Isla Prescott and Sienna Prescott brought Susan Dudley back to the hospital room. Rather than hysterical, the rescued Susan Dudley was overcome with a deep listlessness—the despair of being unable to truly live, yet unable to die.
"Mom," Isla Prescott said, burying her face in Susan Dudley's lap. "Sienna and I both need you. We can't live without our mom. If you leave us like this, we'll spend the rest of our lives filled with so much regret. We'll never be truly happy again."
"That's right, Mom. I'm begging you, please don't do anything foolish again," Sienna Prescott choked out, sobbing beside them. "If you go, our family will be torn apart."
Looking at her two daughters, Susan Dudley felt her heart ache with wave after wave of pain.
"You really don't have to worry about the surgery costs. If we have to, I can take out a loan. I'm still young. I can pay it back a little each month, and one day it'll all be paid off. You just have to get well. That's what's most important."
