The Irregular Heartbeat

The Beginning

     Libertia woke up in a haze; her memory was on a blank slate. She blinked, trying to figure out how she ended up in this unfamiliar room. The walls were painted a sterile white and pale blue; the bed she lay in had crisp white sheets; and a pale blue blanket draped over her. A bedside table stood nearby on the cold, institutional tile floor. Outside the window, the landscape was a picture of serene beauty, sharply contrasting the cold atmosphere inside. Near the bed, an empty visitor's chair stood next to a cozy sofa.

     Her eyes wandered around, finally noticing the nasal cannula under her nose and the glucose drip tube inserted in her right hand. The sterile smell of antiseptics filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of fresh flowers from a nearby bouquet.

     The large door suddenly opened, and her parents rushed in. Her parents' wide-eyed expressions told her they had been worried sick. Her mother, tears streaming down her face, rushed to her side, grasping her left hand.

     "T-Tia! Sweetie! How are you feeling now? I'll call the doctor."

     She cut off her mother's words by squeezing her mother's hand, her eyes full of questions.

     "W-What... happened, Mom?" she asked with a shaky voice as her brain felt foggy and her heart heavy.

     Her father joined them, his face etched with concern. "Y-You don't remember what happened, Tia?"

     She slowly shook her head while her mom's grip tightened. Something serious had happened, that much was clear from her parents' reactions.

     Her dad sighed heavily. "You've been unconscious for three days, Tia."

     Her eyes widened, and she winced as the rush of memories made her head spin.

     "You fainted before hanging out with your friends to celebrate your birthday."

     Her mother noticed her reaction and asked gently, "Are you okay, Tia?"

     She nodded slightly, trying to process what she had just heard. A brief memory flashed in her mind: she was dressing up, ready to celebrate with her friends, then suddenly feeling dizzy, her heart racing. She remembered grasping the sofa before everything went black.

     A voice broke through her thoughts. "We were so worried, Tia. When we brought you to the hospital, the doctor said he wanted to talk to you directly about what you felt before passing out."

     Then a man in his fifties, wearing a lab coat, entered the room. He gave Libertia a gentle smile. "What do you feel at this moment, Libertia?"

     "I-I think I'm okay. My head stopped spinning, and my chest no longer hurts," she admitted, avoiding his eyes.

     "That's good to hear. But you still need to rest. We're monitoring your condition." He turned to her parents. "Can I have a word with both of you? I need to explain your daughter's condition."

     Her parents told her to rest and followed the doctor out. As soon as they left, Libertia closed her eyes, trying to rest. Suddenly, her heart thumped wildly again, echoing the terror of that night. She clutched at her chest, trying to soothe the pain, but it only worsened. Struggling, she tried to get up and call for help, but her vision blurred. Strong arms caught her before she hit the floor, and darkness overtook her again.

     When she opened her eyes again, the room was a blur of shadows and dim light. She blinked, trying to clear her vision. Her parents were at her bedside, their faces streaked with tears and their eyes red and swollen. Her brothers were there too; Luke stood with a cold, stern expression, while Nyx paced the room, his face a mask of concern.