Urgent decision (1)

Looking at his mother's haggard appearance, Elmer felt a lot of pain in his heart. His grip on Margaret's hand was starting to hurt a little. Elmer realized he was losing his composure and quickly let go of her hand. He said, "Mom, there's something I want to ask you."

"Go ahead," Margaret squinted her eyes.

"Do you know someone named Julia?" Elmer asked.

As soon as she heard the name, Margaret became somewhat panicked. It seemed like she was remembering something from a very distant past. She began to recall, "Julia, I remember that girl very clearly. That was over 20 years ago. Your father wasn't a pilot yet, he was teaching at the university, and I was teaching at a middle school. We only saw each other on weekends, and I never went to your father's school. Everyone at his school thought he was single. Julia was a very beautiful girl, and she was very good academically. She had her heart set on your father. I remember one time very clearly, it was your father's birthday. I went to his school to wish him a happy birthday. We weren't wealthy back then, so we couldn't afford a birthday gift. But if two people love each other, a few words of care can make up for everything. When I arrived at your father's dormitory, he was tutoring a female student, Julia. As soon as Julia saw me, her face turned pale. When she found out I was Barnaby's girlfriend, she got so angry that she threw her books and stormed off. After that, I didn't hear anything about her."

Margaret looked at Elmer and asked, "Why? Why did you suddenly bring up her name?"

"I think I heard you mention her when I was very young, so I just wanted to ask. It's nothing," Elmer said.

Looking at his mother's pale face, Elmer asked, "Mom, did the doctor come this morning?"

"These IV drips were hung up by the doctor," Margaret replied.

"I'm going to find a doctor and ask about your condition," Margaret said. With that, Elmer left the room.

Outside the room, Elmer saw Mona coming towards him, looking well.

"Mona, are you okay?" Elmer greeted her. As soon as she saw it was Elmer, Mona wanted to run towards him, but she had a container filled with liquid in her hand, so she had to walk slowly towards him.

She smiled, revealing her white teeth, and replied, "Elmer, I'm fine. How is Auntie?"

"My mother is not doing well. I'm going to ask the doctor. If you have time, come to my house to play," Elmer chuckled as he walked past her.

After a few steps, Elmer turned around and added, "I'll give you the money in a few days."

Mona shook her head and said, "Elmer, I can't repay you."

"I didn't ask you to repay me."

"But my mother won't accept sudden wealth."

"Silly girl, what if I were your boyfriend?" Seeing Elmer's bright smile, Mona's heart felt warm. She thought Elmer had forgotten what happened in junior high school, but he still remembered. "I have to go now," Elmer said, not waiting for Mona to reply.

"Thank you, Elmer," Mona said, tears welling up in her eyes. The liquid in her container was sloshing against the glass wall, so she steadied it and walked towards the hospital room.

Elmer walked up to the office of the doctor who was washing his mother's stomach, and saw her talking to a patient. Elmer knocked on the door, and with the doctor's permission, walked in. "How is my mother's condition?" Elmer asked bluntly.

"Her medical records have been transferred to the oncology department on the fourth floor. Go find Dr. Roffe, she will give you a more accurate answer," the doctor replied.

"Thank you."

After leaving the surgeon's office, Elmer went up to the fourth floor of the hospital and quickly found the oncology department based on the signs posted on the wall. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a young female doctor in her thirties who was wiping her glasses with a wet cloth. Thinking that Elmer was there for a check-up, she put on her glasses and asked, "What seems to be the problem?"

"I'm Margaret's son. I was wondering how my mother is doing and when she can have surgery if necessary," Elmer politely asked.

"Please wait a moment," replied the pretty doctor named Roffe, who then pulled out a stack of medical records from a drawer and searched for Margaret's file. She carefully examined it along with the recent results of Margaret's blood test.