Chapter 1: Hospitalization
"Hey, Penn! Are you alright!?" I heard her cry.
I...can't breathe...!! I thought to myself as I fell to the floor, gasping for air. I tried to speak, but only a rasping noise escaped my lips. Everything began fading to black, and I couldn't understand any single voice from amongst the throng of noise surrounding my collapsing frame. I could just make out the general frame of her just before I faded into unconsciousness.
"Hey, Penn! Are you alright!?" I heard her cry.
I...can't breathe...!! I thought to myself as I fell to the floor, gasping for air. I tried to speak, but only a rasping noise escaped my lips. Everything began fading to black, and I couldn't understand any single voice from amongst the throng of noise surrounding my collapsing frame. I could just make out the general frame of her just before I faded into unconsciousness.
I could hear the incessant and repeating noise of a machine nearby. Despite the noise, I didn't want to open my eyes, either. Something about the darkness that I was enveloped was...comforting. Even so, the noise of the machine wasn't going to let me have a say in the matter, apparently. The noise seemed to grow louder as my return to consciousness returned, despite my best efforts to stay aloft in the darkness. The constant beep, beep, beep, seemed to form into the shape of a drill, penetrating my mind. My thoughts were scattered, so only the arrogant noise remained, echoing in the vast cavity of my skull. It began to grow louder and louder, eventually driving me to the point that I felt I would have gone insane if I had to endure it any longer. I opened my eyes, only to be blinded by the immense amount of white that greeted them. As my eyes began to focus, I noticed someone sitting in a chair, sleeping.
"Hey, can someone please turn off that annoying machine!?" I asked impatiently, speaking to no one in particular. My voice was raspy, weak. My eyes were still out of focus, but a quick look at my surroundings told me that I was in a hospital room. There was a blue vase next to my bed-grey covers, not exactly cheery- and in it were some fresh flowers. As my eyes began to adjust, I was able to identify the sleeping form in the chair.
"Amy?" I called to her, "Amy, is that you?"
She stirred then, her eyes slowly fluttering open. I never noticed before, but her light brown eyes are really stunning. Though I have to admit, she seemed out of sorts. Her long flowing auburn hair was a bit frizzled, as if she hadn't been really paying much attention to it.
She stirred about, and then laid her eyes on me. "Penn...?" she whispered, as if she couldn't really believe that is was me sitting in the bed. "Penn!" she yelled, rather joyfully I might add, before flying up and grabbing me into a tight hug. "Penn..." she sobbed as she crushed me in her hug, "when you collapsed, I thought, I thought...." she let loose the tears then, and I could feel them running down her face and splashing onto my shoulder.
I didn't know what to do then, but I did know that I didn't want Amy to cry anymore, especially on my behalf. I was fine, after all. So I did what felt right, and put my arms around her.
"Hey, I'm not going to die, if that's what you meant," I said lightly. "After all, I wouldn't want to make you cry even more than you have already. I'd only feel guilty." I was trying to get her to stop crying long enough to smile, at the very least. I didn't think I'd get her to laugh, though. "You idiot," she said as she chuckled, and odd sight with tears still running down her face. "I was so worried about you..." she stopped and wiped at a tear, but I reached it first. It was an involuntary response, but a response that I started.
Amy looked at me as I drew the tear away, and for some reason I didn't want to look away from her, either. Whether by luck or a cruel twist drawn by the hands of fate, the doctor decided to walk in just then, saving me from an awkward explanation for my action. At the same time; however, I don't think the situation could have been interpreted any less painfully by the doctor.
"Hey, can someone please turn off that annoying machine!?" I asked impatiently, speaking to no one in particular. My voice was raspy, weak. My eyes were still out of focus, but a quick look at my surroundings told me that I was in a hospital room. There was a blue vase next to my bed-grey covers, not exactly cheery- and in it were some fresh flowers. As my eyes began to adjust, I was able to identify the sleeping form in the chair.
"Amy?" I called to her, "Amy, is that you?"
She stirred then, her eyes slowly fluttering open. I never noticed before, but her light brown eyes are really stunning. Though I have to admit, she seemed out of sorts. Her long flowing auburn hair was a bit frizzled, as if she hadn't been really paying much attention to it.
