A Life Debt Repaid

Lindsay started bawling, while Marvin’s eyes were red with tears as well-he might be old and experienced, but this was his son
they were talking about.
Both Sam and Quinn were silent too. Ryan was ultimately his brother, and no one would stay unmoved.
As for Quinn, her tears were rolling freely after hearing that the amputation was necessary, as she did not think that it would be
that serious.
Moreover, Ryan had always been successful and proud. She had no idea how he would react once he woke up to find himself
missing a leg.
In the end, Marvin signed the consent form-keeping Ryan alive was more important than a leg.
His legs almost caved soon after, and Sam had to hold him up.
The surgery continued for a long while. It should have been a day of celebration for the Saunders, only for things to turn out so
terrible.
Even Quinn had no idea how long the surgery continued, and the hallway was suffocatingly silent when the door to the ER
opened.
The doctor stepped out first, taking off his mask and looking utterly tired.
Jonah approached him, asking urgently, “How’s Ryan, doctor?”
The others came to their senses at that.
Sam held up Marvin, while Quinn held up Lindsay as they approached the doctor.
The doctor sighed, which almost left Marvin and Lindsay fainting right then.
“How is he, doctor?! How is Ryan?!” Lindsay cried in agitation.
“Don’t worry, he’s not in danger at the moment. But...” the doctor trailed off, hesitant.
“But what?!” Lindsay demanded loudly.

“The patient might get agitated when he wakes up after the amputation, so please be prepared. He has also suffered injuries on
the rest of his body, and we will be keeping him in the ICU for observation. He will be transferred to a normal ward when his
condition is completely stable.”
Lindsay nodded in silence.
On the other hand, Marvin could not say a word.
He was hurting, just like everyone else-and if they could not accept it, Ryan most certainly could not.
Soon, when Ryan was wheeled out of the ER, Lindsay promptly jumped toward him, calling out loudly, “Ryan!”
Marvin hurried after the stretcher too, “Ryan! Are you alright,
Ryan?!”
The nurses promptly shushed them. “Please calm down. The patient won’t wake up for another couple of hours-make way, we
need to take him to the ICU now.”
With that, everyone followed the hospital staff to the ICU.
They watched him from behind a window, where his whole body was covered in bandages. However, the worst was still his
amputated leg.
Lindsay’s tears would not stop, and even Marvin was wiping off his tears from time to time.
They had no idea how to break the news when Ryan woke up that he lost a leg.
Time passed in silence, and everyone stood outside, not moving an inch as they waited for Ryan to wake up.