In a quiet hospital room, tension hung heavy in the air. A five-year-old boy lay pale and fragile on the bed, his parents holding hands tightly as doctors explained that the upcoming surgery was his last real chance. The boy whispered softly, “Can… Archie come to me?”
His request tugged at the nurses’ hearts. Archie, a loyal golden retriever with gentle eyes, had been his constant companion at home. Normally, animals weren’t allowed, but seeing the fear and longing in the boy’s eyes, the staff made an exception.
When Archie arrived, the boy’s face lit up for the first time in weeks. He wrapped his arms around the dog, burying his face in the familiar fur. For a brief moment, the room was filled with warmth and relief. But the calm didn’t last.
Suddenly, Archie stiffened, growling low and fiercely at the surgeon standing nearby. Within seconds, the dog lunged, barking and snapping, refusing to be restrained. Chaos erupted. Nurses tried to intervene, parents struggled to hold Archie back, and the surgeon’s face turned pale.
Then the truth hit: a faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air. The anesthesiologist whispered, “He’s drunk.”
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