Chapter 9 - Discharge Day
The morning of the discharge was bright, crisp, and filled with the golden light of early autumn.
Dr. Kline walked into the executive suite with a clipboard tucked under his arm, sporting a wide grin. He checked Anne’s vitals, reviewed the latest scans, and gave an approving nod.
“Mrs. Miller, you are officially cleared to go home,” Dr. Kline announced cheerfully. “Though, given your suite here, I’m not sure your home can compete with this view.”
“Trust me, Doctor, home is wherever my family is,” Anne said, smiling as she buttoned her woolen cardigan.
Matthew stood by the door, holding Sarah’s small hand in one of his and a luggage bag in the other. He had arranged for a private medical transport to take them not back to Anne’s cramped, drafty apartment, but to a sprawling, sunlit estate overlooking the botanical gardens—a place with a massive backyard, a studio for Anne’s tailoring, and a safe, warm bedroom where Sarah could line up her dolls on a proper shelf.
As they walked out of the double doors of Mercy General Hospital, nurses and staff who had watched the dramatic events unfold over the past six weeks smiled warmly. Sarah walked proudly between them, wearing a brand-new pair of shiny red shoes that matched her bright smile.
“Are we going to our new house, Daddy?” Sarah asked, looking up at Matthew with innocent curiosity.
May you like
Matthew stopped in his tracks, feeling a shockwave of pure, indescribable joy ripple through his chest at the word Daddy. He knelt down, scooped Sarah up into his arms, and kissed her cheek.
“Yes, sweetheart,” Matthew whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “We’re going home.”
