The next day...
Alyssa p.o.v
Yesterday, while we were preparing and finishing up the booth for Valentine's Day, all of a sudden, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, as if someone had punched me. I tried to stay silent and shake it off because I don't want anyone to worry if I tried to tell them about it.
So I kept doing what I was doing and concentrated on finishing the booth. But then, the pain in my chest keeps getting worse and worse, my surroundings are starting to make me feel dizzy. I tried to hold on to the pole and slowly went back down to my seat.
As I was sitting, I was holding on to my chest for dear life. I tried to calm myself down when Jerna and Micah approached and asked what was wrong.
I shook my head and told them I was fine and that I was just resting. They nodded and gave me some water to drink. After that, they went back to help the others finish the booth.
I was about to take a sip when I felt like I was about to vomit. I excused myself from everyone and went to the bathroom. Instead of going to the bathroom, I went to the clinic to ask what was wrong with me today.
I sat nervously in my seat, patiently waiting for the doctor to arrive with the results of the test that I had taken earlier.
A few minutes later, the doctor arrived with the result. Based on his body language and face, the results are not so good.
"Give it to me straight, doctor, what's happening?" I asked with worry.
"I'm sorry to say this, Ms. Radcliffe. But you have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease," said the doctor.
"What's coronary heart disease, doctor?" I asked.
"Well, coronary heart disease occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked or reduced" Doc explained.
"What are the cause or symptoms of it, doctor?" I asked once again.
"Well, this puts an increased strain on the heart and can lead to angina, which is chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart muscle. Heart attacks, where the blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. Heart failure, where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly." Doc explained things precisely and clearly.
Alyssa gasped when she heard what the doctor said about her diagnosis. She felt overwhelmed, scared, and confused.
I took a deep breath while grabbing the doctor's arm and asked, "Doctor, why do I have a heart condition?"
The doctor sighed and sighed, "Well, if your family has a history of heart disease, then it is a risk factor that you can get and can't directly control, but that you should be aware of," he explained, while asking "Does your parents or relatives have a history of coronary heart disease?"
"My parents don't usually share their problems with me because they say it might worry me. As for my relatives, there is my aunt from my father's side, who died from coronary heart disease. So, maybe I got that from her," I explained to him.
"It seems it is, but why don't you ask your parents if they also have a history about it because it might come from them as well?" the doctor said.
"I'll try to ask them about it," I said, while asking with concern, "But, will my condition improve or become more challenging?"
"To improve your condition, I recommend to you that you should eat healthy foods, control your blood pressure, exercise, maintain a healthy weight, and manage your stress," he said.
"All right, doctor." I agreed while nodding, as I stood up and asked "I do have one more question, can I still attend my classes even though I have coronary heart disease?"
"Well, people like you with simple heart defects do not require any special care when they attend school. But to those with more complicated heart defects, however, may show signs that they occasionally require attention." He explained while adding, "But if you're having trouble breathing or are in any pain that you might be experiencing, you can visit the clinic once in awhile for a daily check-up."
"Okay, thank you doctor," I thanked him while politely asking, "Can I go now?"
He nodded as an answer while giving me a list before opening the door for me.
As he opened the door, I saw Andrew standing in the hallway, waiting for me.
I asked him why he was here, and he poked me in the forehead and said, "Is that even a question, you dumb head?"
"Hey, was that even necessary?" I asked while glaring at me "I just came out of a clinic, and you're going to get me a bruise," I complained.
"Because you're dumb, just say that you're glad I came to see you," he added.
"If I were, but I'm not" I said with arms crossed "Instead of being glad, I was surprised," I added.
"I'm more surprised that you didn't tell anyone that you have coronary heart disease" Andrew said as he whispered in my ear.
I grabbed his arm, and whispered, "I didn't tell anyone about it because I didn't know myself"
"Well, you could've called someone about it. I've been worried sick when you excused yourself earlier" He added.
"Well, you're here now. Why do I need to call someone?" I said with my arms crossed.
"So, what if I'm here? What about your friends, aren't you going to tell them about it?" He asked.
"Oh, no. I'm not going to, if I told them about it, they would start worrying," I said as I shook my head and walked past him first as we continued to talk about it.
Andrew kept up with her pace as he added, "If your not going to tell them then I will, they are friends and they deserve to know what are going through right now."
"Look, I only want to keep it for myself and no one else. That's why I didn't call anyone," I explained while speed walking.
