Broken Women

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Late Tuesday Morning, April 9th, 2013

Denver General Medical Center

I couldn’t sit. I was up, pacing the floor in the surgical waiting room. Hours had passed since they’d taken her back but I didn’t even know if she was in the OR yet. The electronic billboard that was there to keep families informed of their patient’s status hadn’t changed in Lisa’s case in nearly three hours.

A volunteer came into the room pushing a cart. People jumped from their seats and lined up for coffee, fruit and cookies. Mindlessly, I fell into line too. When it was my turn, the cheerful young woman waited patiently while I decided that I only wanted water.

“How about an apple, Miss? That’ll perk you up some,” she coaxed me.

“I’m way past the age where people can legitimately call me ‘Miss’,” I sai