THE FINAL CUT

Ross and Rachel sat opposite Dr Montgomery, palms of their hands sweaty, hearts fluttering rapidly, throats dry, as they waited for the verdict. Three weeks had passed. Was it enough? Was Emma fit enough for a liver transplant? Or was Montgomery about to issue a death sentence?

"Ross, Rachel, I am thrilled to tell you that Emma has now reached a stage in her recovery, where I feel confident she will survive a liver transplant." Montgomery beamed at the couple.

Rachel threw her arms around Ross, weeping into his shirt. Ross closed his eyes, mouthing the words "thankyou", over and over again. The transplant was the big ticket Ross and Rachel had desperately waited for. A transplant meant Emma would finally, truly and wholly be on the road to recovery. Perhaps they would finally leave this cold sterile place and begin their lives again. With all this tragedy, something was bound to give.

"Is it last surgery ever?" Emma demanded.

"Honey, I can't promise that it'll be the last-"

"Then No! I don't want! Go away! I hate surgeries, they makes me hurt and painful!"

"Sweetie, please, you need it to get better," Ross pleaded with his daughter.

"You says that always. Always, always, always! But I stuck still in hospital! You lying, you liar!" Emma screamed, thrashing around in her bed, kicking her little feet at Ross, face red with furious indignation. Terrified she would disconnect her tubes and IV bags, Ross grasped her firmly, holding her still.

"Emma, stay still," Ross warned.

"Liar liar pants on fire!" Emma screamed angrily, flailing her arms around in the air, knocking an IV bag on wheels, almost toppling it over. One disconnected IV bag, and she could compromise her life.

"EMMA, STOP IT!"

Ross's voice boomed loudly across the hospital corridor. Shocked and frightened, Emma fell instantly silent. Her eyes widened, her little lips quivered. Tears spilled silently onto her hospital gown. A bubble of snot in her nose expanded and popped. She didn't know her parents anymore. They were always either sad or angry. They were sad angry strangers, ghosts of the people they once were.

She thought they would be happy after she told them the truth about Chandler, but it only seemed to make them sadder. She didn't understand them. First they begged her to tell them how she got hurt, and now that she had told them, they were constantly blue. Ross leaned in to hug Emma, but she recoiled away from him, scared and uncertain. Ross's heart ached, seeing Emma recoil from him. Keeping his distance, he spoke gently, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Emma, honey, I'm so sorry I yelled. I was scared you were going to disconnect your tubes and IV bags. You could seriously hurt yourself, honey. Please, don't be scared, it's just me, your silly goofy old dad."

With her shoulders hunched, and tears dripping off her nose, Emma mumbled quietly, "You liar. You says always I'm get better, but I'm not. Surgeries hurt me, I hate hospital, I wanna go home." Sitting on Emma's bed, Ross drew Emma into his arms and buried his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent. Lying in Ross's arms, Emma sucked her thumb, something she hadn't done since she was two.

"I know you do honey. You're right, I'm a liar. I'm sorry I lied, but I promise this time you will get better. You're getting a new liver. Mommy is giving a piece of liver to you, so you'll have a piece of mommy to carry with you forever, inside here," Ross tapped Emma's abdomen lightly.

Emma's eyes lit up with delight, "I'll have a piece of mommy in my tummy forever?"

"Yes, sweetheart, and I promise that this time you'll get better. That's a promise, Em."

"Pinky promise?" Emma extended her pinky finger, holding it in front of Ross's face.

Ross linked his pinky with Emma's, "Pinky promise."

"Sing, daddy?" Ross smiled sadly, kissing the top of Emma's head.

"I like big butts and I cannot lie, all you other brothers can't deny, when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist, and a round thing in your face, you get strung!" Emma smiled, placated by her favourite song.

Rachel and Emma lay side by side in two gurneys. Rachel reached over, taking Emma's hand. "Can you be a brave girl for mommy and daddy, Em?" Emma nodded; her body tense with anxiety. "I know you're scared sweety, but this time it's going to be different. Mommy will be right next door having surgery too, just like you."

Pale with anxiety, Emma whispered, "Ok, love you mommy and daddy." Rachel squeezed Emma's hand, "I love you too Em, so much."

Ross leaned in and kissed Emma on the forehead and Rachel on the lips, "I love both my girls very much."

Dr Montgomery and her surgical team nodded respectfully at Ross and pushed the double doors open, wheeling Rachel and Emma into the Operating Theatre. Ross stood by the door until they were completely out of sight. Emotionally spent, he slid into a plastic hospital chair, resting his head against the wall. God willing, a new liver would herald a fresh beginning, and a so desperately needed improvement in Emma's health.