Chapter 4 - The Longest Night
The rain poured heavily against the windshield as Miles’s driver sped through the dark city streets, siren lights flashing. Inside the back seat, Miles held Sophie’s small hand in his. He hadn't wanted to wake her, but he couldn't leave her behind either.
When they arrived at the intensive care unit, the hallway was buzzing with emergency medical staff. Red lights flashed outside Emily's room as nurses moved back and forth with intravenous bags and monitoring equipment.
"Stay here with Clara for just a moment, sweetie," Miles told Sophie, kneeling beside her in the hallway. "Uncle Miles needs to speak with the doctor."
Sophie nodded silently, her thumb tucked into her mouth, her eyes wide with fear.
Miles rushed into the consultation room where Dr. Thorne was reviewing new CT scans on a lit screen.
"What's happening?" Miles demanded, his breath ragged.
"The brain swelling has increased faster than anticipated," Dr. Thorne explained, pointing to a dark mass on the scan. "If we don't operate immediately to relieve the pressure, the damage will become permanent—or fatal. However, because of her severe blood loss and underlying anemia, her blood clotting factors are dangerously low. Performing surgery right now carries an extremely high risk of fatal hemorrhage."
"Then give her blood! Give her whatever she needs!" Miles said desperately.
"She has a rare blood type—AB negative," Dr. Thorne replied gravely. "Our hospital bank is completely out of AB negative units after an emergency trauma case earlier tonight. We’ve reached out to the regional blood bank, but the delivery is delayed due to the severe storm flooding the main highway."
Miles froze. The room seemed to stop spinning.
AB negative.
He remembered the reason he had gone to the hospital in the first place that afternoon: a publicity blood drive arranged by his PR team. He remembered sitting in the donor chair, complaining silently about the forty-three minutes he was wasting.
"I’m AB negative," Miles said, his voice ringing with sudden clarity. "I’m her brother. Take my blood. Take as much as you need."
Dr. Thorne stared at him for a second, then immediately snapped into action. "Get a needle and a donor kit in here now!" he shouted to a nearby nurse. "Prepare room three for direct transfusion and prep the patient for surgery!"
Within minutes, Miles was lying on a gurney in a preparation room adjacent to the operating theater. A thick needle was inserted into his arm, drawing his blood directly into collection bags destined for his sister's veins.
As the dark red fluid flowed through the tube, Miles looked through the glass window separating the rooms. He could see Emily lying motionless on the operating table, surrounded by machines, monitors, and surgical drapes. Her face was pale, her skin almost translucent beneath the harsh overhead lights.
"Hang on, Em," Miles whispered, his voice cracking as tears blurred his vision. "Please hang on. I’m right here. I’m not leaving you again."
For two agonizing hours, Miles lay on that gurney, watching the blood leave his body to give life back to his sister. He felt lightheaded, weak, and cold, but he refused to let them stop the process until the surgeons had enough to begin the operation safely.
Outside the room, Sophie sat on a chair, holding Mr. Buttons, watching her uncle through the glass. She didn't understand the complex medical procedures, but she understood that the man who had sat next to her in the waiting room was fighting for her mother.
When the chief surgeon finally stepped out of the operating room, pulling off his mask, Miles pushed himself up from the gurney despite the dizziness lingering in his head.
"How is she?" Miles asked, his heart hammering against his ribs.
May you like
The surgeon looked at Miles, then down at Sophie, and allowed a soft, relieved smile to break through his tired face.
"The surgery was a success," the surgeon announced. "We relieved the pressure, controlled the bleeding, and stabilized her vitals. Your blood saved her life, Mr. Wilson. Now, we wait for her to wake up."
