Chapter 5 I’m A worried Mess

Emily

Reaching home from work I went straight to my mother's room to check on her. It has become a daily routine of mine ever since I found out that she had cancer. Knocking on her door, I entered.

“Mom, are you okay?” I asked her but I didn't get any response. Walking up to her, I gently shook her. Her body felt like ice, cold beneath my touch. “Mom,” I called out but she still didn't answer. Panicking, I quickly shuffled through my bag where I took my phone out and dialed 911.

“Hello yes, I would like an ambulance at Ambrose Lane New York apartment one.”

“What's your emergency?” the operator asked.

“My mom has cancer and I just came home to see that she has fainted,” I replied frantically.

“We will be there in five minutes' mam.” Hanging up I started pacing back and forth. Taking out my phone, I texted Adam and told him I couldn't make it because something came up.

I was there impatiently waiting for the ambulance to show. Approximately five minutes later a knock came at my door. Opening it I saw two paramedics with a gurney. Directing them to my mother's room, they opened the door and lifted her on before wheeling her out of the building.

Walking to the ambulance I felt those pairs of eyes drilling a hole in the back of my head again. Looking around I saw no one. Shrugging off the feeling, I climbed into the back of the ambulance with my mom. Holding her hand, I hold it against my beating heart while crying.

“I can’t lose you now, you are all I have left,” I kept repeating over and over.

Reaching the hospital, we exited the ambulance and they rushed her inside. We were met by a doctor who was asking what the issue was.

“Cancer patient has fainted, we don't know the cause,” one of the paramedics said.

“Mam you need to fill out this form,” the receptionist said. Nodding my head, I took the form from her and a pen. Placing my hand on the clipboard that she handed me, I tried to write but my hands were shaking so badly due to how nervous and worried I was. Taking a deep breath, I counted to ten. Finally, calm, I started writing.

Handing back the form I asked, “could you tell me what room my mother is in?”

“Room 102 on the fourth floor. Just take the elevator and go up.”

Thanking her, I ran down the hall and pressed the button waiting on the elevator doors to open. Going inside, I pressed the button that leads to the fourth floor. While impatiently waiting for the elevator to reach the fourth floor, that boring elevator music came on. Exiting the elevator after it had stopped, I hurriedly walked down the hall until I found the room that my mom was in. I started to enter the room but was stopped by a nurse who told me I couldn’t enter.

Sighing, I started pacing like a madwoman as I had nothing else to do. I wasn’t going inside the waiting room to sit., I need to be right here for when the doctor comes out he can give me the news on my mom’s condition.

Ring! Ring! my phone went off. Taking it out from outside of my handbag, looking at the caller's ID I saw that it was Adam calling. Answering the phone, I was about to speak but before I could he spoke up.

“Why did you blow me off today?” He asked. I could hear the anger that was dominant in his voice. “I was looking forward to seeing you and you blew me off without even an explanation.”

“I'm sorry, okay Adam. I am when I got home today I found my mom unconscious and she wasn't responding to me so I had to rush her to the hospital,” I sobbed in his ear.

“Is she okay?” He asked in a panicked voice.

“Yeah she is, she is just sleeping at the moment,” I lied because I didn't want to alarm him.

“What's the name of the hospital I'm coming to see you?”

“Beverly Memorial Hospital, she’s in room 102.”

Hearing the elevator door open, I could see Adam running down the hall to where I was. Meeting him halfway, I hugged him as tight as I could. I was really happy that he was here for I needed someone to lean on for I was not strong enough to be on my own. Being wrapped in his arms, I could smell his cologne and also feel his well-defined muscles under his shirt. It also offered me a sense of comfort, happiness, and security.

“I'm happy you came,” I breathed in his ear.

“It's fine, I'm glad I could be here to support you. Has she woken up yet?”

“Adam about that…. I had lied earlier because I didn't want to alarm you.”

“Emily that was a cruel thing to do. You didn't have to lie. I would have come here whether she was okay or not. Right now being here is a perfect example.”

“I'm sorry I didn't mean to.”

“It's okay but don't ever do it again,” he demanded. “Has the doctor given you an update on her health?”

“No, not as yet.”

“Okay let's go to the waiting room and wait.”

“I don’t want to, I just want to stand right here so as soon as the doctor comes out, I can see him and he can update me on her condition.”

“Emily please, the doctor will come to find you in the waiting room. You look tired, just come and have a seat.” Going with him reluctantly, he wrapped his hand around my side possessively and held me close as we walked to the family waiting room which was located right down the hall. Sitting down, I rested my head on his shoulders. We were there waiting for forty minutes when the doctor came in.

“Emily Martinez?” The doctor called out

“Yes, that’s me,” I spoke while jumping up.

Walking towards me, he shook Adam's hand then mine after.

“Ms. Martinez, your mother is okay. She had fainted because she wasn't eating properly or she wasn't eating at all. She needs to eat properly because she has cancer and this can affect her negatively.”

“I try my best to make sure she has something before I leave. I make her both breakfast and lunch. I try to make it home in time for dinner but you know how the traffic is. I am so sorry.”

“That’s okay, you need to get some assistance soon as possible. Her health is declining rapidly and it seems she will enter stage four cancer soon. This means that soon cancer will reach a stage where it’s not curable.” Holding onto Adam, I felt like my heart had dropped into the pit of my stomach. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes before they were finally released. “I’m sorry to burden you with all this, Miss Martinez, but I have to inform you of her current health status. She is now stable and would like to see you.”