She stirred about, and then laid her eyes on me. "Penn...?" she whispered, as if she couldn't really believe that is was me sitting in the bed. "Penn!" she yelled, rather joyfully I might add, before flying up and grabbing me into a tight hug. "Penn..." she sobbed as she crushed me in her hug, "when you collapsed, I thought, I thought...." she let loose the tears then, and I could feel them running down her face and splashing onto my shoulder.
I didn't know what to do then, but I did know that I didn't want Amy to cry anymore, especially on my behalf. I was fine, after all. So I did what felt right, and put my arms around her.
"Hey, I'm not going to die, if that's what you meant," I said lightly. "After all, I wouldn't want to make you cry even more than you have already. I'd only feel guilty." I was trying to get her to stop crying long enough to smile, at the very least. I didn't think I'd get her to laugh, though. "You idiot," she said as she chuckled, and odd sight with tears still running down her face. "I was so worried about you..." she stopped and wiped at a tear, but I reached it first. It was an involuntary response, but a response that I started.
Amy looked at me as I drew the tear away, and for some reason I didn't want to look away from her, either. Whether by luck or a cruel twist drawn by the hands of fate, the doctor decided to walk in just then, saving me from an awkward explanation for my action. At the same time; however, I don't think the situation could have been interpreted any less painfully by the doctor.
"Nice to see you so lively after being unconscious for two days, Mr. Elandis."
...smartass.
"What!?!" Despite his smart remark, the rest of his statement was what shocked me. Two days...? Thankfully, Amy had moved herself away from me, and was standing by my bedside at this time. When I looked at her, her eyes seemed to have dulled. I didn't need a voice confirmation; her eyes told me everything I needed to know. I wanted to know if she had been here the entire time, but the doctor took precedence in my mind at the time. "What do you mean, two days!?"
...smartass.
"What!?!" Despite his smart remark, the rest of his statement was what shocked me. Two days...? Thankfully, Amy had moved herself away from me, and was standing by my bedside at this time. When I looked at her, her eyes seemed to have dulled. I didn't need a voice confirmation; her eyes told me everything I needed to know. I wanted to know if she had been here the entire time, but the doctor took precedence in my mind at the time. "What do you mean, two days!?"
One of the machines-the one that measured my heartbeat- had begun to beep again, this time a bit faster than before.
"Mr. Elandis, you mustn’t get excited. Your heart is in a weak condition, thanks to your episode two days prior. If you get too excited, I might just have to cart you back into the emergency room again."
...Nice to know the guy at least had SOME sense of humor, though at the moment, I wasn't feeling very cheery. My mind was racing, thoughts flying about at will. I couldn't believe that my condition had caused me to collapse like that. I know that I've never been in the healthiest way of life, but I never thought I'd have to be hospitalized again...
It was then I decided I wanted answers, and I wanted them two days ago.
"So what does this mean, exactly, doctor?" I tried to keep my voice even, but I could feel the anger and panic slip into my voice.
"What it means, Mr. Elandis," God, that man was starting to drive me up the wall with the Mr. Elandis shtick. "Is that your condition must be monitored."
...I didn't like the sound of that one bit. Monitored? What was I, some kind of lab experiment? I've never hated hospitals more in my entire life than I did in that single moment.
"Monitored, for what?" Amy asked. She didn't seem to like the sound of that as much as I liked being trapped like a rat in that hospital bed.
"It means....Miss...?" he paused, waiting for him to give her name. She didn't.
"Means what, exactly?" I almost felt sorry for that doctor. However, “almost” doesn’t win you any carnival game prizes, I’m afraid.
"It means Mr. Elandis here will have to remain in the hospital so that his condition may be kept under close watch, in case he should need immediate medical attention."
Whoa there, doctor, hold your horses. I most definitely did NOT like the sound of that.
"You're kidding, right? I can't stay here in this hospital; I have a life to get on with."
The doctor sighed, and removed his glasses before tucking them into his lab coat pocket. Judging by the looks of things, the news the doctor was about to dispense on me wasn't going to be anything I liked, that much was certain.
"Mr. Elandis, you mustn’t get excited. Your heart is in a weak condition, thanks to your episode two days prior. If you get too excited, I might just have to cart you back into the emergency room again."
