Chapter 540
“Is there really nothing else we can do?” Calliope still sounded a little unwilling to
give up.
“I’m afraid not,” someone replied. “From what you’ve described, using acupuncture to help with the pain and buy some time is already the best we can do. At this point, he shouldn’t be focused on surviving, but on how to be comfortable p>
“Yeah, with how bad things are, the pain alone could be enough to do him in p>
“Exactly. If he can be made comfortable, maybe he’ll last a little longer p>
“I’m sorry, Callie, but we honestly don’t have any better solutions p>
“Callie, is the patient someone close to you p>
“We’re all doctors here. We know how it goes. If there really was a way to help, we’d all do whatever it took p>
“Yeah, we would. But sometimes there’s just nothing more to be done p>
A heavy sigh seemed to pass through the group. They’d talked through every option, but none of them could come up with a better plan.
Everyone agreed: in this kind of situation, there was just no treatment left to offer.
“Well, thank you all anyway. I appreciate you taking the time,” Calliope said sincerely, after confirming there really were no more options.
“No need to thank us. It’s what we’re here for. Sorry we couldn’t be of more help p>
“All you can do now is make him as comfortable as possible p>
“Yeah. That’s all you can do p>
Everyone offered a few more words of comfort.
Calliope felt a little sad, but she’d seen enough life and death to know these things happened. Sometimes, you just had to accept it.
She was lucky, she thought, that she could at least help Hudson with the pain. Some patients didn’t even have that. There were cases where people died simply because the pain was too much to bear.
After she left the hospital, Calliope called Lance. She explained the situation to him in a calm, measured way.
This time, Lance sounded more composed than ever. He didn’t rage or get upset. He just asked quietly “Callie, you can help with the pain, right? You can make sure these last weeks are a little easier for him, so he can still have some dignity p>
“Yes,” Calliope replied. “I can use acupuncture for the pain, and there are some herbal remedies and warm baths that might help a bit, slow things down, ease the suffering, maybe give him a little more time p>
“Good,” Lance said. “My brother’s been saying he wants to go home anyway. That’s where his roots are p>
“I’m going to put my company on hold and take him back, let him spend whatever time he has left at home. If you’re there, you can help him with the treatments, and you won’t have to keep flying back and forth p>
“Alright,” Calliope agreed. “Lance, are you p>
“I’m okay,” Lance interrupted. “With Hudson like this, I have to be strong. If I fall apart or keep worrying him, it’ll only make things worse p>
“We’re lucky to have you, Callie. Really lucky. Thank you, Callie. We owe you.” Lance hung up soon after.
Back at work, Calliope couldn’t help but reflect on everything. It was a sharp reminder to treasure the people you cared about. Life could be so fragile, so unpredictable.
She suddenly remembered Christmas was coming up. She needed to buy gifts for her godbrothers, and she still had to clear out the villa. She was planning to spend the holidays with them this year.
The old farmhouse out in the
country was finally being torn down,
otherwise they could’ve all stayed there for a while. But really, it didn’t matter where they were. As long as they were together, she knew it would feel like home.