"Good morning, Miss Jameson. How are you?" A nurse checked my pulse and heart. Making sure my body temperature is normal, but what happened was not as I expected. I have not yet answered what I feel, the nurse has already preceded.
"Your body temperature is quite high. Do you have any complaints?"
I tried to swallow my saliva. I feel nothing but dizzy and weak. I tried to shift my head to find a comfortable position, but everything felt the opposite.
"My head hurts and I feel weak."
He was seen scribbling on the paper in his hand, then left the room which soon returned with Doctor Karl.
The man repeated what the nurse had done before, did the check.
"Jenna, how are you feeling? Is it throbbing or rocking?" asked the man, barely audible to me because I felt like I was about to pass out.
"Uhm ... I don't know, I don't know the difference. Maybe both," I replied, weakly.
"On a scale of 1-10, how do you feel?"
Oh, please! Should I measure it first, Doc?
"Ten."
Then it turns dark...
***
I woke up still in the same room as before. Scanning the entire room, making sure that there really wasn't any sign of me being transferred by the medics. Of course not. The last thing I remember is that I have a fever, the rest I don't.
Sweat dripped down my forehead and body. I put the back of my hand on my forehead, it seems my body temperature has returned to normal. There is still pain in some parts of the joints, also bruises that seem to have just appeared. I don't know, maybe just today or I didn't realize it.
My throat is dry. I tried to get up and grabbed the glass of water on the nightstand and took a sip till empty. How many days it feels like not filling the body with mineral fluids. Only the IV line was still plugged in and ... a new IV was hanging there. How many days have I been here?
I'm looking for a flat object that usually never leaves my hand. Where is that thing? It's like I haven't checked that thing in ages. No one knows I'm trapped in this place. Stuck by circumstances.
Ah! This is the thing I've been looking for. Hiding under my own body, and already in a deactivated state. Some of my closest related person must have thought I was a victim of kidnapping because I had been missing for a few days and couldn't be contacted. Especially Clara.
With great difficulty I opened every drawer on the nightstand. I can't remember if I kept the charger there or maybe the nurse helped me put it away. And found! Plugged the thing into the nearest plug I could easily reach, beside my bed, then pressed the power button on the side of the flat object.
Dozens of chats and missed calls are waiting to be checked one by one. My eyes lit up and a smile grew when I saw Blake's name written on it. There are several voice messages and chat waiting.
[Hey, Jenna. Sorry for not contacting you for a few days. Kinda busy lately.]
That's all? Seriously, Blake?!
I was disappointed and lazy to check another voicemail from him. But curiosity won out in the end.
[Jenna, are you mad? Please answer my calls and messages. I'm worried.]
That message made me smile. Let's take a look at the chat messages it sends.
[Jenna, I'm getting frustrated. Are you okay? How many days have you just ignored me. You didn't reply to any messages. Where are you?]
Okay, enough. I could suddenly go to a mental hospital if I read all the messages from him. My heart felt like it was going to explode with joy. Especially the face that feels light cramp from smiling since earlier.
Oh, Jenna ... you look disgusting. I chuckled to myself. And then my smile faded as Doctor Karl walked in. This time he was not with the nurse who used to follow behind him.
"How's your feeling today?" asked the man, holding the stethoscope to my chest. I put the phone next to my body then focused on the Doctor's question.
"Fine ... for a while."
Next he didn't say a word.
"Good. That means you're ready for a biopsy. After this I'll have the nurse prepare you to be taken to Westmont General Hospital and see Doctor John Armando, the Hematologist there."
"Are you going with me?" I asked. I'm a little nervous if Doctor Karl doesn't accompany me. These few days here, receiving care from him, made me feel safer if i'm going with him.
"Of course. I'll be ready after this too." Then he glanced at the clock on his wrist. "An appointment with Doctor Armando at three o'clock, we have an hour to prepare. Would you like someone to accompany you? There's still time to call and ask them to come here."
I thought for a moment. Should I ask Blake? At least there is someone who can give me the strength and courage to take the test later. No way Clara. I don't know why since yesterday I didn't want to contact her. Not because of a problem, I don't know, I just don't want to.
Especially my parents. They are the Kings and Queens of panic all over the world, which will only make me nervous and panicked later. Better not.
"I'll try to contact them myself," I replied then.
"Good. Then I'll do something else then get ready. You will also be assisted by the Nurse Biels after this. I'll excuse myself."
Doctor Karl had left my room, allowing me to freely scroll back through the screen of the square object in my hand. Oh, right! I have to call Blake now.
'Hey, Blake's here—"
Click!
Never mind, forget it.
***
I was in a wheelchair, walking through the rooms in a large building that were dominated by white color plus dazzling lights. Doctor Karl himself pushed my wheelchair. No one with us, just the two of us.
My eyes darted around the room, turning left and right. Read the words written on the surface of the white door with a square-shaped glass.
We stopped in front of a tall table marked Customer Service. He locked the wheels of my chair and then spoke directly to the officer there. Not long after he returned with a piece of paper then again pushed me into a room. Again we stopped, this time in front of a door that said 'dr. John Armando'. Doctor Karl knocked then immediately pushed me in.
In a 4x6 room, there are two nurses accompanying a doctor with tall stature and tanned skin, if I look closely they seem to be of the same age as Doctor Karl. The two men who were not much different in age then hugged and chatted a little. Then Doctor Armando's gaze turned to me.
"This is Miss Jenna Jameson, I told you yesterday. I need your help with this." The man handed a folder to another man in front of him. Doctor Armando read the writing on the paper with a serious expression. I don't know what's written there.
He then sat in his chair. Doctor Karl shifted my wheelchair to face Doctor Armando who was across the table.
"We can do a test today. Are you ready, Jenna?"
I nodded. He then asked one of the nurses to arrange everything I needed including a room to stay. I guess I'll have to get used to waking up in a different bed, although I prefer hotel beds.
"We will arrange and transfer you to the treatment room, then after undergoing the test, we will be able to get the results between the next two to three days."
"Okay, I understand, Doc. Looks like I have to get used to and enjoy my staycation here," I joked, which invited laughter from people in Doctor Armando's room. Except for Doctor Karl who seemed lost in his own thoughts. Let it be, the important thing is that he has done his job well.
While me? Of course I have done my duty as a patient. I have tried to be cooperative and not fight with anything Doctor Karl suspected regarding my illness. Think of it as the first step to recovery, apart from hoping that there will be no serious problems.
***