Read Surrender 01 - Surrender for Free Online

She knew they planned on sending her to a state facility, and if that happened, she’d never get the treatment she needed. Ari just didn’t know any of it anymore. She didn’t know whether she could handle whatever they had to say.
    As Ari stepped from her car, she heard chanting voices and wondered what was happening. As she approached the front doors of the hospital, there was a crowd of protesters lining the walk. She had to get through, but hated to pass by them as they waved their signs angrily.
    “Don’t support their greed. Find another hospital!” they chanted as she neared. With her head down she passed by, feeling something hit her arm. She didn’t dare look up, afraid that if she made eye contact, they might attack her outright. “Traitor!” was the last thing she heard before she reached the safety of the hospital lobby.
    “Ms. Harlow, thank you for coming down so quickly. I apologize for the disturbance at the entrance. The hospital has had cutbacks, and I’m afraid there are several previous staff members who are upset. Again, I’m sorry that you had to endure that, but there’s news of your mother and we needed you to come right away. She’s awake.”
    It took a few moments for the nurse’s words to register. Her mother was awake. She was out of the coma. Ari felt blackness trying to overtake her vision as she gazed in shock at the woman in front of her. There was no way she could pass out. She fought it with all she had.
    She was so exhausted both physically and mentally, the unexpected news was almost too much for her to handle. She wouldn’t believe them until she actually saw her mom; more than anything else, Ari needed to hear that beloved voice. No one else could comfort her like her mother — she needed the woman who’d always been there through the good and the bad.
    Ari finally fully understood why she was breaking apart so much. She’d been trying to do all of this without her mom. Never before had she realized how much she’d always leaned on her — never before she’d lost her and then found her again.
    “Please. Where is she?” Ari asked breathlessly , the words barely making it past her throat.
    “Right this way.”
    The nurse turned and started leading Ari down a maze of hallways, toward the intensive care unit. When they reached the door to her mother’s room , Ari suddenly found herself afraid to turn the handle .
    The thought crossed her mind that she'd open that door and it would all be a cruel joke. Her hopes dashed, she’d have to deal with the pain of losing the most important person in her life all over again.
    “Take a few moments if you’d like before you go inside,” the nurse offered before leaving Ari to sort through her overwhelming emotions.
    With a deep steadying breath , Ari pushed the door open and stepped inside . She found her mother sitting up in bed, looking extremely frail, but with her beautiful green eyes open. Ari blinked just to make sure she wasn’t seeing things.
    “Mom?”
    “Ari! Come sit with me,” her mom responded weakly as a small smile lit up her pale face. Ari needed no other encouragement. She rushed to the bedside, bent down to feel her mother's warm arms wrap around her once again , and reveled in the contentment of a loving embrace .
    “I’ve missed you so much, Mom. I’m sorry I called you that night. I’m so sorry you got in an accident,” Ari sobbed as he r mom stroked her back comfortingly.
    “Oh, Ari. You can’t blame yourself. Bad things happen to all of us. This isn’t your fault.”
    “Yes it is. If I hadn’t gone to that party and gotten drunk. If only I’d never called you, then you wouldn’t have been out there,” Ari sobbed.
    “The doctors tell me I’ve been in a coma for six months. That’s a long time you’ve been carrying this heavy guilt around. No matter what happens to me, I want you to live your life to the fullest. This was in no way your fault.”
    “You have to say that, Mom. It’s