Christine found the behavior of Erik and Mahtab quite strange in the past few weeks. Erik was asking many anatomical questions of Mahtab, especially about the throat and vocal chords, to which the boy replied with a 100 percent accuracy. Mahtab always loved to learn, for sure, and he was always happy when he was praised by Erik about his knowledge, but mostly before they put the bigger importance on subjects like mathematics, science and music, which subjects usually interested Mahtab the most. They have never discussed matters that would be suitable for surgeons as well before, and it alarmed Christine a bit. But maybe she over reacts things sometimes? Maybe Mahtab just asked about vocal chords and Erik explains how they worked…? There was always a special connection between those two, and they felt much comfortable in each other's company, talking about literally everything that came to their minds.
But there was another issue later. They disappeared, just the two of them, more and more, for hours in the afternoon. She saw Erik less and less as he assisted Florian with his concerts or musical studies, Mahtab with anatomy, and he kept occupying himself with many things. There were days when they only met in bed, which wasn't too entertaining either by the fact Erik had fallen asleep by the time his head touched the pillow because he was so tired.
- Erik, we hardly ever meet nowadays. – She sighed in the morning when they were getting ready for the day ahead of them. – I understand you are busy, but I forgot I have a husband already.
- You are right, Christine, yes, you are. – Erik nodded while hurriedly putting his shirt on, but he seemed to be somewhere else in his thoughts yet again.
- Erik, please take a step back. You would need to rest. You will overstrain yourself again. You are not getting younger…
- Yes- yes, I know. – He nodded out of routine, yet again. – I am going to rest more, but in these weeks, you see, it is impossible, literally. I have too much to do.
- Erik, if you don't rest enough, life will MAKE you rest more for weeks.
- Christine, my sweet Christine. – Erik smiled and walked to his wife, and gently kissed her forehead. – It touches my heart how much you worry about your little husband, yet he is fine. He really is.
- Of course I worry about you. – Christine pulled her robe tighter on her as she shivered from cold by even the thought of losing Erik, or the man suffering from a serious illness. – I love you. – She added.
- I love you too. – Erik replied with a smile, then calmingly stroke Christine's face. – Just a few more days, sweetie. I promise if things work out the way I imagined and do hope, I promise I will be home a lot more from next week.
- What are you referring to? – Christine's brows raised with surprise, hearing the news.
- I can't tell more. – Erik informed casually. – I am superstitious about projects in progress, as always, my dear.
Christine did not like this explanation at all. She knew if Erik did not wish to reply openly, it meant nothing good regarding the future usually. She decided to keep her eyes open and pay attention to the happenings.
There were other happenings, of course. She, for example, nearly died of fright when she saw Mahtab was carrying a child body covered by a white sheet to the basement at an evening, in his arms. The shape of a child could be easily seen under the sheet, and she could not help but scream in horror upon realizing it. She did not even dare to think what could have happened… should she run to count the children?
- Mama! – Mahtab gasped as he turned back to face Christine and he dropped the body in sudden fright. The child made a very unnatural sound while hitting the ground under the stairs, and Christine noticed a small head rolling out from under the cover.
- What in God's name is happening? – Christine asked with shock.
- Mama, don't be afraid, it is not a real child. It is just a doll. – Mahtab explained quickly, understanding the reason behind his mother's alarm.
- But what is it for…? And why did you chop off its head?
- I did not chop off its head. – Mahtab smiled. - It is removable.
- But what is it for…?
- It is for me to practice, Mama. I made it with Papa's assistance.
- What do you practice?
- Anatomy and helping patients. I think I would like to become a doctor if God helps me to achieve my goal.
- Mahtab… - Christine wiped her forehead in a sudden relief, but worriedly examined her child. – You chose a hard occupation, my dear… there are no female doctors around…
- Mama… you keep forgetting I am not one. Not a female. – Mahtab replied with a tired sigh, then he collected the doll hurriedly and with a hint of hurt in his eyes, he walked away and entered the basement.
- Leave him alone with that, Christine. – Erik's scolding tone could be heard, but Erik was nowhere near to be seen. – I am happy he is finally feeling useful.
Christine wasn't happy and convinced about this, but she had to agree about the teen's usefulness, so she did not argue more, only turned around and walked back upstairs. Maybe better if she does not even know what was going on with that doll.
