CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: SURGERY NOTIFICATION

Jean Ellison’s mind buzzed; ever since bringing back Jesse, everything had piled up one thing after another.

She didn’t know why, but her nose tingled with sourness. She felt like she couldn’t hold on, but she had to, she was Jesse’s mother, Jesse’s only refuge.

She instinctively held Jesse tighter in her arms.

"Listen... listen carefully."

Jean forced herself to calm down, her voice still unsteady but clear.

"By 8:30 tomorrow morning, bring the documentation and reports, and check into the first floor of the inpatient department."

"Surgery the day after tomorrow morning."

"Light meal tonight, no food or water after ten, fasting tomorrow morning."

"Is that correct?"

"Yes, Ms. Ellison, please be sure to be on time. If you have any questions, feel free to call this number."

"Alright, thank you."

Jean hung up the phone.

The screen of the mobile phone darkened. The cramped living room was dead silent. Only the warmth of her and her daughter huddled together, and their almost synchronous, heavy heartbeats remained.

Evicted within three days.

Surgery for Jesse the day after tomorrow.

Where they would live after being discharged was still a problem, let alone talk of school district housing.

She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and deeply again.

Several seconds later, she opened her eyes.

Even if the sky falls, she had to first tackle what was immediately important.

She gently released Jesse, holding her daughter’s shoulders, looking into her eyes, and spoke clearly, word by word.

"Jesse, the hospital called. Tomorrow, we have to stay in the hospital for a few days."

"The day after tomorrow, the doctor will perform a small surgery on you to get rid of the naughty little things in your body. After the surgery, Jesse will be healthier and fall sick less often."

Jesse blinked her big eyes, tears still hanging on her long eyelashes.

"Surgery? A shot? Will it hurt?"

"There’ll be a little anesthesia, just like falling asleep."

"Once you’re asleep, the doctor will be done."

"Waking up might be a little uncomfortable, but Mom will be with you all the time."

Jean tried to make her voice sound light and confident.

Jesse tilted her head, thought for a moment.

She looked into her mom’s eyes, so gentle, and yet filled with something she didn’t quite understand, like a hard stone.

She suddenly extended her small hand and touched Jean’s cheek.

"Mom, I’m not scared."

Jesse’s voice was small, with a child’s unique purity and trust.

"With Mom here, I’m not afraid of shots or sleep."

Jean’s nose tingled sharply, almost bringing her to tears again.

She blinked hard, forcefully pressing down the surge of emotions, her mouth forming a smile with effort.

"Mm, Jesse is the best, Mom’s little warrior."

She stood up, holding Jesse’s hand, and looked around the place they had just begun to call home.

Leaving early tomorrow would mean they wouldn’t come back.

Three days... with surgery imminent, no matter what, Jesse’s surgery had to come first.

"Come, Jesse,"

Jean’s voice regained strength, squeezing out a slight smile.

"Help Mom pack things together, we need to find everything we need to bring to the hospital."

"Your little pajamas, little slippers, favorite stuffed animal, and picture books..."

She led her daughter to the bedroom, opened the somewhat peeling wardrobe door, and began to organize efficiently.

Taking out a somewhat worn travel bag, the same one she brought out when she was released from prison.

First, she tucked in Jesse’s soft pajamas and little blanket, then her own change of clothes, only two simple sets.

A few of Jesse’s picture books and a small box of crayons.

The wash-faded, Jesse’s favorite bunny plush toy.

Finally, simple toiletries...

Jesse was very obedient, whatever Mom asked her to take, she ran over with her little legs and handed it to Jean, bright-eyed.

"Mom, can I bring my teddy bear cookies?"

Jesse pointed to the cookie jar on the cabinet.

Jean hesitated for a moment, remembering the hospital’s requirements.

"You can’t eat before the surgery the day after tomorrow, but... Mom will bring them with us, after the surgery, when the doctor says it’s okay to eat, Mom will give them to you, alright?"

"Alright."

Jesse nodded vigorously.

The travel bag was soon bulging with items.

Jean zipped it up and placed it by the bed.

"Jesse," Jean squatted again, looking once more into her daughter’s eyes, "Tomorrow morning we head to the hospital, and we’ll stay there for the next few days. After Jesse’s surgery, once you’re healthier, Mom will take you to find a new place to live, okay?"

"Okay." Jesse replied without hesitation, extending a pinky finger, "Pinky promise."

Jean extended her pinky finger, hooking her daughter’s delicate little finger. One big, one small, two hands tightly linked together.

"Pinky swear, hang it, no changes for a hundred years."

Outside the window, the sky grew darker.

She picked up Jesse and walked to the small dining table.

"Come, Jesse, Mom will cook porridge for you."

"The doctor said to eat lightly tonight, and tomorrow morning, we can’t eat anything."

"Mm."

Jesse nestled in her mother’s embrace, her little head nuzzling against Jean’s chin.

To her, as long as she was with Mom, it didn’t matter where they went.

"Mom, why does Jesse have two moms? The children in kindergarten all have only one mom."

While eating, her small head pondering something, she suddenly asked.

Jean frowned, stroked her head and said, "Isn’t having two moms a good thing?"

Jesse blinked, pouted her small lips; she didn’t know if it was good or not, she just knew she was different from others.

She didn’t like being different in this way.

"Jesse, Jules Mom is my sister, which makes her your aunt. You can continue to call her Mom."

"She loves Jesse very much, doesn’t she?"

Jean knew Jules treated Jesse like her own daughter. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have fought hard for custody.

Jesse nodded, obediently saying, "Aunt treats Jesse well, Jesse wants two moms, but... Aunt seems not to like Jesse being with the new mom."

Though young, she could sense the tension between the adults around her.

"It’s not like that. Aunt just loves Jesse too much and can’t bear being apart from you."

Jean barely managed a smile, cleared the tableware, and turned towards the kitchen.

She didn’t want Jesse to see the disappointment and worry on her face; the child was too smart, smarter than she’d imagined.

Probably inherited from... Justin Holden.