Flames of the Night (Flames Series #1)

CHAPTER 21

Chapter 21

After the doctor checked my father’s condition and put him in a private room, I went there and sat on the chair beside him. I caught his hand and held it tightly while I rested it on my face.

“Dad, I’m already here. Open your eyes now, please,” I told him, hoping that he could hear me.

Earlier, after Tita Margaret slapped me, I angrily asked her why she was blaming everything on me. I wanted to vent everything to her. I was so mad that she brought and even blamed my baby whom I lost in a recent accident because of what happened to Dad. But when the emergency room opened and some nurses were pushing the stretcher where Dad is lying, I diverted my attention to it and followed them.

“Dad, please,” I continued even if I knew he wouldn’t wake up yet.

Although Tita Margaret and Erica were here, I didn’t let them occupy the chair where I sat. I just want to be in front of my Dad. I just want to be with him.

Before the doctor could leave us, he informed us about my Dad’s condition. Dad didn’t suffer from a heart attack but it was similar to that. His condition was called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, known as stress cardiomyopathy, or broken-heart syndrome.

This syndrome is usually caused by sudden emotional stress. When asked how was my Dad and what did he hear or learn before he experienced this, there’s no use in telling lies so I told him that Tita Margaret welcomed him with bad news, that is by losing my son, and then I also added that Dad experienced chest pain and shortness of breath based on what Nanay Emilia told me.

Hearing that, the doctor told us that the loss of a loved one is one of its stressors, and experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath were the features of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

I asked how’s my Dad and he told us there’s nothing to worry about. Before they transfer him to his room, they did an echocardiogram to study his heart’s shape and detect any abnormal movements in his heart’s main pumping chamber. Hahayaan daw muna nilang magpahinga ang Daddy at bukas nila sisimulan ‘yung treatment sa kanya.

I was still holding Dad’s hand. Sobra akong natatakot sa sitwasyon niya. If it wasn’t because of what the doctor told us that death is rare in this syndrome, I wouldn’t be calmed. But still, I am worried because death may be rare, what scares me is that heart failure occurs in about 20% of patients. I don’t want something to happen to him.

Around 7 in the evening, I decided to go home. Gusto ko sanang magstay pa para mabantayan si Dad pero ang makasama sila Tita Margaret doon ay hindi ko matagalan. I needed some rest too because I felt so drained lately.

When I reached the top floor of the Olsen Tower before I could knock on the door, it opened and I saw Klein standing in front of me.

“Where have you been? I called you many times but—” His words were cut because instead of hearing him, I stepped forward and helplessly rested my forehead on his broad shoulder. “Rhian?”

“Let me rest. I felt so drained,” my voice faded and I closed my eyes. When he carefully tapped my back, I found myself silently crying in him.

Nang maramdaman niya ang pag-iyak ko’y niyakap niya ako. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I can feel the concern in his tone.

“My Dad got home. But instead of going straight home, he was rushed to the hospital. He learned that I lost our son and he suffered from stress cardiomyopathy.” I sobbed, that even I could feel how painful my sob is. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Klein. I don’t know why I have to experience all of this.”

While he’s hugging me, Klein brushed off my hair using his fingers. Without informing me, he carried me and brought me upstairs.

“Take a rest. I’ll feed you when you wake up.” He covered me with a blanket and kissed my forehead. Saglit niya akong sinamahan doon. Nang ipikit ko ang mga mata ko, naging tuluy-tuloy na ‘yung tulog ko.