Page 1 of The Vow We Made
Prologue
“Mrs West-Hughes?”
It stings to confirm her name knowing she took it with hopes and dreams for the future just a few short hours ago, but it’s all I have.
As soon as I say, “We did everything we could,” she collapses to her knees, her body convulses and the wailing sobs pouring from her heart, hit me right in the gut. The sound of her loss is deafening as it echoes down the sterile corridor and the only thing I can do to help is place her carefully in a chair. Nurses hurry by and visitors rush to wherever it is they’re going, but each one ignores the sound of her grief as they continue their daily business of living. It’s as if she isn’t there. I wish I could take away her obvious pain, but the only way I can do that is by bringing back the husband she wed a few hours before. I’m not God, it’s not within my gift but I silently promise to do all I can to never hear that sound again.
“Tell me your name?” I ask. I can’t keep stabbing her in the heart every time I address her.
“Victoria,” she sobs through a breathless choke.
“Victoria, the paramedics told me how brave you were, how you stayed with your husband and tried to help him. I’m sure he’d be so proud of you for showing such incredible strength.”
“But I didn’t save him, and even if I had, he wouldn’t have thanked me. I can’t understand it and now I can’t ask him any questions because he’s gone.” She talks gibberish and it’s not unexpected when a person suffers from shock. She cries into her hands once more, so I gently take her wrists and pull them free from her face.
“There was nothing more you, or I, could have done, Victoria. Nothing.”
She slowly lifts her head and faces me for a few seconds, questioning my statement with her eyes, but there’s no time to complete the conversation because her attention is taken by the quick steps of a small crowd along the hall. We stand simultaneously, but she’s instantly swept into a group of three women, dressed identically in silk, lilac gowns. Her mother and father then come forward to hold her shaking body. They’re here to comfort her, but at the same time, hurl a barrage of questions. Her endless tears are the only answers she’s able to give which is why I try to relieve the pressure and gain some kind of calm.
“Please, don’t crowd her, she needs some air.” I pull Victoria away and place her back in the chair while I confront the sea of faces. “Please.” I hold up my hands to the waiting group. “Are any of you related to Andrew Hughes?”
An older gentleman steps forward with a frail woman by his side. “We’re his parents.” The woman’s hand covers her trembling lips. This is not the place to give his mother the news she desperately does not want to be true.
I crouch down to gain Victoria’s attention. “I need to talk to Andrew’s parents and it might be better if you come with us. Is that alright?”
She nods and I help her weak body to stand. “I’d like my parents there too,” she requests.
I turn briefly and indicate my direction. “Please, follow me.” The small group simmers down and quietens as we walk towards the family room. Their collective footsteps tap against the cold, hard floors until I reach a door. Once I’ve explained precisely why I couldn’t save the man they all loved, I’ll move on to my next patient and leave this family to come to terms with their loss together.
No matter how many times I deliver devastating news, it only gets harder, but giving this new bride the worst outcome, is exceptionally tough. It’s not easy or straight forward and is a very sad example of how destiny can take the strangest turn.