...Nice to know the guy at least had SOME sense of humor, though at the moment, I wasn't feeling very cheery. My mind was racing, thoughts flying about at will. I couldn't believe that my condition had caused me to collapse like that. I know that I've never been in the healthiest way of life, but I never thought I'd have to be hospitalized again...
It was then I decided I wanted answers, and I wanted them two days ago.
"So what does this mean, exactly, doctor?" I tried to keep my voice even, but I could feel the anger and panic slip into my voice.
"What it means, Mr. Elandis," God, that man was starting to drive me up the wall with the Mr. Elandis shtick. "Is that your condition must be monitored."
...I didn't like the sound of that one bit. Monitored? What was I, some kind of lab experiment? I've never hated hospitals more in my entire life than I did in that single moment.
"Monitored, for what?" Amy asked. She didn't seem to like the sound of that as much as I liked being trapped like a rat in that hospital bed.
"It means....Miss...?" he paused, waiting for him to give her name. She didn't.
"Means what, exactly?" I almost felt sorry for that doctor. However, “almost” doesn’t win you any carnival game prizes, I’m afraid.
"It means Mr. Elandis here will have to remain in the hospital so that his condition may be kept under close watch, in case he should need immediate medical attention."
Whoa there, doctor, hold your horses. I most definitely did NOT like the sound of that.
"You're kidding, right? I can't stay here in this hospital; I have a life to get on with."
The doctor sighed, and removed his glasses before tucking them into his lab coat pocket. Judging by the looks of things, the news the doctor was about to dispense on me wasn't going to be anything I liked, that much was certain.
"Mr. Elandis...." he paused, and began again, choosing his words slowly.” Penn,"
...nice time to remember my first name, apparently. "When you arrived in the emergency bay, you weren't breathing, moving, anything. Your brain showed no signs of activity whatsoever. By all rights, you should have been declared dead on arrival almost 48 hours ago."
I looked at Amy, to see what she thought of this doctor's tall tales. What I saw is something I don't think I will ever forget. Her face was calm and serene. I could tell she was trying to keep on a brave face, but I could see her trembling inside, her eyes were shaking. I could see the fear, the horror reflected there. She was calm on the outside, but on the inside she was crumbling to pieces. Amy was a horrible liar herself, but she could tell when someone was lying. Something about her reaction told me this was no sick joke on the doctor's part.
"So...how long will I be here?" I don't think I could have said anything else. Dead!? Just the thought of it made me sick to my stomach. There is much too much I have yet to do, yet to see. I wanted to wretch my guts out. The doctor merely picked up one of the charts hanging off of the front edge of my bed.
"Thirty days, at the least." he said nonchalantly.
It made me want to strangle him. If Amy weren't made of stronger stuff, I'm sure she would have.
"Can I have a moment alone, doctor? That is a lot to digest in one sitting." Honestly, I wanted to get him away from Amy before she killed him and said “he tripped and fell”.
"Of course." he said simply, and left. I really hoped that I wouldn't have to see him too often anymore, lest he drive me to drastic measures. Once he left, I looked at Amy. She didn't look too good. She was looking rather pale. Perhaps I should have asked the doctor to take a look at her as well.
"Amy, are you alright?" I asked, although I already knew she wasn't. "You look really pale."
"What are you talking about Penn? I feel fine-" Of course she would lie. Surely she didn't expect me to believe that?
"No, you don't." I said, cutting her off. "Look at you; you look like the one that should be in this hospital bed, not me." I sighed, and tried to calm down. The machine was starting to beep louder again, and I didn't want some crazy doctor coming in and telling me to calm down again. "Just how long have you been in here, anyways?
Amy didn't respond, she only looked away from me. "Two days..." she eventually mumbled.
I looked at Amy, to see what she thought of this doctor's tall tales. What I saw is something I don't think I will ever forget. Her face was calm and serene. I could tell she was trying to keep on a brave face, but I could see her trembling inside, her eyes were shaking. I could see the fear, the horror reflected there. She was calm on the outside, but on the inside she was crumbling to pieces. Amy was a horrible liar herself, but she could tell when someone was lying. Something about her reaction told me this was no sick joke on the doctor's part.
