Once More

Chapter II | Like This

Beep...beep...beep...

"Her heart rate is dangerously low."

"Dr. Reed...what do we do?"

"I don't know..."

The voices of the medical personnel and the echos of the monitor beside me were all I could hear as I continued to slip away.

Was this really it?

What about dad? What about Jack? What was he gonna do without his big sister?

That was the last thought I had before...

before everything went black.

silence.

nothingness.

I gasped for air as I heard my alarm blaring on my bedside table. I hit snooze with a shaky hand.

"Ugh...again?" I sighed

I took a few seconds to slow my breathing down before standing up and going to the washroom. I splashed some cold water on my face to try and ground myself. This was the third night this week that I had relived that memory in my nightmares.

3 years ago, I was diagnosed with CAD, or Coronary Artery Disease. It's a condition in which the coronary arteries of the heart become congested with fat deposits that restrict blood flow.

I'm on medication now, but last year I was hospitalized for a heart attack. The doctors didn't think I would make it, and to be honest, neither did I. I'm still not sure how I did. My dad always said I was a fighter.

Things have been better recently, as I'm only dealing with mild chest pains here and there. But to be honest...the anxiety hasn't faded. I struggle to sleep sometimes knowing any day could be my last. I suppose that's why I'm always on my feet.

The thought of missing a single moment is what scares me most. I want to see the world. I want to make memories with the people I love. I want to paint the most beautiful scenes, and live to see them hung in a gallery. I want to find love. I want to raise children. I want it all.

I slowly walked over to the kitchen and opened up the fridge. Still a bit spaced out, I picked up a carton of milk and some eggs. Pancakes...pancakes sound good.

I whipped up the batter and got out a pan. My father used to make pancakes a lot after mom passed. They've become a comfort food for me.

My mother passed away when I was only 12 years young. She had complications after having my brother, Jack, and never really recovered. He was around 6 years old when she had a heart attack and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Part of me worries that will be me one day.

I poured the silky batter into the buttered pan and waited. The aroma of butter and vanilla extract filled my apartment as I flipped the cakes in the pan. Golden brown; perfect.

I plopped the cakes on my plate and drizzled syrup across them. The only thing left was strawberries. I opened the fridge door, only to notice that no strawberries were to be found.

Damnit.

I couldn't eat my pancakes without fruit. Call me dramatic, but a small bowl of fruit alongside pancakes was a must for me. Luckily, I lived about a block away from the supermarket.

I slipped on some shoes and plopped a bucket hat over my messy hair before grabbing my phone and wallet. As soon as I walked out the door, I was hit with a gust of cold wind.

Fuck.. I should've grabbed my jacket.

Oh well. I wouldn't be gone long.

I hugged myself as the cold wind slapped against my skin. It seemed to be getting colder by the second, but maybe that was just my imagination. I picked up my pace as I approached the market. Ah, warmth at last.

Isle one...isle two...isle three...isle four!

Found it.

I approached the isle and scanned the fridge for strawberries. My gaze fell on the most beautiful, red, juicy carton of strawberries I had ever laid eyes on.

Perfect!

I picked them up and hurried to the register. I didn't want my pancakes to get too cold. I gave my card to the cashier, bagged my berries, and bid farewell with a happy smile, thinking of the delicious breakfast that awaited me.

As I walked out of the automatic doors, I saw a poster that caught my attention. "Heart Disease Paid Clinical Trial." Memories of my mother clouded my mind, as well as memories of my own attack.

Though it all happened in a split second, it seemed as though time slowed down as I walked right into someone, dropping my strawberries, my phone, and my wallet.

One by one, I watched as the beautiful red berries scattered across the sidewalk.

"Oh my god..I'm so sorry, let me-" I looked up to see the face of the person talking.

"Hyunjin?"

"Scarlett?"

We said each others names in sync.

He remembered my name?

Not important right now, Scarlett!

I snapped back into reality. "Oh um...it's alright, don't worry." I lied. It wasn't alright. I was really looking forward to those strawberries. My pancakes were probably cold by now. My mind was still flooding with memories of mom. This day was not going right, and it was only 11am.

"No, it isn't. Let me help." He said as he got down and began picking up the berries. I hesitated at first before joining him. We put them all back into the carton and then threw it away.

He picked up my phone and wallet and handed them back to me. "Oh, thank you." I mumbled shyly. "Of course. I'm...sorry about the strawberries. Allow me to buy you more." He offered. His gaze was genuine, and his lips were slightly curved down into a frown. He seemed sincere.

Why do I keep running into this guy?

"Oh...it's fine. Don't worry about it." I gave a fake smile. "Please, let me make it up to you." He wasn't going to let me get away without allowing him to do so. I sighed. "Well, okay I suppose." What happened next took me by surprise.

He took me by the hand.

"Perfect. Come with me." He smiled.

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Oop cliffhanger ;) hope you're enjoying ! Let me know what you think!
Word count: 1034.