Living with Pain

Chapter 32: The Emergency Room

Sky

After Cash left, I lay on my bed finishing up my homework. I'm trying to concentrate despite my currently nauseous stomach. Nothing has helped calm my stomach down, not pepsi or pepto bismol. I finally give in to the pain and close my notebook. I curl under my covers, listening to music and focusing on breathing. This must just be a fibro flare. I have been extra stressed with applying to schools, thinking about how to tell Mom how I want to change "the college plan," and then physically pushing myself by dancing.

My abdomen cramps and I feel the urge to puke. I push down the feeling, burying my head into my pillow. I just need to sleep. I really need sleep. My abdomen continues to cramp, but somehow I fall into a restless sleep.

I wake up with a stabbing pain in my right side. I roll over and grab my phone. It's 11:30 pm. I feel bile rise in my throat and I stumble to the bathroom. I hunch over the toilet in pain, emptying the entire contents of my stomach repeatedly until there is nothing but bile left.

I curl up on the bathroom floor, silent tears streaming down my face. What is wrong with me? The pain is relentless. I try to stand up to get help, but fall back down as my abdomen clenches. I can't straighten my stomach. The shooting pain radiates from the right side to my entire core.

"Honey, what's wrong?" I hear my mom's worried voice from the door of the bathroom.

"It hurts," is all I can choke out.

She is by my side in an instant. "Where?"

I clutch my right side, still laying on the floor. She notices the puke filled toilet, my clammy skin, and warm head.

"I think you may have a fever. Can you get up?" I shake my head no.

"We need to go to the emergency room. Dad isn't home so he can't carry you. I'm going to call Cash, okay?"

"No, I don't want to be a burden," I choke out. I don't want him to see me in so much pain. He still gives me worried looks when I fail to hide how I'm physically feeling.

"Nonsense. He won't think you're a burden; he'll want to help" Mom says, going to my room and grabbing my phone. She calls Cash and comes back in. "He'll be here soon."

I can only imagine how pathetic I look. I try to use the annoyance at myself as a catalyst for movement, but it fails. Instead I curl up further in pain. I'm shaking and sobbing now. I haven't felt this type of pain ever. And that scares me.

After what feels like an eternity, I feel Cash's warm hand touch my shoulder. "Hey, babe. I'm going to pick you up and carry you to the car. I'm sorry if movement hurts, but we need to get you help."

The movement did hurt, even though he tried to be gentle. The pain was up in my shoulder and back now as well as the front of my abdomen. Everything was blurred by my tears. I lay my head into his chest as he carries me bridal style down the stairs and to the car. Despite my earlier thoughts, I was glad he was here now.

Cash

I stroke Sky's hair as she lays on my lap in the back seat of the car. It breaks my heart seeing her in so much pain. I wish her mom would drive faster. As soon as she pulls up to the ER entrance, I rush Sky inside.

I haven't been in a hospital for a long time. The smell of the hospital and the clean white walls bring back memories I'd rather keep buried. But I would do anything for Sky. I just want her to be okay.

We're finally taken back to a room. Her mom explains what happened as Sky pukes again. The doctor listens carefully to all of her symptoms as well as her lengthy health history. They pump her full of anti-nauseous and pain medicines. As the medicine kicks in, Sky's tears slow. She lays on the bed, drifting in and out of awareness.