Somebody That I Used To Know

I'm Just Sick

One Week Later

"Tom?" Denise says.

"Y-Yes, d-dear?"

"Are you okay?"

"I told you, I... I'm sick."

"You've been sick for a week. I'm coming home and I'm getting you to a doctor. You sound like shit."

"I know I do. I'm fine though, don't come home."

"Thomas, sweetheart, there's no reason for me to stay anymore, it's painful being here and you need me."

"Well I'm not a child, I'm fine."

"I'm coming home. Goodbye, I love you."

"I love you too."

Tom lays in bed, panting. A sharp pain fills his chest again, it'd been happening all day. 

He closes his eyes, feeling the silk of the pillow. Everything on him felt painful.

The door opens and Denise drags in her suitcase. "Tom? I'm home."

When there's no answer, Denise quickly walks into the bedroom to make sure he's alright.

Empty water bottles lie around the bed, along with Denise's allergy inhaler. A thermometer sat next to the inhaler, along with bottles of painkillers.

"Oh my God," Denise screams. "Thomas-"

"I'm fine." he whispers, wrapped up in the blankets. "D-don't worry."

"What the hell were you doing?"

"I just... I didn't... f-feel g-good."

"Let me check your temperature,"

Denise gets on the bed and grabs the thermometer. She gently turns Tom and gasps when she sees him straight-on.

"What?"

"You're going to the hospital," she snaps. "You... you lost at least 30 pounds."

"It... it's been a week."

"It's been a week and a half. When was the last time you ate?"

"Um.... Monday."

"Monday? You haven't eaten since Monday? Thomas, it's Thursday."

"No, no, I mean... last... last Monday."

"The day I left?" Denise whispers.

"Mhm."

"I'm calling the hospital."

"No, D-Denise-"

Denise grabs her phone and runs into the kitchen. "Hello?"

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"Um, my boyfriend he... he was saying that he was sick but he has an eating disorder and he hasn't eaten in over a week. He's lost a lot of weight, is shivering, just looks really terrible. I'm at 1222 North Ave Lane."

"We're sending someone over right now. Name please?"

"D-Denise Richards."

"Alright, Ms. Richards, they'll be the there shortly. Just hang tight, alright?"

"Denise?" Tom weakly calls out.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? I'm right here. You just gotta hang in there for me and we'll get someone here to make you feel better."

"My chest hurts again."

"Again?"

"Ow," Tom puts a hand on his chest and squeezes his eyes. "It really hurts."

"Okay. Um... I heard you have to chew asprin. I'll be right back. What's in those bottles?"

"Tylenol."

"Okay, honey, I'll be right back."

Denise runs to the cabinet and pulls out two asprins. When she comes back to the bedroom, Tom lays on the pillow, eyes closed.

"Thomas?" Denise whispers.

When there's no answer, Denise feels her heart fall to the ground. "Thomas? Come on, wake up. Thomas?"

Molly sits at the table, helping Lily with her homework. Her phone starts to ring on the chair next to her. "I gotta take this, baby. Do number 5, alright?"

"Okay, Mummy."

"Hello?" Molly says, getting up and walking by the couch. "This is Molly Hiddleston."

"Molly," Dr. Bettany expresses.

"Oh, Dr. Bettany, hello. How are you?"

"Molly, I-"

"I know that Tom's sick, is that why you're calling? Is he alright?"

Dr. Bettany sighs before responding. "Molly, he went into cardiac arrest before getting to the hospital. The paramedics were called for another reason and they got him back, they restarted his heart. He's stable right now but it's a critical situation."

"Wh-... Dr, he has a good heart. I mean, there's a lot that's fucked up about him but his heart isn't one of them."

"I know, Molly. We've done blood tests and we talked to the woman he was with, he hadn't eaten in almost two weeks."

"Oh my God," Molly whispers. "I... I-"

"I know. Take it in, it's alright. I'd like you to come to the hospital as soon a you can."

"Do you think I need to bring Lily?"

"Doesn't look like it right now." Dr. Bettany comforts. "I think it'll be a long process, but he'll recover."

"Thank you, Dr."

"Sure."

Molly puts the phone down in the table and sinks into the couch, covering her sobbing face in her hands.