Chapter 2: The Scan
The emergency room moved quickly.
Emma was barely conscious.
Doctors ordered an immediate CT scan.
Sarah held her daughter's hand while Michael paced nearby.
Still unconvinced.
"Everybody relax," he said.
"It's probably a migraine."
The scan technician wheeled Emma away.
Minutes later, the atmosphere changed.
Sarah noticed it immediately.
The technician avoided eye contact.
A nurse suddenly hurried down the hallway.
Then another.
A doctor appeared carrying images from the scan.
His expression was serious.
Very serious.
"Mr. and Mrs. Parker?"
The room became silent.
The doctor placed the scan on a monitor.
A large shadow appeared on the image.
Michael frowned.
"What am I looking at?"
The doctor took a slow breath.
"There's a mass."
Sarah's heart stopped.
"A mass?"
The doctor nodded.
"It appears there is significant growth inside Emma's brain."
Michael stared at the screen.
Unable to speak.
The doctor continued.
"It has likely been growing for months."
The room spun around Sarah.
Months.
The headaches.
The exhaustion.
The dizziness.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Michael's face turned pale.
"No..."
The doctor pointed to the scan.
"The pressure is increasing."
"Without treatment, this could have become life-threatening."
Sarah began to cry.
Michael simply stared.
For months he had dismissed every symptom.
Every complaint.
Every tear.
Now the evidence glowed in front of him on a hospital monitor.
Cold.
Unquestionable.
Real.
For the first time all day, he had nothing to say.
Then the doctor delivered another shock.
"We need surgery."
May you like
Immediately.
To Be Continued...
