Truth - Lashton

Chapter 17

Ashton's POV

7:34 AM, I woke up to the blaring sound of my phone ringing. I slowly got up and picked up my phone, it was from my colleague who worked at the hospital I run. I was already scared as she never called me this early.

I swiftly answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Ashton! One of your students just arrived at the hospital and we need you urgently!"

I didn't have to say anything before I got up, got dressed, grabbed my bag and left the house.

It wasn't even 15 minutes before I was bursting through the front entrance. I saw my colleague, 3 other doctors and a middle aged woman with blonde hair in tears.

"Ashton! Follow us, please."

Dr. Frank, the head of the doctors called for me and I followed him, too panicked to think about anything else.

What student was it? Was it Luke? Who was it?!

All my questions were answered when I walked into a patients room.

Luke, laying there with tubes connected to his arms, chest and one coming out of his nose. The heart monitor was beeping too slowly to be considered healthy.

He looked up from his thighs, tears steadily streaming from his eyes.

"Mr. Irwin?"

"I'm here, Luke.. What happened, Frank?"

I asked, holding Luke's hand and looking at the doctor. He sighed and looked at his clipboard.

"We're running tests right now but Luke here fainted going up the stairs according to his mother. He woke up as soon as he got him connected to these tubes."

I wanted to cry, knowing his body was shutting down slowly.

"Luke's mother actually called an appointment with you scheduled for tomorrow."

I was shocked at that. I looked at Luke and saw how sad he looked.

"You want help, correct?"

He didn't hesitate to nod.

"I can't.. I can't keep doing this.. I don't feel healthy anymore.."

I squeezed his hand tighter in reassurance.

"I'll call a substitute for the class. I'll stay here and help Luke at whatever cost."

I spoke, mainly to Frank. His face switched to a somewhat shocked look.

"Are you sure, Ashton?"

"Absolutely."

Luke looked at me with a soft look, like he wasn't as tense.

"Your name is Ashton?"

I chuckled and nodded.

"Ashton Irwin.. That's a cool name.."

He muttered, smiling to himself.

"Well, Ashton. We will have to look at inpatient treatment plans."

"Inpatient?!"

Luke screeched, ripping his hand away from mine and wrapping his hands around himself.

"Yes, but I promise they will help. Ashton will stay with you."

Luke began to sob again, absolutely petrified.

"No! It's not that bad! I'm fine! I'm completely healthy! Let me out!"

He begged, looking at the tubes with determination.

"Unfortunately that isn't your decision as you're only 15."

"It is my decision! It's my body!"

"You aren't healthy, Luke. At this rate, you will die in no more than 3 months."

Frank spoke in his urgent, serious tone. I wanted to scold him for telling Luke such terrifying information but Luke just stared with a shocked, blank expression.

"Die..?"

"Yes. You are obviously malnourished and if it continues, you could enter heart failure or other serious health problems that all will result in death."

Luke shakily grabbed my hand again, letting tears fall.

"I just don't wanna eat junk food.. Please.."

"Luke, we will see what happens down the road.. Right now we are focused on what's best for you. It will all be okay."

I smiled softly and squeezed his hand in reassurance. He simply nodded and laid back down.

"Get some rest, Luke. When you wake up, your mum will be here and we will discuss everything."

He hummed out, assuming in agreement and fell asleep quickly.