The doll, of course served the purpose of being a test subject body of a child in Gregory's age, it was sized perfectly for the boy's height and it was the perfect material to practice on, without hurting a living being. Even blood loss was possible to follow and stop, just like in a human body. Mahtab had to practice the surgery's steps which Erik was planning, step by step, getting ready for each possibility and turn of events. Practice was another important thing for a doctor and his aid, it wasn't enough if Mahtab only learned the anatomy book by heart with a hundred percent accuracy if the movements weren't in his fingers. Erik wanted to be a hundred percent sure his son was prepared to do the surgery, even all alone. Who knows if something maybe happens to him, he wasn't a young man already and the operation was going to last for hours.
Another problem, of course, was the family. Of course, it wasn't a problem anytime else, but they could not allow to be disturbed by anyone that special day. Even the slightest mistake by someone's attention drawn away from the operation could be fatal to Greg. Erik, for this reason, rent an empty flat, for a full month, and from that day, they went to practice there instead of the basement of the house. Carrying a body though, all along the streets of London, would be a kind of awkward and maybe alarming sight to some people, and Erik most certainly did not want any attention. Putting the thing in a bag would have solved nothing – it still looked too much like a child's body in a bag, which was even worse of a situation. To tell the truth, Greg will walk there on his own legs as well, so why can't the doll do the same? It resulted in Erik created a mechanism yet again which allowed the doll to go after him and Mahtab, just like a real thing would.
- Cadence! – Mahtab exclaimed when Erik showed him the end result.
- Oh, you still did not forget that stupid doll? – Erik sighed.
- One can never forget their first best friend. – Mahtab replied with passion.
- Mahtab, it was just a doll.
- Papa, can't we create a girlfriend for me? – Mahttab inquired suddenly.
- Create? Mahtab, oh come on, stop this.
- Why? Papa, no woman will ever love me. – He added sadly. – You know how that can be. With my face…
- Mahtab, you forget something.
- What?
- I do look like you, and I have a wife. I used to think like you do, son, I know what you mean. But I married your Mama and now I have five children. Well, four and a half.
- But Papa… there are no other woman like Mama. – Mahtab sighed. – And you know there is another problem with me. You at least, are a man by nature. I have to work hard to be a man.
- Dear, still, creating a partner for you is not the right way. It is only an illusion. You would only make a fool of yourself, thinking you have a wife, when you don't. All you have is an automaton. I was the same… I know.
- Did you have one as well? – Mahtab's eyes lit up in interest.
- Yes.
- One that looked like Mama?
- No. I did not know Mama back then. It was a female robot I created for myself, her name was… Persephone. Do not laugh, please. Yet she did not really serve any of my plans as I realized while creating her that… it was going to mean nothing. If someone is lonely, they are lonely with a made up companion as well. Mahtab, if someone really loves you they will love you no matter what.
- Even with my… odd features?
- Do you think, my son, you are the only one who feels they were born in the wrong body? You are never the only one, son, but others, just like you, are afraid to admit their feelings because people won't understand them. They are afraid people will be disgusted of them if they admit. But once you are intimate enough with them… they will admit it. Mahtab I believe there is someone out there for you. If you asked me twenty- five years ago, I would have most likely answered just what you say now: that no woman was ever going to love you. But it is not the case, dear. You, with your pure heart and charming personality, will most likely find someone.
- Do you honestly think so, Papa?
- I do. – Erik nodded.
- Then… I stop worrying over my future.
- Child, if I learned something during my life, it is worry is useless. You can't always change the happenings. Good and bad things happen. You only have to get the best out of the possibility given to you. And worrying only makes you tired.
Mahtab accepted his father's reasoning, and he was sure Erik had much more experiences of life than he had. Papa always knows what he is talking about. Papa says wise things mostly, and he had never given him a wrong advice before.
After five weeks of hard studying and practicing, the day of the surgery arrived finally. Erik thought there was no need to delay it any longer- Greg was excited enough and it was better to get through it as soon as possible- the boy will need weeks to recover as well, so the sooner it starts the sooner it will finish.
- You did not talk about the thing we are going to do, eh? – Erik knelt down to the boy's height while bundling him in his warm cape and putting a cap on his head. Greg shook his head and showed a "my lips are sealed" sign which made Erik laugh out. – And you aren't afraid, hm?
Greg's face got a bit more serious for a few seconds but he shrugged in the end, shaking his head yet again. Erik patted his head and said:
- We are going to take good care of you. Don't worry.