After Andrew and Alyssa talked about her disease, she apologized for not telling him about it sooner and said that she didn't want anyone to worry about her and wanted to suffer for it alone.
But for once in her life, telling him made it clear that her heavy burdens have been lifted up and turned lighter than they were before. It's like it disappeared most of the heavy anxiety but it couldn't help on her current state due to having a disease.
She then pushed him and ran towards the school's gate, but not before long after exiting the campus, she was hit by a car that made her head bleed and her body filled with bruises.
Andrew saw what happened and immediately called an ambulance to get her to the nearest hospital.
As they entered Andrew was shaking in fear as he held her hand tightly while she was getting treated by the medical nurses that were on the ambulance.
"Pulse decreasing. Get the defibrillator. We're losing her," said the medical nurse.
"1! 2! 3! "Clear!" shouted the other.
"Still no response, again," he said as he shouted once again, "1! 2, 3! CLEAR!"
They kept trying and trying to get her pulse back as Andrew kept holding her hand while pleading with the medical nurse to save her.
"We are trying our best, sir," they said.
"Again! 1! 2! 3! CLEAR!" They shouted.
After using the defibrillator for about an hour, she finally responded, but only for a few seconds.
Andrew was already worried, as he started panicking inside the ambulance because he desperately wanted her to live.
●○●FLASHBACK●○●
"I'm more surprised that you didn't tell anyone that you have coronary heart disease" Andrew said as he whispered in my ear.
I grabbed his arm, and whispered, "I didn't tell anyone about it because I didn't know myself"
"Well, you could've called someone about it. I've been worried sick when you excused yourself earlier" He added.
"You know what, you worry too much. I'm going to be fine" I said while reassuring him.
He turned to face me and asked, "Are you sure about that?" While adding, "I heard what happened to your aunt and if that happens to you, I'm never going to forgive myself."
"Andrew, trust me, I'm gonna be okay," I said while tapping his arm.
Andrew heavily sighed and nodded as he added. "Okay, I trust you. But am I allowed to take care of you?" He asked.
I nodded, saying "Sure, I'll allow that"
"Okay, from now on. I'll be your protector and guide," he added.
I nodded and agreed to what Andrew said and walked past him first and led the way to class when, all of a sudden, Jessica and her annoying minions surrounded us, Jessica holding a set of my hair while the guys that Jessica was with grabbed Andrew.
As Jessica was holding me, she ordered the guys to beat Andrew up until his face and body bled.
I tried to stop them by screaming for help to the students who were there to stop Jessica and the guys.
But none of the students came to help us, they just videotaped the whole thing. I tried to scream for help, once again but Jessica taped my mouth shut, poured dirty water all over me, and shoved me to the hard ground.
As her minions laughed as they kept shoving me, Jessica came closer to put glue all over my hair. I didn't know what to do, I just cried in agony while they beat both of us up.
I felt my whole body weaken as my eyes slowly closed, and all of a sudden I felt myself collapsing in front of them.
"I think I broke her. Hahahahah." Jessica laughed seeing Alyssa collapsed in front of them.
When Andrew saw Alyssa collapse on the ground, as he tried to break free from the guy's grip, but he was too weak to even stand up.
When one of the guys saw that Andrew was trying to break free, he punched him in the stomach so hard that he fell to the ground as well.
"Are they dead?" Ask one of Jessica's minions.
"Hopefully," Jessica said, as she added, "Let's get out of here before anyone catches us."
As they were about to leave, Invenzor, Angel Nicole, Jerna, Angelika, and Micah had caught up with them.
Angel Nicole and Jerna helped Alyssa up, while Invenzor and Micah helped Andrew up.
"Will take Alyssa and Andrew to the clinic, while you take care of you know who" Micah said to Angelika.
"Sure, I'll take care of her" Angelika said as she turned around and saw Jessica trying to escape out of her sight. "Hold on, where do you think you're going?" Angelika asked as she raised her bat up to her shoulder and smirked.
"Oh, we were just leaving. Right guys?" Jessica nervously asked her minions, but when she turned around, they weren't there anymore.
"It seems like your "friends" bailed on you," Angelika said.
"They'll come back for me, you'll see" Jessica firmly said.
"I ain't wasting my time just to wait for your fake friends, honey." Angelika said as she snapped her fingers "You almost killed both of my friends and your going to pay for what you've did" she leaned in closer and pointed the bat at Jessica face that made her flinch.
"No, please. I'm sorry" Jessica begged and plead in front of Angelika.
