Daniel looked through the window of the ward at the patient. Weeks of morphine had left her weak and comatose. The brief moments when she was awake were torturous, it would only last long enough before they had to give her another dose of the drug. The process would repeat itself and this repetition had went on for 3 months.

3 months ago, it struck. The cancer took her by surprise. She was 25, outgrown her youth and blossoming into the later stages of womanhood, excelling in her career and life before it all fell apart.

Here she was, ensnared by this terrible disease. Her future no longer laid within her own reaches. It was dependent, on those who would be operating on her tonight.

‘Doctor Daniel ?’ a familiar voice rang out, waking him from his thoughts.

It was Ashley, one of the nurses in his section.

‘Tonight, you are going to be the lead surgeon in Mandy’s operation right ?’ Ashley asked.

‘Yes,’ he gave a short reply, openly showing that he had no interest in prolonging this conversation.

‘We all trust in you. You are the only one who could pull this off, all the best.’ Ashley told him as she walked off.

He nodded, his face as grim as his reply earlier. The chances were low. Stage 3 brain cancer, the survival rate at this stage were statistically bad. Not that it mattered, good or bad, he had to do it. That’s the only chance she has. Daniel caught sight of movement in the ward, Mandy had regained conciousness.

He went into the ward. It was tragic to look at her. She was beautiful, she was. Beauty no longer existed. Long hours of chemotherapy had reduced her to a dry husk. Her eyes exihibited no emotions, only pain. The cancer was sipping away her life, second by agonizing second.

Daniel felt sorry for his patient. Tonight, her ordeal is going to end. If there was no recovery, at least, there would be release.

‘Hey..’ he spoke softly, ‘You are going for your operation tonight, nervous?’

She did not have the strength to speak, so she shook her head slightly.

‘Don’t worry, it will be over soon. Do not be afraid,’ he assured her.

Daniel thought he saw a smile. He reached out for the morphine, gave her yet another dose and she slipped back into coma.

‘Will she be alright ?’

Daniel was in a session with the family of the patient, the paperwork had to be done before Mandy could go for her operation.

‘We will try our best but..’ he let his voice dragged on, ‘the chances are bleak.’

The mum broke down while the dad remained silent. Somehow, they knew that this day was coming but still, they wasn’t prepared for the blow it dealt.

Daniel had seen these situations, had seen worse. But this time, he connected with them. She was young, she had so much going for her, so much going for the people around her. He made a vow that he would gave his all in the operation.

It was time to go and he went in.

It was a gruelling 8 hour operation. At the end of it, the statistics were proven right again. Medical science could only do so much and Mandy slipped away. He had failed. Mandy’s family were devastated but calm, holding on to the fact that she was no longer in torment.

Daniel cried for her.

As he was driving home, images of his patient flashed before him. All that energy and joy she used to have, it was unfair but this is life, and life was meant to be unfair.

He unlocked the door of his apartment and was greeted by his 5 year old son, Tommy. Tommy always ran to him for a hug when he came home.

Daniel held Tommy in his arms and caress his head lovingly.

‘Hey daddy ! Where is mummy ?’ Tommy yelled.

At the thought of that, Daniel cried again.

‘I’m so sorry Tommy. Mummy’s gone..’