Greg nodded and smiled at his new father, and reached out his hand so he can be led along the street. Erik was kind of strict about holding the hands of the children under the age of about 8, mostly, when they walked on the street, to prevent them from running too far from him and get in trouble. It was especially the most needed when Mahtab and Noel were small – those two were masters of disappearing in a blink of an eye. One can never be careful enough when it is about safety of these cheese worms.
Mahtab followed Erik and Greg a few steps behind them, wondering about what was going to happen. Erik, to ease the younger child's fear, which Greg was trying to disguise, entertained him with some ventriloquism, making everything on the street talk which surrounded them. A passerby dog said "Hello Greg" suddenly, making people around them turning to the dog's direction in awe, which made Greg smile widely. Mahtab smiled as well under his small mustache. He remembered back Papa used to calm him as well with ventriloquism when he was small, and he loved this trick. Up until today, it was the only way Greg was able to "talk". Erik knew what he was going to say, and "translated" the child's thoughts towards the family, throwing his altered voice in Greg's throat. From today if things work out the way they imagined, Greg will have his own voice.
In the apartment, after Greg was comfortably placed on a table which was covered by white sheets and many various objects were around him, he was a bit of too much afraid suddenly. Erik and Mahtab were kindly talking to him to make him feel better, but he could not help but started trembling with fear. Yet Erik had such a voice it was too beautiful and too much enchanting not to be heard, even in his deepest fear. Erik held something in a bottle under his nose, and his head spun… and darkness fell on him.
- Pinch his arm. – Erik told Mahtab.
No reaction came from the boy for the pain. He was sound asleep, knocked out.
- We may start. – Erik nodded, putting on one of his older masks, to cover his mouth and ordered Mahtab to do the same.
In an hour, Mahtab felt everything, literally everything was covered in blood around them. He wondered for a few seconds how Gregory did not yet bleed out completely, yet Erik was constantly assuring him everything was going all right. Looking around, it wasn't indeed everything. The sheets had some patches of course, and the gloves they were wearing were bloody, so they left fingerprints on the things they touched. Hours passed. Long- long hours. They were concentrating on the actions they were currently working at, and they tried not to think of what happens if they mess something up. Erik had much more routine with thinking with a cold head and shut all emotions down than Mahtab. The younger doctor simply could not see Greg as a patient only. He was looking at the pale face of his young brother, and sometimes felt weak in the knees.
- Pay attention to the task. – Erik ordered, noticing his son's weakness. – Only to the task.
Mahtab swallowed, trying not to look at the patient's face any more. He did not wish his hands to start trembling, as it would be extremely unlucky…
Finally, they replaced Greg's damaged vocal chords and scar tissue in his throat, after a long time. No wonder the boy was unable to speak. Acid – as Erik was now sure it was acid he swallowed- did some nasty work there. Thankfully nothing they could not repair. Now only sewing the wound was left.
To tell the truth, Erik was happy they finally were at this point. He felt extremely tired by this point. The surgery required endless concentration for long hours and he was both physically and emotionally worn out. Finishing up, he had no time to even dry his hands off of blood. He suddenly felt weak, and his legs weren't able to support him any longer.
- Papa! – Mahtab gasped in shock when seeing Erik collapsed next to the table onto the floor.
- Don't bother with me. – Erik replied slowly. – And don1t bother Greg. We… need to wait a bit… before moving him to a bed.
- Papa if you are ill… - Mahtab knelt down next to Erik, worriedly examining Erik's eyes and movements. – Follow my hand…
- Mahtab, I am fine. – Erik let out a small laugh. – I just… I like it here. Do not worry.
- I go get help. – He wanted to run to get his coat, but Erik squeezed his ankle.
- Sit down on your rear. No need to run around like a poisoned mouse. Calm down. I like it here.
- But are you…?
- I am just tired. And not ill. Just too tired to get up now.
- Papa, I am afraid.
- Everyone is. – He smiled. – Yet a man is a man because he is grown up enough to be able to handle his fear the correct way. Fear can't turn to panic. Panic is… destructive.
With a tired sigh, Erik closed his eyes to rest a bit. He was on the floor but he did not mind it too much. Mahtab looked at Greg's pale face, and his father on the floor, and finally he could not do anything else than cleaning Greg out of blood, and removed his bloody gloves, then started praying to God for the safety of his loved ones.