"Your sorry ain't going to cut it." She said while glaring at Jessica "Now, what you did to my friends, that's what I'm going to do to you," Angelika said as she grabbed her bat and beat Jessica up until she pleaded in fear and kept apologizing.
Angelika then picked her up, scared her off, and told her never to touch her friends ever again. After she took care of Jessica, she then followed everyone to the clinic.
●○●END OF FLASHBACK●○●
They soon arrived at the hospital, but Alyssa still isn't responding. They quickly put her in the emergency room as Andrew stood behind those closed doors with bruises all over his body for saving Alyssa twice earlier in a fight with Jessica and the car accident.
As he waited for an hour and a half outside, everyone suddenly arrived and asked what had happened.
He explained everything, including Alyssa having a heart disease. As everyone carefully listened to him they all gasped and hugged each other while worrying about Alyssa.
"Why would she hide everything from us?" Jerna asked in confusion.
"Like I said, she doesn't want anyone to worry that's why she didn't tell anyone," Andrew replied.
"But we're her friends, and we care about her. I just don't get why she has to hide it from us," Angel Nicole said with her arms crossed.
"Me neither" Andrew said.
A few minutes later, the doctor came out of the emergency room with a sad expression. As he came towards them and told them about the terrible news, everyone fell to their knees, as they were in disbelief and burst out crying.
After everyone had calmed down, the doctor told them that they could visit her and mourn for as long as they pleased.
After everyone had calmed down, the doctor told them that they could visit her and mourn for as long as they pleased.
As they entered the room, everyone was silent as the girls slowly approached Alyssa's body.
Jerna hugged her body as she cried while saying, "Why did you have to leave us on your birthday?"
Angel Nicole held Alyssa's hand and said, "We didn't even have the chance to give you a gift from the organization."
"This is the worst Valentine's Day gift you gave us, Alyssa," Andrew said.
After everyone was done mourning for her, the guy who was in charge of the mortgage said it was time for them to go as he covered Alyssa's body with the white cloth.
After they exited the room, Andrew requested that they set up a funeral for Alyssa.
He suggested that it will be held in the school's campus gym, and he will ask the principal and dean if it's okay for them.
Everyone agreed and nodded, he then quickly dialed someone about it.
●○●Alyssa's Funeral●○●
After he made some calls earlier, they quickly arranged her funeral later that night.
N: You might be wondering if the principal and dean agreed. Well, they did agree, and that's why they are setting up later that day.
Later that night...
Everyone was busy gathering and arranging the flowers for Alyssa's coffin, while the others prepared snacks and drinks for the guests.
The guys were lifting tables and chairs and arranging them. While the principal, dean, and Andrew were preparing the stage.
After they finished everything, Andrew called Alyssa's parents and relatives to tell them that their daughter and nephew just died yesterday and that her funeral is today.
After they prepared everything all night without sleep, Alyssa funeral is ready to be visited by her friends, classmates, schoolmates, teachers, and faculties.
After that, the funeral was held for nine days to mourn the soul of Alyssa. When the nine days were over, it was time for her body to be buried.
They arrived at the place where she requested to be buried before her passing, and everyone cried while throwing the white flower at her closed coffin until her body was below six feet into the ground.
●○●4 years●○●
"Hey, it's us. We came to visit just to tell you that I just graduated from law school," Andrew said, as he added, "You know, after you died, I dropped out of my old course and started studying law because I want to give justice for what happened a few years back."
"Since then, Andrew here has been helping a lot of people, especially those who suffered the way you did," Invenzor added, as he sat next to Andrew.
Angel Nicole laughed and said, "If only you were here, I know you would be proud of him, and we also have great news for you." She held Invenzor's hand up while showing the ring up in the air. "Look, we're engaged. After we graduated from college, he proposed to me right in front of the whole campus," she giggled.
"Alyssa must be happy for you guys, up in the heavens," Jerna said as she smiled.
"I'm sure she is." Angelika added, as she said, "We really miss you, Alyssa. Everything has changed since you left." Micah and Jasmin moved to a different country after they graduated here, while the rest of us are still here.
Jerna nudged Angelika and whispered, "Oh, do you remember your ex who came to the office a few years ago?" She asked, then added, "He gave us this letter at your funeral and said that we should give it to you and not open it."
"Well, we must be going now. We'll come and visit you another time. Good bye~" Everyone said their farewells and left the place with flowers and candles in her tomb.
Alyssa Mae Radcliffe
Born: February 14, 1997
Died: February 14, 2000
~THE END~