John is taking a much-needed coffee break. He slept no more than four hours last night, and he's got at least six hours to go before this shift is finally over. (They weren't kidding when they said Foundation Year would be the worst of our lives.)
As the young doctor pours his coffee, the unit secretary blows in. "Dr. Watson, I've an urgent message from your sister. Your mum is at University College Hospital. You're to go see her at once."
John dashes across town with superhuman speed and finds Harry and Dad in the surgical waiting room. He asks what happened.
Harry explains, "Mum had a vein burst in her oesophagus. They're trying to fix it now."
(Oesophageal varices. Christ. I knew the drinking would catch up with her. She'll have to stop now… if she survives.) Harry and Dad can tell from the look on John's face that it's serious, but they don't press him for details.
After an interminable wait, the doctor comes out grim-faced. "I'm so sorry. We did all that we could."
John pinches the bridge of his nose and forces back a sob. His greatest fear is that Harry won't learn from Mum's mistakes.
A/N: Oesophageal varices are veins in the oesophagus that have swollen due to increased pressure in the hepatic portal vein. Left untreated, the varices can rupture with fatal consequences. They're most commonly seen in people with liver damage due to alcoholism.