"Hello, Is this Lucy Ann Bridges?"
"Yes, this is she."
"You are listed as Agatha Miller's emergency contact person. This is to inform you that she was brought to the hospital due to a heart attack. Please come to West Hospital immedia-."
She didn't have to hear the rest before beads of cold sweat ran through the back of her head. She walked tentatively but was running frantically in no time.
She doesn't remember how she got to the hospital but she was greeted by some of their market friends in the emergency room.
"Thank god you're here." A middle-aged woman hugged her.
"Where's Nana?" Her eyes were wide open, still in panic.
"She's in there with the doctors. They told us to wait here for any updates."
"I'll go ahead." She went toward the direction she was pointed to but was stopped by a nurse to go any further.
"Are you Agatha's guardian?" The lady in green scrubs queried.
"Yes. How is she?" There was no pause in Lucy's words.
"She is not yet in the clear. The doctors are doing everything they can. Please wait in the lobby together with the others." She held Lucy's arms lightly. "Please."
She went back without getting a glimpse of Nana.
She's trying to hold back her tears while their market friends tell her what happened.
Nana arrived at the market later than usual. She told them how they celebrated a new client the night before and was ecstatic about how her granddaughter was so dependable.
While they were listening enthusiastically, Nana suddenly grabbed her chest. She was visibly in pain so they decided to bring her to the hospital.
Lucy waited for hours, looking at everyone who came out from the emergency room door. One by one their friends left the lobby until she was the only one left.
"Guardian of Agatha Miller?" She heard a female voice call out.
"Yes. I'm here!" She raised her hand in panic as she rushed over to the nurse.
"We're lucky that she was brought to the hospital immediately. I'll need you to fill up some papers so we can move her to a room. A doctor will be in touch with you later to give a detailed report and treatment plan." She flipped the chart she was holding and gave Lucy a hearty smile.
"Can I see her now?" Lucy was hopeful.
"She is currently sedated so it's not recommended. It's better to get her up in the room as soon as possible so she can rest well." Lucy was let down but that's alright. Nana is alright.
Lucy was filling up some documents when her phone rang.
She didn't care to check the caller ID. Lucy cradled it between her ear and shoulder as she continued writing. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" It was Owen.
Shit. I totally forgot about him.
"I've been calling you." She heard his voice shaking subtly. "This is very unprofessional."
"I'm sorry. I had an emergency." She understood where the harsh words were coming from so she was apologetic but the feeling didn't last long.
"That is not an excuse." He said in a monotone.
Not an excuse my ass, my whole world almost crumbled and this bastard dares… Lucy is trying hard not to let her anger show in her voice. Working zillions of part-time jobs prepared her for this moment.
She encountered rude drunkards as a waitress and entitled brats as a hotel receptionist so holding it in is no biggie. She took a deep breath before speaking again. "I apologize for not informing you earlier. I hope we can reschedule."
She delivered the line perfectly. Nana's situation and the money this man provides are big motivations.
"I'll get in touch." She thought he would argue more but luckily the call ended with that.
She put the phone down and finished filling up Nana's papers. She was looking for the nurse near the emergency room when she saw a man kneeling and bawling his eyes in front of a gatch bed.
"Time of death: 9:15, cardiac arrest." The doctor respectfully announced. The grown man looks pitiful clinging to the side of the bed.
She stopped in her tracks and saw herself in his shoes for a split second. What if Nana didn't make it in time? She felt a chill in her neck crawling to the top of her head.
As the thought brushed her mind, her composure broke down and the gush of emotions hit her like a truck. She sat down in the hallway, took a few hurried breaths and bawled like a baby.
It took her a while to collect herself. She wiped her tears with her fingers and sleeve.
I want to see her. She hurried to the recovery room as soon as she was informed it was okay. She knocked lightly before opening the door. She pulled up a chair quietly and sat down by the bed.
Nana's hand felt a little cold when she held it in her hands. These hands built her youth. They fed her, clothed her, and carried her when I was sick. She wants these hands to only know warmth from now on.
"Lucy." Nana spoke with her eyes still closed.
"I'm here, Nana." She squeezed her hands tighter.
"I want to go home." Her voice was weak but clear. This woman is a fighter.
"Me, too. Let's ask the doctor when he gets here."
Nana was too tired to answer after that and just went back to sleep.
Lucy lowered her head to the side of the bed and pressed Nana's hand on her cheeks before dozing off.
It was already dark when she woke up. She stood up and did light stretches to loosen up her muscles.
Nana is still asleep.
She was hoping to save up through Owen's treatments but all that money she got went down the drain today.
She shook my head and I slapped her face with both hands and continued to press her fingers against her eyes. What am I even thinking? If it's for Nana, it's worth every penny. She has a lot on her mind today but she needs to keep moving forward. She'll go back home for now and pack some of Nana's things for the hospital stay.
I can take a few days off at school. It'll be the end of the semester soon anyway and most of the exams are finished. I have to work to pay for the hospital bills.