"So...how long will I be here?" I don't think I could have said anything else. Dead!? Just the thought of it made me sick to my stomach. There is much too much I have yet to do, yet to see. I wanted to wretch my guts out. The doctor merely picked up one of the charts hanging off of the front edge of my bed.
"Thirty days, at the least." he said nonchalantly.
It made me want to strangle him. If Amy weren't made of stronger stuff, I'm sure she would have.
"Can I have a moment alone, doctor? That is a lot to digest in one sitting." Honestly, I wanted to get him away from Amy before she killed him and said “he tripped and fell”.
"Of course." he said simply, and left. I really hoped that I wouldn't have to see him too often anymore, lest he drive me to drastic measures. Once he left, I looked at Amy. She didn't look too good. She was looking rather pale. Perhaps I should have asked the doctor to take a look at her as well.
"Amy, are you alright?" I asked, although I already knew she wasn't. "You look really pale."
"What are you talking about Penn? I feel fine-" Of course she would lie. Surely she didn't expect me to believe that?
"No, you don't." I said, cutting her off. "Look at you; you look like the one that should be in this hospital bed, not me." I sighed, and tried to calm down. The machine was starting to beep louder again, and I didn't want some crazy doctor coming in and telling me to calm down again. "Just how long have you been in here, anyways?
Amy didn't respond, she only looked away from me. "Two days..." she eventually mumbled.
"..."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that. I was touched that she was here for two days, waiting for me to wake up and all, but at the same time, I wasn't exactly thrilled that she was neglecting her own well being and wants by looking after me.
"Amy...?" I said tentatively, hoping to get Amy's attention. She was fiddling with something in her hands, but I couldn't see what it was. She hid her hands behind her back before she looked at me, trying to act all innocent. Whatever she had; however, could wait until later. I sighed before continuing on. "I want you to go home and rest." She began to protest, but I held up a hand to ask for silence, and I got it. "It's not that I appreciate the fact that you were here the entire time I was unconscious, but you really need to take care of yourself right now. I'm fine, and with all these machines hooked up to me, the doctors will know if I so much as twitch the wrong way." I tried to smile, but I'm sure Amy could tell my heart wasn't in it. "I'll be fine. Go on, go home and get some rest."
"Ah...you're right, Penn..." she said, and I felt as if I could hear a bit of sadness in her voice. "I am a bit tired," she said, obviously trying to put on a brave face. I guess she was still a little concerned about me, and felt hurt that I wanted her to go. It wasn't my intention to hurt her feelings, but Amy has a tendency to neglect herself when others are in need...or in my case, unconscious and in a hospital bed. I suppose that is what makes Amy, Amy, but even so, I still couldn't help but worry about her.
Before she left the room, however, she came up to me and gave me a quick hug and headed out towards the door.
"Amy, wait." I called to her, stopping her at the door. "Once I've served out this prison sentence," I paused, trying to figure out exactly what it was I was trying to say. "I'll make it up to you, for making you worry so much." Amy smiled, which helped put the guilt I was feeling for making her worry, lessen. "It's a promise, then." she said, before wishing me well and walking out the doorway.
I listened for the sound of her footsteps, and once I was certain they had faded away, I fell back onto my pillow, already beginning to dread the next thirty days I was going to spend trapped in a bed.
Thirty long days....the thought of it disturbed me. Hospitals…to me meant only one thing: Death. I thought those next thirty days were going to be a living hell.
...How was I supposed to know that I could have been so wrong?
Before she left the room, however, she came up to me and gave me a quick hug and headed out towards the door.
"Amy, wait." I called to her, stopping her at the door. "Once I've served out this prison sentence," I paused, trying to figure out exactly what it was I was trying to say. "I'll make it up to you, for making you worry so much." Amy smiled, which helped put the guilt I was feeling for making her worry, lessen. "It's a promise, then." she said, before wishing me well and walking out the doorway.
I listened for the sound of her footsteps, and once I was certain they had faded away, I fell back onto my pillow, already beginning to dread the next thirty days I was going to spend trapped in a bed.
Thirty long days....the thought of it disturbed me. Hospitals…to me meant only one thing: Death. I thought those next thirty days were going to be a living hell.
...How was I supposed to know that I could have been so wrong?
30 days left.
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