Leona Hawke leaned back against the sterile white walls of the hospital, her fingers gripping the edge of the cold metal bed. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor beside her echoed through the quiet room. She had never thought she'd find herself here, of all places-sitting in a foreign hospital in Switzerland, far from her world of books and deadlines, all because she didn't feel right.
She hadn't planned on this. Leona had come to Switzerland to visit her editor, Marcus, hoping for a break from the relentless cycle of writing and promoting. She thought she could spend a few days in the crisp Alpine air, distract herself from the pressures of her final book. But her body had other plans.
It had started with a tightness in her chest, subtle at first, like a knot forming just below her ribs. She'd chalked it up to the exhaustion that had been building for months, the stress of deadlines and the weight of her personal life. But when the dizziness hit, followed by a dull pain that radiated down her left arm, her intuition told her this wasn't just fatigue.
She tried to dismiss it, but when she fainted in the hotel room, Marcus had insisted on taking her to the hospital. That had been hours ago, but the results from the tests they'd run were slow in coming. The doctors had been kind but distant, their faces unreadable as they spoke in rapid Swiss-German, their words a blur. And now here she was, waiting for something she was too afraid to name.
Her mind raced as she watched the door to her room, her pulse quickening with each passing second. Her chest tightened again, and she shifted uncomfortably, willing the sensation to pass. It didn't. Instead, it seemed to grow, wrapping itself around her heart like a vice. She pressed her hand against her chest, but it did little to ease the ache.
A knock sounded at the door, breaking her from her thoughts. Her editor, Marcus, entered, his face drawn with concern. He was a good friend, someone she had known for years, but his expression now was different-more guarded.
"How are you holding up?" he asked gently, walking to her side.
Leona shrugged, attempting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine. Just tired, you know? It's probably just some random thing."
Marcus didn't buy it. He had seen enough of her over the years to know when she was pretending. But instead of pressing her, he gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before sitting beside her.
"I'll let you know when they come in with the results," he said softly, his eyes searching hers.
Leona nodded, though she couldn't suppress the unease gnawing at her insides. It wasn't just the pain that troubled her. There was something deeper, a gnawing fear that had settled in her stomach since the moment she'd arrived at the hospital. She had tried to push it aside, but it lingered-persistent, insistent, like a shadow she couldn't outrun.
The door opened again, and this time a doctor entered. She was tall, with dark, almond-shaped eyes and a calm demeanor that put Leona at ease for a fleeting moment. Her white coat swished around her as she approached the bed, her expression serious but not unkind.
"Ms. Hawke," the doctor began, her voice carrying the weight of something unknown. "I'm Dr. Clara Roth. I'm the cardiologist in charge of your care today. We've reviewed your test results."
Leona felt a chill sweep over her. She had been bracing herself for this, for the moment when the uncertainty would be replaced by the truth. But hearing the words come from a professional's lips made it all too real.
"Is something wrong?" Leona asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Roth's gaze softened as she glanced down at her clipboard. "We've detected a serious irregularity with your heart. There are signs of a rare and advanced condition-something that is quite difficult to diagnose without the right tests."
Leona's heart skipped a beat. She barely registered Marcus's sharp intake of breath beside her. It was the kind of news you didn't hear every day. Rare and advanced. Those two words alone were enough to send a chill through her veins.
"What... what is it?" she asked, her voice trembling now despite her best efforts to hold it together.
Dr. Roth hesitated, as though weighing her words carefully. "It's a rare form of cardiomyopathy. It's progressive, and without treatment, it could lead to heart failure."
Leona stared at her, the weight of the words sinking in like stones in her chest. Heart failure. The term felt so clinical, so final. She had never imagined her story-her life-would take this turn.
"How long...?" Leona began, but her throat tightened. She couldn't quite ask the question she needed to.
Dr. Roth met her gaze steadily. "The prognosis depends on how quickly we can begin treatment, but the reality is, there is no cure for this condition. Without intervention, it could be a matter of months."
Leona's vision blurred, and she blinked rapidly to clear the fog that had descended over her mind. Months? That wasn't possible. She had just been writing her latest book, planning for the future, envisioning the next chapter of her life. She couldn't be... dying.
"I'm sorry," the doctor continued softly. "I know this is difficult to process. We can explore treatment options, but I want to be transparent with you about the severity of the situation."
Leona's mind spun, racing from one thought to the next, none of them making sense. Her hands trembled at her sides, and she gripped the edge of the bed for stability.
"How-how do you treat something like this?" she asked, her voice hoarse now, barely above a whisper.
Dr. Roth took a deep breath. "There are experimental procedures, and you may be eligible for one, but it's not something that can reverse the condition. It would only slow the progression. You would need regular monitoring, and there are risks associated with each treatment."
Leona felt her world tilt, a dizzying sense of helplessness flooding her senses. She had always been in control of her life, her career, her choices. But now, in the face of her own mortality, she was powerless. The weight of it pressed down on her chest, and she struggled to breathe as the room seemed to close in.
Marcus's voice broke through the haze. "Leona," he said softly, his hand gently resting on hers. "You don't have to decide anything right now. We'll take it one step at a time."
But Leona wasn't sure if there was enough time for steps. She was running out of it.
And with that thought, her gaze flickered to the window, where the Swiss mountains loomed, distant and cold. She had come here to escape the pressures of life, but now the truth was staring her in the face. Time was running out, and all she could do was sit and wait for whatever came next.
But one thing was clear-she would not be anyone's lab rat, no matter what treatments they offered. She had one final wish left to make.