Chapter 6: Why am I Here?

Chapter 6 

Eliana's P.O.V 

“My baby!” I choked up in tears.

What happened to my daughter? Why was she running a high temperature? Her breathing was ragged.

“911! I'll call 911!” I quickly dialed 911, and in the next second, a female voice responded, “911, what's your emergency?”

“Oh, please help! My daughter's really sick! She's got a super high fever and she's unconscious!” I said in one breath, my voice laced with panic.

“Okay, ma'am, stay calm. Where are you located?” the 911 operator asked.

“I'm at 222 Oak Street... no, wait, it's Stone… Platinum Street.” I cried. My mind was a mess, and I kept stuttering. “She's getting worse!” I sobbed.

“Okay, help is on the way. Can you tell me her age and what's happening with her?” the 911 operator asked again.

“She's seventeen... she was fine yesterday, but now she's hot... like, really hot, and won't wake up!” I cried and sniffled through every word. Even if miracle workers told me to calm down, I wouldn't even let them finish before wailing in sorrow.

“Paramedics are coming. Is she breathing okay?

“Y-yes... she's breathing, but it's fast…”

“Stay with me. Try to keep her cool, remove extra clothes, and give her space. Help's almost there.”

“Please hurry…” I cried.

“They're arriving, ma'am. Stay strong.”

I did as I was told, and in less than 10 minutes, the ambulance arrived. They rushed Leah to the ER, and I paced around outside the door, impatiently. 

“Lord, please let my daughter be okay,” I chanted.

I couldn't be at ease until I hear that my daughter was okay. My heart felt heavy, and my head, light. I just remembered that I hadn't eaten since last night. I was dizzy, and I felt the need to sit down, but as soon as I took a step forward, I blacked out.

***

I opened my eyes and saw myself in a ward. I quickly stood up and realized that a drip was connected to the needle inserted at the back of my hand. The nurse who had entered the room rushed to me, just in time to stop me from removing the needle.

“Be careful, Miss,” she said softly.

“Where's my daughter?” I asked, almost in a whisper.

“Ma'am, the doctor said you should eat, rest, and avoid thoughts that could cause your heart rate to…”

“Where's my daughter?” I interrupted the nurse fiercely, staring her in the eye, though my vision was a bit blurry—I was feeling dizzy again.

“Calm down, ma'am. She's now in the regular ward, and her health is stable,” the nurse responded.

“That's good,” I breathed in relief.

“Ma'am, the doctor said you should eat something after waking up.” She said, setting the food on the patient's table.

Since Leah was okay, and not far away from me, I decided to eat first. I couldn't let her see me weak, otherwise she would cry and blame herself, sulking like a baby. The thought of her brought a smile to my face. Whenever I skipped meals, she'd cry and blame herself for not taking good care of me.

After eating, I changed my outfit, and just before I stepped out, the nurse stepped forward, fidgeting with her fingers. From the look on her face, I knew that she wanted to say something.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I, I, it's nothing…” she stuttered.

I didn't think much about it, and went to Leah's ward, with the nurse’s guidance.

I opened the door and found Leah still sleeping. I sat on a chair by the bedside and arranged the stray strands of hair on her face, then caressed her hand. Her temperature had stabilized, and the heart monitor beeped at a steady rate.

“Did she look for me when she woke up?” I asked the attending nurse.

“She's stable now,” the nurse said, not answering my question.

“But?” I pressed. I hoped the remaining part of her sentence wasn't what I was thinking…

“She hasn't woken up all morning.”

She dropped the bombshell, and boom — my heart shattered.

“What do you mean?” I froze, turning to the nurse. I very well understood what she meant, but I didn't want to accept it.

“Your daughter is still unconscious, ma'am,” she repeated.

Before I could pounce on the nurse and bombard her with beatings and questions, I felt Leah's hands twitching. I quickly glanced at her, holding her hand gently with both my hands.

“Baby… Mommy's here,” I whispered.

At that moment, she opened her eyes, and I couldn't contain my joy. But, the smile on my face disappeared when she closed her eyes and didn't open it in the next five seconds.

“Baby…” I called softly.

Beep! beep!! beep!! beep!!

The heart monitor beeped faster, signifying that her heart rate had increased.

“What's going on?!” I yelled in panic.

“Ma'am, please wait outside,” the nurse said, leading me out.

“No! I have to be with my daughter! Let me go!” I screamed and struggled with the nurse, but I was too weak, giving her the upper hand.

“Your daughter will be fine, ma'am—she’s in safe hands,” the nurse reassured me amidst my screams and struggles.

The doctors began their job, and about one and a half hours later, I was allowed to see Leah.

I stayed with her, sobbing silently while telling her to wake up soon until I fell asleep by her bedside.

I woke up when I felt a movement on the bed. Leah groaned as she tried to get up.

“Careful, baby,” I quickly supported her.

After helping her sit up, I quickly rushed to pour her a glass of water and rang for the nurse.

“Mom?” she called, and I quickly responded.

“I'm here, baby.”

“Is this a hospital? What are we doing here?”

And suddenly, I realized she wasn’t asking because she was confused — she was asking because she didn’t remember.