Guinevere was sitting in the chilly hall of the hospital, her hands shaking in her lap. The bright lights above shone intensely, humming quietly, matching the soft ringing in her ears. Everything seemed too bright, too strong, and too noisy. She put her hand over her mouth as she started to feel sick.
A minute later… and she would've died.
The doctor's words from earlier played again in her head, hurting her deeply. Her grandmother had seemed well just tired, maybe, but well. She had even argued with her, smiled, and teased her. How could things change so fast?
Guinevere swallowed with effort. If she had waited any longer, if she had panicked for just a little longer… she could have lost the only family she had.
If she had not decided to pull her through the hallway, if she had been too frozen to do something.
Maybe she would have…..
Maybe she wouldn't have had a grandmother anymore .
Her stomach turned uncomfortably. She bent forward and buried her face in her hands, trying to take deep breaths, trying not to throw up on the clean floor of the hospital.
A quiet voice interrupted her thoughts. "Guinevere."
She glanced upward.
Mr. Harlowe stood next to her, his shoulders tight, but he looked kind. "She's doing okay now. The doctors mentioned it was good you got her here fast."
He made it sound like she did anything, but she didn't it was all him and she was really glad he had decided to go get something for his wife, that night when he stumbled on her and her grandmother.
Guinevere blinked, her eyes stinging. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Thank you for all you've done. I I don't know what might have happened without you."
She spoke in between tears, almost on her knees, but he rushes and hold her still,
"You don't have to thank me," he replied, waving his hand. "Anyone else would have helped." trying to make light of the situation.
"No," she replied firmly. "No, they would not have."
She recalled yelling into the night for help, but none came, only he did, like a last minute angel.
One she had been silently thanking since she got the news from the doctors.
He paused briefly, then nodded his head once. "I paid some of the bills. Just the first ones. You can pay the rest when you're calmer."
Guinevere stared at him. "You… paid them?"
He nodded looking back at her tired expression, thinking he should have done more, but he can only do so more.
"You needed some help," he said simply. "And my family is waiting for me I've been gone longer than I said. They're getting worried. I need to leave."
"Of course. I'm sorry. Thanks again." She stood up and bowed slightly. Thanking him once again for the hundredth time that night.
He gave her a small smile before walking down the hall. Guinevere watched him until he went around the corner and disappeared into the crowd.
Silence covered her once more until her phone rang out loud.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
She jumped, grabbing it from her pocket. Lots of missed calls showed on the screen. Luna. Bavkgy. Over and over. Her hand shook as she pressed call back.
She hadn't checked her phone since she had called them, they must have been worried sick. She told herself as she scrolled through the list of missed calls
Lunaanswered right away. "Guin! Where have you been? We've been trying to reach you for nearly an hour!"
"I'm at the hospital," Guinevere said, her voice shaky. "Grandma… she passed out."
"What? Which hospital? We're on our way!"
Before she could answer, another call came through Bavkgy.
She switched calls. "Bavkgy "
"Gina! Why weren't you answering the phone? What is going on?"
"My grandmother she passed out. They're doing some tests. I'm at Ridgeview Hospital."
"I'm heading there now."
The call ended.
A few minutes later, footsteps echoed down the hall. Lunahurried in first, her eyes wide, pulling Guinevere into a close hug. Bavkgy came right after, his face showing worry as he put a comforting hand on Guinevere's back.
Before either of them could speak, the doctor walked into the hall, holding a clipboard.
"Miss Guinevere?"
She nodded, her knees feeling weak.
He walked to them with a serious look a look that made Guinevere afraid even before he said anything.
"We've done a complete heart scan," he started kindly. "Your grandmother's situation is… not simple."
Guinevere stopped moving, and her fingers gradually tightened around the fabric of her shirt.
"She has a heart problem that is not common and cannot be healed," the doctor went on. "It has been getting worse little by little for a long time. I'm sorry to say that it can't be fixed forever. We can only help her feel better and make it worse more slowly."
Everything seemed to shift.
Lunabreathed in quickly. Bavkgy became tense next to her.
Guinevere stayed still.
Her brain went blank, all thoughts disappearing until only a loud noise in her head was left. Her mouth opened, but she couldn't make a sound.
The doctor was expecting her to say or do something.
But nothing happened.
Guinevere looked forward without seeing anything, her eyes not focused, her body still as if she had been made of ice and was now melting because of the heavy news.
Then
A single tear went down her face.
She didn't clean it off.
She hardly noticed it.
Why is this happening to me…?
The words resounded in her chest, quiet but very loud.
Why at this time?
Why her grandma?
Why did this happen to her?
When she finally blinked, everything around her became unclear and hurtful, with Lunaholding her hand, Bavkgy saying her name, and the doctor waiting calmly.
But Guinevere was not able to make sense of anything.
All she was able to feel… was something she couldn't see tightly squeezing her heart so that she couldn't take a breath.