Mike sprinted along the path and into the main entrance of the hospital. The queue for the lift was long enough for him to jump the stairs two at a time. Once he reached the ward, he was out of breath and took a full gasp before he straightened himself and made his way to his son’s private room. The vision of four nurses and two doctors took him aback; they all seemed to be rushing about changing tubes and fiddling with the machines.

Doctor Redwood spun around and hurried over to the doorway to face Mike. The look on his face had Mike fearful. Again, he felt the world on his shoulders.

‘He’s struggling. His blood pressure’s gone up, and I’m afraid it’s serious. Look. Wait outside for a minute or so, please.’

Mike could hardly breathe, he was so fearful for his son. Ignoring the doctor, he pushed the nurses aside to find Ricky almost having a fit. His eyes were rolling around and his muscles were twitching.

‘Ricky, it’s Dad. I’m here, Son. I’m right here. It’s gonna be all right. You’re safe, I promise.’

Constance, the nurse, was studying the cardiac monitor and she called out, ‘He’s stabilizing.’

The doctor pulled Mike back. ‘Let me see.’

He watched as Ricky’s body slowly stopped shaking and contorting; his eyes began to blink, and his breathing slowed down.

Mike was still holding his breath, willing his son to live. ‘That’s it, Ricky, my boy. You’re okay, Son.’

The doctor’s concern for his patient changed; he allowed Mike to get closer to him because whatever he was doing or saying it seemed to be working.

Mike leaned over the bed and stroked Ricky’s head. He kissed his cheeks and continued to whisper. ‘You’re all right. Dad’s here, and I ain’t going anywhere. Come back to me, Son.’

‘Please, carry on talking to him. He may be reliving the incident, which, at this stage, is very critical. We can’t have his heart rate or his blood pressure going through the roof.’

In all the commotion, they didn’t see Gloria standing in the doorway with her hands over her mouth, until Constance looked over.

‘Please, come in. You’re his grandmother, aren’t you?’

With tears flowing down her cheeks, Gloria just nodded. She slowly stepped forward, afraid of what she might witness. As she peered down, she saw the gentle flicker of her grandson’s eyelashes. Gently pushing Mike aside, she held Ricky’s hand. ‘You are my sunshine, my only sunshine . . . ’ she sang through her tears.

She had always sung that song, ever since he was a newborn baby. It was the only thing he remembered when he was reunited with his family.

The combined efforts of the Regans had brought about a change in the room: the tension had palpably lifted.