Chapter 3 3

A few minutes later my cell rings, I look down at the screen and see it’s the hospital’s main line number. I put my fork down and answer my phone.

“This is Emerald.”

“Hello, this is nurse Ki from General. I’m calling because there is an issue with your father. He’s had a seizure and we can’t stabilize him. The doctor needs you to come to the hospital immediately.”

“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in under 10 minutes.”

“Please, hurry Ms. Jade.”

I ran out of the office kitchen to my desk, grabbed my purse and car keys. I sprinted to the elevator and hit the down arrow button. It felt like it was taking forever. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears; I was starting to have trouble breathing. After a few long minutes, I said, “fuck it” and ran to the stairs.

As I was opening the door to the stairwell, I heard the conference room door open and as the stairwell door closed, I could hear Jet and Spinel call out to me. I didn’t care. I needed to get to the hospital. I took my heels off, put them in my purse, and hauled ass down 35 flights of stairs. I ran to my car, climbed in, started it up, and drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, I ran to the bank of elevators, pushed the button for the 6th floor, and waited for the elevator to take me to my destination. I exited the elevator and speed walked to the 6th floor nurses station.

“This way, Ms. Jade.” Nurse Ki said, as she led me to a different room. “He’s been moved to an ICU bed, but he has seized three times since I spoke with you.”

My heart tightened in my chest. I always knew this day would come, but part of me was hoping he’d wake up and everything would go back to normal.

“Can I see him?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’m sorry, but no, not right now.” Nurse Ki answered, her voice laced with sympathy. She patted my arm and directed me to the waiting room. “The doctor will be out shortly to speak with you, wait here. I’m sorry, Emerald.”

I paced the length of the waiting room, I fidgeted with my shirt, I flipped through the magazines on the table, I did everything but sit still. After what felt like an eternity a tall, thin, man with brown hair, chestnut-colored eyes, and a look of concern on his face approached me. “Ms. Emerald Jade, I presume?”

“Yes, doctor.”

“I’m doctor Phillips. We haven’t met before; I am the on-call doctor. I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances.”

“Don’t sugar coat anything, please. Give it to me straight.” I said, my eyes filling with tears that I refuse to let fall.

“You know you’re father has been in coma for a while now, his condition hasn’t improved. In fact, it’s become worse. Today he had multiple seizures, and he also had an allergic reaction to the seizure medication we administered. Did you know he was allergic to levetiracetam, commonly called Keppra?”

“No. I don’t believe he’s ever had a seizure before. If he had, I was never informed of it. But then again, why would I be? I’m his daughter, not his wife or mother.”

“Understandable. There was nothing in his chart about it either. You said to get to the point, so here it is. We’re going to have to stop life sustaining measures within the hour. His body can’t handle it and with the addition of the seizures we are not equipped to provide 24/7 around the clock with personal care to him and him only. Things will only get worse from here, and they will get bad fast. He’s currently as stable as we can make him, you may go in and see him. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you better news.”

“Thank you for your candor, doctor.” I said as I started to follow nurse Ki to where my dad was currently at.

I sat with my father, holding his hand, for a few hours. A priest came in and did last rites; we were never religious but something about the priest saying those words helped me. A representative from the Neptune Society came in and we made cremation arrangements. At 7:00pm, nurse Ki and Doctor Phillips came back into the room, I signed some paperwork, and they unplugged the machines. 10 minutes later a time of death was announced. 7:10pm, the time my life changed forever.

I didn’t move. I just sat there. I didn’t know what to do. It was over, he was gone. I had no idea what my life would look like now. I knew the medical bills just skyrocketed with the events of today, but that was all I could comprehend. For months my life has been going to work, coming to the hospital, get a few hours sleep, repeat, day after day. I knew this was coming, but I had no plan for the after part of it.

Nurse Ki came back in and started to get everything ready to move my dad to the morgue so the Neptune Society could pick him up. I stood up to leave, my mind and body completely numb. I could see that nurse Ki was talking to me, but I couldn’t focus on anything she was saying to me, or anything around me. When nurse Ki stopped talking, I nodded my head and made my way back to the bank of elevators.

Once on the ground floor, I walked to the doors leading outside, I thought I saw Jet reach out to me, but I just kept walking. I walked to the garden on the side of the hospital and sat down on the wooden bench. The cool night air felt good on my face. I don’t know how long I sat there.

Security approached me and tapped me on my shoulder, asked if I was ok. I let him know I was, and I was just leaving. I went to my car, started it up and went back to my cheap-ass motel. I showered in the tiny shower, put on some pajamas, put my phone on the charger, checked the time 2:37am, turned on the TV, and eventually fell asleep.

Four hours later, my alarm was going off. Today was a new day.

I needed my job, more now than before. I needed it to keep me occupied and to keep the outrageous medical bills at bay. I really hope I wasn’t going to get fired for running out like I did. Jet and Spinel had absolutely no idea about what was going on in my life. Nobody at work did.

I cleaned myself up, got dressed, and headed to the office, my head held high, my heart shattered in pieces.