The room erupted in quiet laughter; even one of the nurses had to hide her smile as she pretended to check her clipboard.
Dr. Vega chuckled lightly. “I promise we’ll make it up to you once this is all over.”
He turned his attention to me, his tone shifting slightly—still kind, but more direct.
“We’re about to take him back for the procedure. It should take anywhere from six to eight hours… possiblylonger depending on how everything goes. That’s our expected timeframe.”
I nodded, trying to focus on his words and not get lost in worry.
“Once we start, we’ll keep you updated at every significant stage,” he continued. “You won’t be left wondering. Someone from my team—or myself—will come to brief you.”
“What happens after?” I asked, my voice steady, even if I wasn’t.
“He’ll be in recovery for the first 24 to 48 hours under close monitoring,” he explained. “Initially, he’ll be sedated. Once he’s stabilized, we’ll gradually bring him out of it and start observing how his body accepts the heart.”
“And rejection?” I asked quietly, my heart sinking at the thought.
“We’ll be vigilant for signs of rejection from the start,” he assured me. “But we’ve taken every precaution to minimize that risk. We have a strong match, a solid team… everything is in his favor.”
That was the reassurance I needed to hear.
Everything is in his favor.
Dr. Vega looked back at Kyrin, his professional demeanor softening slightly. “Any last questions for me?”
Kyrin thought about it for a moment, like he was really thinking it through… then that little grin crept in.
“Yeah. When I wake up… can I eat?”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Dr. Vega let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Not immediately,” he answered, tone returning to professional but honest. “After surgery, your body will be recovering from anesthesia and the procedure itself. For the first 24 to 48 hours,you may feel groggy, possibly nauseated, and your digestive system won’t be fully ready for regular food.”
Kyrin blinked. “So… no wings?”
Dr. Vega smiled slightly. “No wings. We’ll start you on clear liquids first—things like broth or water—to make sure your body tolerates intake properly. Then we’ll gradually reintroduce soft foods before moving to a normal diet.”
Kyrin looked disappointed. “So basically… baby food.”
“Temporary,” Dr. Vega corrected. “The goal is to protect your recovery, not rush it.”
Kyrin sighed dramatically, then nodded. “Aight. Long as I can eat...eventually.”
Dr. Vega gave a reassuring nod. “You will.”
“Bet,” Kyrin said, settling back like that was all he needed to hear.
The nurses stepped forward then, beginning to prep the bed.
That was my cue.
I stepped closer, my hands finding his face. “Hey…” I whispered.
He looked at me calmly.
“I love you,” I confessed, my voice breaking just enough for him to hear the depth of my feelings.