Bad News

Jerome and Randy anxiously raced up stairs to their children's room followed by Phidel to see Phidelia on the floor, gasping for breath.

"Phidelia..." exclaimed Jerome as they rushed over to her. Randy instantly lifted her in his arms.

"Get the car keys dear." he said as they all hurried out of the room. Jerome wasted no time, she trod to their room which was on the far right of their kids' whiles Randy and Phidel raced down stairs with Phidelia.

Not soon at they got to the car that Jerome joined them. With shaky hands, she managed to unlock the car. Phidel settled in the right seat in the back, beckoning her father to lay her sister next to her.

Randy obliged, gently laying her down as he puts her head on her sister's laps. Phidel glanced down on her sister's pale face, brushing her hand through her hair as she still struggles for breath.

"It's gonna be okay Phidelia, mum and dad are here to help."

By this time, both Jerome and Randy has settled in their seats. Jerome glanced worriedly at her daughter who was still fighting for her life as Randy navigates the car to the main street.

"Hold on dear, we'll get you help soon."

When Randy has gotten the car on the road, he sped off.

The fear of losing their baby rushed through them like a waterfall as they both took glances at Phidelia through the mirror throughout the drive to the hospital.

"God please save my baby" was the only thing running through Jerome's mind whenever her eyes falls on horrified Phidel and struggling Phidelia.

As soon as Randy pulled up in front of the hospital, Jerome hurried out of the car into the hospital to get help from the nurses whiles Randy glided over to his kids at the back seat.

Not long has she got in that she came running out with two nurses pulling a stretcher after them.

They helped laid Phidelia gently on it and raced her into the hospital with her parents and sister following after.

"Please wait outside." One of the nurses stated; slight blocking them with her hand as they rushed her into the emergency ward, leaving them in agitation at the entrance.

Phidel with a cute but sad innocent face, held her mother's hand which made Jerome glanced down at her face.

"Mum.....? Is Phidelia gonna be alright...?" she queried, drawing her father's attention to them.

On noticing the anxiousness in her voice, Jerome knelt down before her daughter as she took both of her hands in her hands. With a sigh, she paused for a short while, glancing down on their joined hands before looking up at her face.

"Of course dear, " she uttered with a faint smile, slightly nodding her head as she caressed her face. "Let's just wait here for the doctor okay..? Phidelia is going to get well then we go home together, mm..?"

"Okay mum.." she answered.

Jerome smiled, brushing her hands through her daughter's hair as she raised her eyes at her husband who stood a step away from them; the smile being replaced with apprehension.

Understanding well how her wife and daughter was feeling, he strolled over to them as Jerome got on her feet and pulled them into a hug.

"She is going to be just fine. Let's keep our hopes up." He uttered assuredly. "Come, let's all take some rest as they work on her."

He gently lead them to a bench which sat opposite the emergency room. They all settled on it with Phidel sitting in between her parents.

After about an hour of waiting anxiously, the doctor finally came out. They all jolted up from their seat, rushing up to the doctor.

"How is she doctor?" Jerome queried with anxiety written all over her face.

"She is stable now."

With this said, they all sighed in relief as they glanced at each other. "But we need to do a check on the other one too."

"But why doctor..?" Randy questioned, totally confused.

"It's nothing, don't be too alarmed. I just want to be sure of something."

"O..kay." he mumbled skeptically, urging Phidel to go with the doctor. She glanced at her mother with the sign of nervousness written all over her face coupled with a bit of hesitation.

"Don't be afraid dear, we need to do this for Phidelia. Okay...?" Jerome joined in.

"Okay mum..." she replied, not waiting for another second as she glided to the doctor's side.

"Excuse me then." He said as he draped his hand around Phidel's shoulders and they strolled off to the lab room.

After about 10mins, she returned back to her parents. Not long as she returned that a nurse walked up to them, informing them of Phidelia's state at the moment.

"Can we go and see her now?" Randy queried.

"Sure." The nurse mumbled with a smile before shuffling off to her work.

Just as they stood up about to leave to her ward, another nurse came running to them from the direction of the doctor's office.

"Excuse me sir.." she called, making them turn deftly to her. "Doctor Mark wants to see you in his office."

"Alright." he replied and the nurse went her way. Randy asked Jerome to go with Phidel to see their daughter but she hesitated.

She wanted to know what went wrong with her daughter and also the test results of Phidel.

"Let's go together and see him. After that, we can go and see Phidelia."

Randy knowing well how difficult Jerome could be at times just gave in without uttering another word.

*************

Doctor Mark was with one of his nurses; going through a patient's folder when he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in.."

At the said of this, the door slowly pushed opened revealing Randy and his family.

"Oh come in Mr. Brooks.." he asked them in, directing them to the seats infront of him.

"Excuse me Daniella." he looked up to the nurse standing beside him with a folder in her hand. "I will call you back later."

"Okay Doctor.." she replied with a smile, slightly bowing as she made her way out.

When he was sure that they had been excused, he picked up the folder which was lying on his right hand side of the desk.

"Has this happened to her before?"

"No Doctor, this is the first time something like this has happened to her." replied Jerome.

"Okay." the doctor answered, writing something on the folder before returning it where he took it.

"I'm afraid to inform you that your daughter is asthmatic.

"Asth..ma..tic?" They both mumbled quizzically, staring confusingly at each other then to the Doctor.

" Yes, " he clasped his hands together, resting them on his desk. "It's been with her for a while now but a strong aura has triggered it and that aura is from Phidel so if possible; I advice you separate them else, her health will deteriorate."

Phidel understanding very well what the doctor was saying, draped a hand on her mother's shoulder. Her mother glanced at her face, slightly patting her hand.

"For now, she is okay and can be discharge but we will add inhaler to her medicines as first aid whenever it kicks in. Here, sign this papers." he handed the discharge documents to Randy.

He took them and without wasting much time, signed them.

"She can be discharge now. I will ask the nurses to get her medicines ready."

"Okay Doctor," he replied as the stood up from their seats. "Thank you." he added and they glided out.

"Mum..,” Phidel said as she held onto her mother’s hand. “Am I no longer going to live with Phidelia? She continued as they headed to her sister's ward. Jerome’s lips instinctively parted into a weary grin at her daughter's question.

"Let's talk about it when we get home dear." She answered.

This reply wasn't well received by Phidel as it didn't really give her any assurance but she obliged anyway, keeping her cool in order not to throw a tantrum.

After some few walks, they got to Phidelia's ward. They opened the door to see her sitting on her bed waiting patiently for them.

"Phidel.." She cried, rushing to hug her sister as they neared her but her father blocked them with his hand. The smile on her face instinctively faded away with a confused look replacing it.

"Not now dear, you're still not fit to be doing this." He said.

Phidelia didn't really understand what her father meant but she pushed no further. She picked up her bag, glancing wittily at them.

"Let's go home." she said while taking her sister's hand into hers and they took the lead, gliding out of the door followed by their parents.