Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Ryan watched, his expression softening, as Emily's face went white.She quickly grabbed her bag and signaled Ruby,there was a long pause “The city hospital…I’m on my way” she spoke out, her eyes wide with fear, her grip on the phone tightening.

"What's wrong?" Ruby asked, her voice low and concerned.

Emily shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "I...I have to go," she stammered, her voice cracking.”Take me to the hospital… It’s dad”She hung up, her eyes meeting Ryan's for a quick second

Ruby stood up and picked her arm bag up, “Let’s go then”

Ryan quickly grabbed her arm before she could walk away

“Ruby,right…give me your business card.” he spoke with a firm but calm

Ruby let out a shrug and brought out her card and handed it to him. She turned her back and followed behind Emily who had already reached where the car had been parked.

While they drove away,Ryan called Zak

“I found out the name of her friend,I’ll text it to you but for now I want you to go to the city hospital and get me information,it seems her dad has been rushed there” there was a long pause before he finally said ok and hanged up.

As they drove to the hospital,thankfully there was no traffic. The hospital was not very far from the café and it was in the middle of the city.

Emily's mind raced with worst-case scenarios.She was tense and anxious. It radiated from her like a beam of light all through the short drive to the hospital. She couldn't lose her dad, not now, not ever. The thought sent a chill down her spine, her heart beating with fear.

"We'll get there as soon as possible." Ruby said,squeezing Emily’s palms in hers

Emily nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, her heart heavy with worry.

On arriving at the hospital premises, Emily made her way to the reception

“Excuse me miss, how can we help you”the receptionist asked

“My dad was rushed in here a few minutes ago. I wasn’t really told what caused it but could you please check” Emily voice low and even, dripping with fear as the receptionist went through her computer to get information for her

“Yes, a man was brought here some minutes ago,he’s currently in the Intensive Care Unit. Go straight ahead and turn right,the door has been labeled”

“Okay thanks” Emily hurried off as she made her way to the ICU, Ruby walking behind her.

As soon as they got there, they saw the doctor coming out

“Doctor please is my father okay,can I go and see him… What’s happening?” Emily bombarded the old doctor with questions without taking a breath

“You might want to relax and hear what I have to say miss” the doctor said,his lips pressed together

“His condition is getting worse, you could get a few minutes to talk to him. We want to administer some sedatives for him soon”

“And please what is wrong with him?”

“Meet him first,then make your way to my office for us to discuss further details about the test results ” and with this the old doctor,probably in his early fifties made his way to his office

The door gently opened,Emily shoved her head in,tilted,her eyes welled up with tears as she saw her father’s condition. Many IV tubes hunged from his body connected to the heart machine. The sight of him like that broke her heart. The beeping of the machine filled the room,she didn’t realize her father was still conscious

“Come in my dear daughter…”he let out a sharp cough

“I’m so sorry,that must be painful. I can’t even get you water”At this point she couldn’t control herself anymore. The tears were flowing silently down her soft cheeks and she was dapping them off with her face towel

“My dear,have you spoken to the doctor?” George asked,making an attempt to lift his hand

“Not yet,immediately I leave this place…Dad,why didn’t you tell me you were getting signs, I don’t know what I would do if something had happened to you” Emily sobbed,forcing a smile to please her father

“I’m sorry my girl, I just didn’t know it was that serious”and here his cough spilled blood. Very dark red. Emily wiped it with some paper towels on the small table by the bed. She was really scared at this point but she knew she had to be strong.Strong for her father

“I would leave you to rest now ok, I promise to come back after my meeting with the doctor”her voice was barely audible,she placed a kiss to the man’s forehead, stood up and made her way out

“You may come in .” The doctor said after he heard a very soft knock on the door.Emily entered as swiftly as possible, and made herself comfortable in the seat the doctor offered.

“Ms..”

“Trenton, Emily Trenton” Emily answered as she presumed the silence was a way of asking for her name.

There was a very awkward silence that enveloped the room as the doctor made a few corrections in his pad.

“Miss Trenton”he spoke up,clearing his throat,” I’m going to deliver this to you,clearly stated by the test results.Your father is suffering from stage 3 Acute Myleiod Leukemia.It has a very low cure rate but one thing I can assure you is that this hospital is very much the best in such cases”

“Leukemia??” Emily said trying to understand it right “It’s cancer right? Oh my goodness”her hands dapping the sweat that was evident on her forehead despite how chilled the room was.

“Yes,bone marrow cancer”the doctor who identified him self as Doctor Morris, went ahead to explain all the simplicity about her father’s condition.

“…It’s going to be very costly ma’am, and I suggest the sooner we start treatment the better”his voiced came firm and heavy with sympathy

“How much is the cost? And how long will it last?” At this point Emily was already thinking of selling the few costly possessions that belonged to them. She wouldn't risk losing her only parent and she was relieved when the doctor said her father’s condition was curable.At least that’s a leap of faith. She thought out loud

“…almost 10 million dollars.”

Emily gasped. She wasn’t prepared for that huge amount,where was she going to get that huge amount from, and that too within such a short frame of time?