Ascending Hearts Novels & Stories

he yelled from behind me as I went up the stairs. I entered my room, closed the door shut immediately, and sighed heavily. My heart was beating so fast that I couldn't even recognise if I was still me. Why does my heartbeat keep increasing anytime I am in a tense or silent situation with Adrian? This is certainly not love. But then, what is it?

“He’s conscious now. Awake and alert. We’ve run some preliminary tests. I’d like to ask you a few questions if that’s alright.” “Yes. Anything. Please.” I followed him into his office. He sat opposite me, holding a tablet. “We’re still awaiting a few results, but we’re concerned this may be cardiac-related. Specifically, something called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.” “What?” I blinked. “Cardio—what?” “Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It’s a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.” I stared at him. “But—he’s fine. He’s always been fine.”

Only he and Doctor Hale knew of my heart condition. "I'll come in today Doc.” I dropped the call and turned to Marcus. "Let's drive to the hospital." The sterile smell hit me first. Like always. I sat on the edge of the exam table, my shirt off, the cold stethoscope pressing against my ribs. Dr. Hale didn’t waste time when he spoke. “It’s progressing faster than last month, Adrian. The arrhythmia is spiking under stress. You need to cut the triggers.” I stared at the monitor. The lines jagged across the screen, my heart betraying me once again.

he said, his voice low and mysterious. Betty's heart pounded in her chest as she felt a sense of trepidation. She knew it was going to be a very long night.

“Yes, I’m her daughter. How is she?” The doctor sighed. “Your mother has hypertensive heart disease. She’s been stable for weeks of her stay here in the hospital, but today… she had an acute episode. Her blood pressure spiked severely, and it caused cardiac complications. We suspect fluid buildup around the heart as well. She needs immediate surgery.” Janine’s head spun. Hypertensive heart disease. She remembered that term from previous checkups. It meant Mama’s heart had been overworked for too long—high blood pressure weakening the muscles, causing enlargement, risking failure.

"It's a delete key." The pressure on her chest became unbearable. Her heart was beating at 160 beats per minute, and the Prism was matching it, its pulses becoming so powerful they began to crack the obsidian floor. The Aerie groaned, the ancient stones struggling to contain a force that was trying to unmake the ground they stood on. "Evangeline! Look at me!"

"Yes i am his daughter, how is he, is he okay" "Yes he is fine the doctor have been able to stabilize him, he is at the ICU he was brought in on time so the poison did not cause any severe damage". "Okay thank you nurse, can I see him now". "Yes you can the ICU is straight ahead the last door by your right". "Thank you". Samantha ran to the last door and saw her father lying unconscious. She became more sober and cried out her eyes. She picked up her phone to call Greg, it rang severally without him picking, still heart broken and didn't know what to do she decided to call Brenda.

Dominic added, extending a polite smile. “Thank you. That’s very much needed,” Sophia replied, feeling a slight ease at his professionalism. Dominic led Sophia away from the main entrance to a side door. They walked through it and stopped in front of an elevator with a sign above it reading, “VIPs Only - Alexander Sterling Harrington.” ‘He has a separate elevator just for himself? Narcissistic much?’ Sophia thought to herself, rolling her eyes internally. She had worked at hotels catering to many VIPs but had never seen an elevator set aside exclusively for one person.

“Mr. Burt, you didn’t have to bring flowers.” Karl smirked. “How could I do that? It's not like me to visit a sick patient without bringing something at least.” He pulled up a chair and sat down with his legs crossed. “I just went to check with the doctor. They told me your heartbeat has been very erratic?” “Well, I’ve always had a heart condition. This afternoon, I had another confrontation with that brat Danielle, and that was when my heart started to act up again.”

"Yes, Aella. You are my heartbeat. How can one survive without a heart?" "I love you Ace; I love the way you love Mia. You are such a good father." "I love you too Aella, and thank you for giving me, Mia" "Well, that explains why I ended up with baby number two." I laugh, kissing my wife. "Let me show you how much I have missed you." She is mine, she is my heartbeat, and as long as my heart keeps beating, I will know that she is mine. And at that moment, surrounded by Aella's smile and love, I knew strongly that our love would outlast even the setting sun.