Episode 97: Waiting and Reflecting

Outside the medical room, Natasha, Selene, and Scarlett stood together, their eyes fixed on the closed doors behind which Azra was undergoing surgery. The quiet hum of the medical equipment beyond the doors was the only indication that the procedure was still in progress. The tension in the air was thick, a mixture of anticipation, fear, and hope. This surgery had been a long time coming—Azra had spent the past week preparing himself after the raid on CLUB MED, ensuring every detail was accounted for. Now, all they could do was wait.

Selene, noticing Natasha's restless fingers twisting the fabric of her dress, reached out and gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Nat, he'll be okay. Azra is quite a resilient man."

Natasha let out a shaky sigh, offering Selene a weak but grateful smile. "Thank you, Selene. I know you're right, but I can't help but worry about him. It's just… after everything we've been through, the thought of something going wrong terrifies me."

Scarlett, who had been standing with her arms crossed, finally spoke. "Now that he's in there, I have to admit, I'm worried too." She let out a dry chuckle. "Honestly, I never thought I'd be capable of worrying about anyone other than the two of you."

This confession brought a small smile to Natasha's face, and even Selene softened at Scarlett's words.

"You've changed a lot, Scarlett," Selene noted. "I think we all have."

Scarlett smirked but nodded. "Yeah… Guess that's what happens when you become part of a family."

A brief silence settled between them before Scarlett spoke again, her expression turning pensive. "You know, I really thought Azra was going to be like every other man out there. Rough, selfish, thinking only of himself. But he's different."

Selene tilted her head slightly. "Different how?"

Scarlett let out a slow exhale. "He's smart—way more than most men I've come across. He doesn't act like a brute, even though he has the strength to. And most importantly, he listens."

Natasha nodded in agreement. "Azra wasn't always like this, though. He changed."

Scarlett and Selene exchanged intrigued glances before Selene asked, "What do you mean?"

Natasha took a deep breath, her gaze drifting to the medical room door before returning to the two women. "When we first got married, Azra wasn't the man you know now. He was rough, angry, violent at times. He was someone I constantly had to tiptoe around. But then… one day, everything changed. It was so sudden that I didn't know what to think at first. He stopped drinking so much, he stopped lashing out, and instead, he started listening. He started treating me with care."

Selene's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you think caused the change?"

Natasha shrugged. "I don't know. I used to think he had some sort of awakening. Maybe he realized he didn't want to live like that anymore. Whatever it was, it made him into the man I love today."

Scarlett absorbed this information quietly before letting out a thoughtful hum. "People don't change overnight without a reason. But… whatever that reason was, I guess we should be grateful for it."

Natasha smiled softly. "I know I am. Every single day."

The room fell into a comfortable silence as the three women reflected on their own relationships with Azra. Each of them had their own story, their own connection to him, and now, standing here together, they felt closer than ever.

For the first time in what felt like ages, they had a moment to simply bond without the chaos of survival or business looming over them. It was a rare and precious thing—a chance to breathe, to reflect, and to appreciate the family they had built together. And though they were worried about the man behind those medical room doors, they knew one thing for certain.

No matter what happened, they would face it together.

"Ugh, I feel like shit," I muttered as my consciousness slowly returned. My body felt impossibly heavy, as if I were weighed down by an unseen force. I blinked, trying to adjust my vision, my head still foggy from the effects of the anesthesia. As I scanned the dimly lit medical room, I noticed that I was alone, save for Doc 1 and Nurse 1, both stationed in their respective docking ports. They must have needed to recharge after the long surgery.

I exhaled deeply and let my head rest against the pillow. For the first time in what felt like forever, I had nothing to do but rest. My fingers instinctively reached for my phone, and soon enough, I was scrolling through my social media feed, looking for something to distract me from the lingering soreness in my body.

"Oh, looks like my wives have been updating my page," I mumbled to myself, a smirk forming on my lips. As I browsed through the posts, I saw that Natasha, Selene, and Scarlett had all been actively sharing updates about my surgery.

Selene had been posting within her mechanic and engineer communities, discussing the technical aspects of my medical procedure. Scarlett had been engaging with her Second Amendment enthusiast circles, talking about how advancements in AI-assisted medicine were changing lives. Natasha, on the other hand, had been sharing her experiences with her housewife community, focusing on the emotional and personal aspects of supporting a loved one through surgery.

Their followers had flooded the comments with well-wishes and prayers, along with a barrage of questions. But the biggest topic of discussion? The confirmation—whether intentional or not—that all four of us were in a polygamous relationship.

For many people back on Earth, this kind of arrangement would be baffling, even controversial—especially given how beautiful and independent my wives were. But for me? This was the most entertaining part of it all. Watching people lose their minds over our dynamic was endlessly amusing.

Deciding to add to the chaos, I took a picture of my legs, now wrapped in thick plaster with iron rods protruding from multiple angles. "Survived the surgery, and on the road to recovery," I captioned it before setting my phone down. A deep sense of relief settled over me.

Finally, after everything, my leg was fixed.