Still clutching onto Adam, I felt all the emotions hit me at once. I felt so angry with myself and at the world. Why was she cursed with this stupid disease? She was a good person, why did she have to endure this. And as for me, why didn’t I try to look for another job more quickly? I know if I did, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. And then there was that embarrassing feeling, that I couldn’t provide for her the way I should–– she wasn’t getting a lot of nutritious food to provide her body with the right nutrients. I could feel Adams' eye boring into me and I purposely avoided his gaze for I didn't have anything to say. Thanking the doctor whose name was Paul, I walked back to my mother's room. Entering, I saw that she was hooked up to a lot of machines and I broke down again.

“Emily baby, why are you crying? Wipe your eyes and come here.” Doing as I was told, I went up to her and wrapped her so tight in my arms that she had to tell me to loosen my grip because she couldn’t breathe. Doing just that, I straightened up and stared down at her––the real her. She was now losing weight and her hair had begun to fall out. Her skin that was once glowing was now pale and that look of happiness that her face once held was now gone. Closing my eyes, I tried to keep the tears at bay.

Doing so successfully, I asked her the question that I shouldn’t ask but I needed to know the answer to.

“How are you feeling mom?”

“I felt like a truck just ran over me,” she chuckled.

Looking at her hard, she sobered up. “I am sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” Nodding my head at her apology I continued talking.

“Mom the doctor told me you fainted because you weren't eating properly or eating at all. I'm sorry that I can't provide for you the way I should. I promise you I will be searching for a job with better benefits first thing tomorrow.”

“Emily, there's no need to worry I'm okay. I know that you are trying and that’s all that matters sweetheart. Holding up my hand, she kissed it gently before placing it on her bosom. Smiling sadly, I sat on her bed as I hugged her gently.

“I love you mom,” I whispered in her ear.

“I know sweetheart and I love you too.” Gently easing me up off her, she looked at me then looked at Adam then at me again. “Emily, can you tell me why a fine specimen, that is not a doctor standing in my room?” As soon as she uttered the words, my cheek turned bright red. Not just by the fact that she called Adam a fine specimen but also the fact that he might have overheard my conversation. Getting up from the bed I walked over to him and drew him closer to her.

“Mom this is Adam, a friend of mines.”

“Is this the guy you were telling me about?”

“Mom,” I cried out from embarrassment, “he didn't need to know that I spoke of him.”

Laughing at the scene that was playing out in front of him, he gently took up my mom's hand and lowered his head before kissing her on it. “ Nice to meet you, Mrs. Martinez.”

“Nice to meet you too,” she replied while blushing. “You're such a gentleman.”

Chuckling at her remark he stepped back and went to stand back in the corner. I could see my mom's eyelids closing down.

“Mom, get some rest, you're tired,” I suggested.

“Okay sweetheart I am not going to argue with that,” she replied. “And Emily, please go out and have fun with this fine gentleman. I'll be fine.”

Shaking my head at her, I kissed her on her cheek before we both exited the room.

“Want to walk around the block?” I asked

“Sure, he replied instantly.

Taking the elevator, we went back to the first floor where we exited the building and started walking around the block in silence.

“So Emily, tell me about yourself?” Adam asked, shattering the silence.

“Well, you already know that my name is Emily Martinez. I am a family person and also a cashier at the bookstore where my pay sucks. My dad died when I was in high school and also I am a big fan of romance novels and movies. You?”

“That was vague,” he replied disappointedly.

“Some things must remain a mystery. Now it's your turn to tell me about yourself.”

“My name is Adam Jacobs. I am the CEO of Jacob Enterprises as you already know. I had recently got the company from my dad who has retired. My mom died in a car crash when I was a very young boy and I have never fallen in love.”

“That was vague,” I mocked.

“Somethings must remain a mystery,” he replied, mocking me as well.

Laughing, we wandered off into a park that was eerily quiet and empty except for the water fountain which was in the middle of the park. Running towards it, I went to look at the water that had the reflection of the moon.

“You know if you throw coins in there you wish can come through?” He spoke up.

“That sounds like something that happens in fairy tales.”

“It's true.”

Digging into my purse I took out a coin. “If that's the case then, I will wish for something.”

“And what's that?”

Ignoring his question, I smiled at him before kissing the coin and tossing it in.

“What did you wish for?” He asked.

“Not going to tell,” I replied in a childish voice.

Chuckling, he responded. “Why not?”

“You're not going to stop asking, aren't you?”

“No I will not,” he replied while smiling.

“I wish that you could fall in love with the right person.”

Looking at him, I could see him staring at me and the smile on his face was replaced with a frown. Clearing his throat, he told me that it was getting late and that he would drive me home. I wondered if I had said something wrong, I wanted to ask him but I decided against it.

“No need to look that serious Adam, I was just kidding. I hope that my mom will get better and that she won’t suffer anymore.”

“Oh Emily, I am sorry. She will get better just by having faith.” Sighing, I felt tears stinging my eyes. Coming over to me, he wiped my tears before wrapping me in his arms. Pulling away from him. He wrapped his hand around me and pulled me close.

“It's getting late, I will drive you home.” He spoke up.

Walking outside of the park, I felt the presence of someone. Turning around just in time, I saw a figure walking out of the park. He was dressed in full black and had on a big black hat. “That’s odd, I didn’t see anyone when I first came in,” I said to myself.