Guinevere woke up with a bad headache.
The sun came through the thin curtains, warm, but not welcome, and for a moment she forgot where she was.
The things that happened last night seemed like parts of a dream, strange and not connected. She thought of faces, sounds, and shadows like the loud music at the party, Lina laughing, strangers getting too close, the black SUV, and the man watching her with a strong look.
The last few days had been more eventful than her entire life.
She didn't know how she got home. She didn't remember leaving the club or how she walked home safely. She felt a chill each time the numbness came, but she tried not to think about it.
She didn't have time to be confused or scared today.
She quickly thought about the most important thing... her grandmother.
She grabbed her bag and coat, barely eating breakfast, and hurried to the hospital. Her head pounded with every step, but she didn't mind.
When she got there, the hospital hallways smelled as usual, drugs and freshly used soap, which made her stomach feel strange.
She walked to her grandmother's room feeling scared and eager, pausing outside the door for a moment. She took a deep breath and opened it.
Her grandmother was in the hospital bed, weak but still herself. Guinevere almost broke down, and she almost started crying. She pressed her lips together, not letting them fall.
She needed to look strong for her grandmother and herself.
"Good morning, Guin," her grandmother said softly, her voice weak but still warm.
Guinevere smiled, bringing a chair near the bed. "Good morning, Grandma. How do you feel today?"
Her grandmother's eyes brightened a little, even though she looked pale. "As good as I can be. And you? How was… your night?"
Guinevere paused, wondering how much to say. She didn't want to worry her grandmother or talk about the party that had distracted her, even if just for a short time.
"It was… different. I went out for a little bit. Lina made me do it. It was nice to breathe and pretend things wasn't happening for a little bit." She paused and looked at her grandmother. "I needed it."
Her grandmother nodded, understanding in her eyes. "I'm glad you took care of yourself, dear. You can't help others if you have nothing left to give."
They kept talking for a little bit longer. Guinevere shared some unimportant things about the night, being sure to leave out the parts that would only make her grandmother worry, and then moved on to the day. She talked about how the shop hadn't been doing well, how she had tried to make things work, and how the bills never seemed to end.
Her grandmother listened patiently, sometimes saying gentle words of comfort.
The peaceful moment was interrupted when Guinevere's phone vibrated repeatedly. She frowned when she saw it was the doctor from the hospital. She apologized quietly, excusing herself and walked down the clean hallways to his office.
The doctor stood up when she came in, closing the file he had been looking at. He looked at her with an expression of worry and doubt that immediately made her stomach tighten.
"Guinevere…" he started, speaking carefully as if trying not to hit a nerve. "I need to talk to you about your grandmother's health."
She nodded, getting ready for bad news, but still hoping that the news wouldn't be too bad as last time "Yes, doctor. What's wrong?"
He sighed and put his hand on the desk in front of him. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell you this today, but her condition is getting worse faster than we thought. Her heart is getting weaker, and there are problems we didn't see at first. If we don't do something soon, she might not make it."
Guinevere's stomach tightened more than it ever did, and a wave of panic went through her. She closed tight her fists, trying to stay calm.
"What… what do you mean?" she asked, her voice shaking a little even though she was trying not to show it.
"I mean," the doctor said carefully, "that we don't have much time. We can make her live longer, maybe make her condition stable, but it will need treatment right away. Surgery, medicine, constant care… it will cost a lot of money." He paused, as if regretting his next words.
"I'm really sorry, Guinevere. I know this is hard, but if we don't have the money to start right away, I'm afraid she might not survive."
Guinevere went weak. The words felt like thorns to her.
She couldn't even talk at first, her mind blank, her heart racing. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to understand it all.
"How… how much?" she asked finally, her voice very quiet.
The doctor gave her a detailed paper. Guinevere looked over the numbers. Her heart sank even more with each number.
The amount needed was huge compared to what she had. She could barely pay the shop's rent, let alone pay for her grandmother's care.
She put her hand over her mouth, trying not to cry. "I… I don't know how I can… possibly get that much money in time."
The doctor's face softened a bit,
"I know this is a lot to take in, Guinevere. I wish it wasn't this way. But we don't have much time to act. You have to decide quickly if we want to have a chance."
Guinevere could only nod, holding back another wave of tears.
She left the office holding the document firmly, with her thoughts spiraling.
Her thoughts went around and around, seeking answers, any kind of answer. She thought about working more at the store, asking Bavkgy for assistance, or trying to get loans. However, each choice felt not enough, and every way was blocked by problems that seemed too big.
She went back to her grandmother's room, standing quietly for a moment by the entrance. Her grandmother glanced up at her, looking tired but showing deep concern. Guinevere dropped to her knees near the bed, tightly holding her grandmother's delicate hands.
"I'll figure something out, Grandma," she said quietly, her voice steady even as she felt afraid. "I promise you. I won't allow this to defeat us. I won't let you die. No matter what I must do, I'll get the funds, and I'll make sure that you're alright."
Her grandmother squeezed her hand gently, giving her a small, shaky smile.
"You've always been a strong person, Guin. I have trust in you… more than you realize."
Guinevere looked at her for a long moment, like she was seeking strength from her, even though worry and doubt bothered her. She wouldn't let it stop her from acting. Not at this moment. Never.
She breathed out, calming herself, and kissed her grandmother's head.
"I'll return shortly, Grandma. I have to think… and make plans."
Her grandmother nodded, closing her eyes as if to rest. Guinevere rose, holding the folder close to her chest, the costs, and the impossible amount she needed.
As she walked out to the hospital hallway, the sound of bright lights above and the faint words from the nurses and people visiting disappeared into a silence in her head.
She didn't understand how she would do it, or where she should go for help, but she knew one thing,
she had to succeed.
Her grandmother's survival was the reason.
And Guinevere would fight with all her power, no matter how difficult the situation looked.
The world seemed unfriendly, cruel, and unforgiving. But she wouldn't give in.
Not when the only family she had was at risk.
Not today.
Never.