the washroom before cleaning themselves up. They got dressed playing with each other and they went to the restaurant for breakfast. After that they went to the hospital and once there, Shirley held Josh's arm firmly.

" It's okay to be nervous. I know it's not easy. Remember I'm always here with you. I won't leave your side, I promise!" Josh said and kissed her forehead.

" Mr Manfred, long time! And you miss, how are you?" Dr Dave greeted them after they got into the office.

" Just Shirley please, I'm fine thank you!" Shirley said.

" I'm doing good Dave." Josh said. They must be really close then, Shirley thought.

" We don't have much time so, Shirley are you ready?" Dr Dave asked her and Shirley gave Josh a glance. Josh smiled at her for assurance and Shirley nodded yes.

A nurse would be here shortly, we are heading to the theatre after you get change. All would be well, hold onto your faith and God would do the rest!" Dr Dave said smiling at her.

A female nurse walked in and escorted Shirley to change after changing they met Josh and Dr Dave at the corridor to the theatre.

" Can I have a moment please, with him?" Shirley requested gesturing at Josh.

" Yeah sure!" Dr Dave said.

" Five minutes." He added. Dr Dave and the nurse gave them some space.

 Shirley hugged him and some tears left her eyes.

" Hey, princess, don't cry, everything is going to be fine. Okay?" Josh spoke, his voice trembling.

" You're scared too? I am even more scared. What if I never wake up?" Shirley said and Josh was trying hard to control his own tears.

" You're going to be all right princess. Yes I am scared but I also have faith, you're going to go in there and wake up very lively!" Josh said and kissed her forehead.

" I thought I'm just coming for a check up first. It so happen I'm already going for the surgery, I'm really scared." Shirley said with tears in her eyes.

" Yes Honey, I also thought the same but as Dr Dave checked your recent reports, he said that we can't delay any longer or else the condition would be worse. Honey, I'll be right here, outside this door waiting for you. Flora and Damon are on their way but you won't be able to see them, them met with traffic." Josh explained.

" It's okay, I don't want them to feel pity for me. Just tell them I'll be fine. I love you." Shirley said and kissed Josh.

Josh kissed her back and lost control of his emotions. His on tears went down his cheeks.

" I love you too, Princess. I'll be waiting for you." Josh said hugging her.

" Josh, it's time, we have to go get started." Dr Dave said. Shirley got away from Josh and followed Dr Dave.

" Dave, please save her." Josh pleaded.

" We're going to try our best, the rest is up to God. Have faith." Josh said and in they went to the theater. Josh leaned against the theatre door for a few seconds before finding a bench to sit. A few minutes later, Flora and Damon walked into the hospital and found Josh waiting outside the theatre.

" Hey, how's the the going?" Damon asked.

" She just went in a few minutes ago." Josh said with a low voice.

" You need to be strong for her, Josh." Flora said parting his shoulder and Josh nodded, smiling at her.

" She's going to be alright, I believe so." Josh said.

Damon and Flora sat there next to Josh for mental support.

FOUR HOURS LATER...

Dr Dave and his team walked out of the theatre. Josh, Damon and flora stood up.

" How did it go,  Dr Dave?" Josh asked. His face looked quite pale.

 Dr Dave patted his shoulder and smiled," she's such a strong woman. The surgery went on successfully, I thank God. She would wake up after several hours." Dave said and the three of them were thankful.

Flora hugged Damon after hearing Dr Dave. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks.

" Hey, why are you crying, my love?" Damon asked her concerned.

" No, I'm fine, I'm just happy everything went fine. She has been like a sister to me, I don't want to lose her." Flora said. Damon wiped off her tears and pecked her lips.

" She's still with us." Damon said smiling.

" Thank you so much Dave!" Josh said with tears in his eyes.

" It's all God!" Dave said and walked away from them.

Damon parted Josh's back.

" All would be well Josh. She's already past the crucial moment." Damon said.

" Yes." Josh agreed.

A nurse pushed the stretcher bed  out of the theatre to the ward where Shirley was signed to. Josh and the rest followed behind them.

" Can we see her? Please?" Josh pleaded with the nurse.

" You're not supposed to disturb her for six hours. Dr Dave said so." The nurse informed them.

" We won't bother her in any way, we just want to see her, even from a distance." Josh pleaded with the nurse. At the same time, Dr Dave walked over and dismissed the nurse.

" I'll go in with you Josh." Dave said.

" Can we come too?" Damon asked.

" Not now, kindly." Dr Dave said to Damon and Flora. 

" We would wait outside. Go!" Flora said and Damon nodded too. Josh and Dr Dave went into the ward.

" Is everything okay?" Josh asked worried.

" Yes, everything is okay at the moment. There is nothing you should worry about. Though, there maybe some side effects after the surgery. The tumor was located in a very crucial area, I almost thought it was impossible to remove it. We can only thank God for his grace that it went successful. I've been a surgeon for twelve years and I've never seen anything like that. I was so surprised she has been alive for that long. She's a fighter." Dr Dave said smiling.

" Thank you so much. So you were saying about some side effects?" Josh reminded.

" Oh yes, the side effects could be, losing her memory, temporarily or permanently. And that could bring about encoding false memory, either from the past or the present." Dr Dave informed and Josh sighed.

" And what can we do about it?" Josh asked.

" Nothing, just make sure whatever events are to take place in future don't trigger too much. That would help her recover quickly. In case of false memory of the past, then we have to administer some medical assistance. That happens if it's just temporary. I'll come examine her once she wakes up." Dr Dave said.

" How would we know it's temporary or permanent memory loss?" Josh inquired.

" I'm a doctor, I'll know once I examine her." Dr Dave said and Josh just nodded.

" She's going to be okay, isn't it? She's all I have." Josh said helplessly. Dr Dave didn't say anything he just patted his shoulder.

" I'll leave you with her for a few minutes. Don't disturb her, she must rest." Dr Dave said and walked out.

Josh moved closer to the bed Shirley was laid. He held her hand and kissed her knuckles.

" Wake up soon princess. I am already missing you so much that it hurts. I hope you won't forget me." Josh said she kissed her cheek and caressed the gauze tied round her forehead. He sighed and walked out of the ward.

" You should leave with Damon for a while, you haven't eaten anything. I'll stay behind and watch her." Flora suggested.

Josh wanted to refuse but Damon nodded at him. Josh sighed and agreed.

" Okay. We would be back before you know it." Josh said and left with Damon.