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The doctor cleared his throat “The surgery was successful, and Ms Gallagher is in stable condition”

I let out the breath I’d been holding, sensing there was a “but” coh, his next sentence confirmed it

“There was brain trauma associated with her injuries…”

I felt the bile rising in my throat

“Ms Gallagher has suffered a series of small strokes Some movement may have been affected, as well as her memory”

“What do you mean by ‘affected’?”

“As with any stroke, when the patient first regains consciousness, the syain full physical and er”

“What, specifically, has been affected?”

“We don’t know fully as she’s only regained consciousness intermittently”

I took another deep breath, restraininghis back to the wall, and insisting he answerquestion Instead, I spoke slowly “For the third time, what…did…you…mean…by…affected?”

“Ms Gallagher was having difficulty controlling movement on the left side of her body We expect this to improve relatively quickly”

“You said physical and mental”

“The patient was experiencing confusion—”

My patience was gone “What kind of confusion?” I growled at the man

“As I said, for now, much of her condition is unknown”

“You’re not answering nize when people were hiding soht he could get anything over onwhen he experienced my ire in full force

“It would be pre her symptoms”

I rubbed the back ofI could turn around, walk out of the hospital, and never look back