WE ARE ALL CAVED IN

Chapter 11: Stars

I've been waiting patiently for more than five hours, and yet there's no update from the nurses. I can't help but think that something might have happened to Onyx. I can't forgive myself for ignoring him, even though I knew he wasn't feeling well.

I'm still sitting on the bench with my polo shirt partially unbuttoned, my hair a mess, and an anxious look on my face. I texted my friends and Camille to let them know I'm at the hospital watching over Onyx. Their reactions are indescribable—shock, curiosity, and concern all at once.

A few moments later, a woman hurries down the hallway towards Onyx's room, her face full of frustration and anxiety. Who is she? She peers into the room through the glass window on the door. I approach her, and she turns to look at me.

"He collapsed while we were at his mother's grave," I explained. Her eyes widen, and she immediately hugs me.

"Thank you for bringing him to the hospital," she says tearfully, pulling away. "I'm his older sister, Elise. The nurses called me—maybe they got my number from his phone or his wallet."

I glance at Onyx through the window and see him lying on the bed, surrounded by doctors and nurses.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked Elise. We move back to the bench and sit down.

Elise brushes her curly hair with her hair, which looks disheveled, perhaps from the stress of knowing her younger brother is in the hospital. "Honestly, I don't know," she admits. "He never talks to me about his health. He doesn't want to burden me with such things. He knows we're struggling, especially with my father also undergoing chemotherapy." Her eyes well up with tears. "I know it's my fault," she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I wasn't able to be a good sister to him. I'm doing my very best to support us, but it wasn't enough. That's why he works too." Her voice breaks, and she struggles to hold back her sobs, but the tears keep falling.

A minute later, the door to Onyx's room opens, and the doctor steps out, looking for us. Elise and I stand up and rush over to him.

"What happened, doctor? Is he okay? What's wrong? Please, tell me..." Elise bombards him with questions, and I rub her back to calm her. I, too, have many questions, but I manage to stay composed.

"Calm down, ma'am," the doctor says gently. "Your brother has anemia. Not just anemia, but severe anemia. I'm sorry to say this, but it's not looking good." His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and my heart sinks.

Onyx works every free moment he has; maybe that's why he's suffering from severe anemia. My eyes grow misty, but I fight back the tears. Elise covers her mouth, on the verge of breaking down.

"And..." the doctor continues. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but he also has Heart Valve Disease. It's a condition where the heart's valves isn't functioning properly. And I hate to say this, but it's not just one valve affected—but two of his four valves. This is a long conversation, but his condition is critical." The doctor's final words leave us both devastated.

Elise collapses to her knees, speechless, her pain and frustration evident in her actions. Hearing the doctor's diagnosis, my whole body weakens. My knees tremble, and I lean against the wall, looking up at the ceiling to keep my tears at bay, but they fall anyway.

"Why is this happening?" I mutter, tears streaming down my face. "Why?"

My chest tightens to the point where I can hardly breathe. I force myself to enter the room. A nurse adjusts Onyx's bed but soon leaves. I approach him slowly, taking in his peaceful face. Tears continue to flow as I tremble, leaning closer to him.

"H-how are...you?" I stammer to his sleeping form, hoping for a response.

I held his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I also brushed his hair with my bare hands. "You'll be okay. I promise," I whispered, staring at his face.