**The Uncertainty of Tomorrow**

Two days had passed since Ashley's diagnosis, and the anxiety had been building up inside her. She had been preparing herself for this moment, but nothing could truly prepare her for the reality of undergoing a biopsy. The doctors and nurses came to her room, smiling reassuringly, and began to explain the procedure one last time. Ashley nodded, trying to process everything they were saying. Erica held her hand, offering what little comfort she could. The medical team wheeled Ashley's bed out of the room and down the hall to the operating room. The bright lights and sterile smell of the OR made Ashley's stomach turn. As they entered the OR, Ashley saw the anesthesiologist standing by the anesthesia machine. "Time to get you comfortable, Ashley," he said, smiling kindly. He injected the IV with a gentle touch, and Ashley felt the anesthetic start to take effect. Within minutes, Ashley was out cold, unaware of the surgical team preparing for the procedure. The surgeon, a kind-faced woman with years of experience, began to scrub in. "Let's get started," she said, her voice calm and confident. The surgical team quickly got to work, shaving Ashley's head and marking the areas where they would make the incisions. Ashley's hair was cut close to the scalp, and Erica felt a pang of sadness as she watched. The surgeon made three small incisions in Ashley's skull, carefully opening up the bone to access the tumour. With precision and care, the surgeon extracted a small piece of the tumour, which would be sent to the lab for testing. Ashley's brain was a delicate and complex system, and the surgeon was acutely aware of the risks of damaging her motor function or speech. As the procedure came to a close, the surgeon carefully closed up the incisions, stitching the bone and skin back together. Ashley was wheeled out of the OR, still under the effects of the anesthesia. Back in her room, Erica was waiting anxiously for Ashley to return. As the medical team wheeled Ashley back into her room, Erica's eyes filled with tears of relief. Ashley was pale and still, but she was alive. The doctor came over to Erica, his expression serious. "The procedure went smoothly," he said. "Now, we just have to wait and see if there's any damage to her motor function or speech. It may take a few hours, or even days, to know for sure." Erica nodded, taking a deep breath. She knew that this was just the beginning of a long and uncertain journey. But she was determined to be there for Ashley, every step of the way. As Ashley slowly began to wake up from the anesthesia, Erica held her hand, whispering words of encouragement. Ashley's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at Erica with a weak smile. "Hey," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Erica smiled back, tears streaming down her face. "Hey, I'm here," she said, squeezing Ashley's hand. "I'm not going anywhere."