Crazy Stupid Love

Chapter 67: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Ross' POV

Soft whimpers leave escape Marriya's lips; her body stirring restlessly. My back presses up against her headboard and I shift, doing everything I can not to move her. Her fingers curl around the bottom of my shirt; fisting the fabric tightly. Subconsciously, she's stopping me from leaving. Little does she know that's the last thing from my mind.
I haven't moved from her side since finding out my touch was the only thing that could stop the screaming. I gently rock her frail frame in my lap; my fingers tracing shapes along her hips.
"You gotta wake up, baby." I whisper. "Please wake up."
Mindlessly, I fiddle with one of the chains adorning my neck. On it hangs a single dark gold key, the one Marriya gave me when she realized she loved me. The key to her heart. Since the day she have it to me, I haven't taken it off. It, along with my guitar picks, carries the most meaning to me. My band and my girl. Together, they make up my entire life.
"Right in here, Doctor," I hear Ellington's voice instruct.
Moments later, the door to Marriya's bedroom swings open. Dr Kingston walks in, followed closely by the four boys. I haven't seen him since he pronounced Rydel and Abby dead.
"Hi, Ross," he greets as he approaches the bed.
"Doctor," I respond.
The next few minutes are spent briefing the doctor on what we've seen from Marriya.
"When did the screams start?" he questions.
"Yesterday evening. We thought she was just having a bad dream, but she hasn't woken up yet."
"Has anything happened to Marriya in the last 24 or so hours that might have caused emotional strain?"
My heart drops into my stomach; the colour drains from my face. This is my fault. I did this. All eyes turn to me.
"Yes," I answer weakly.
His eyes grow dark; a strained expression contorting his features.
"Dr. Kingston, what's wrong with her?" Ellington demands. "Why won't she wake up?"
"She has Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy," he replies gravely.
The five of us exchange confused glances.
"In English please?" Rocky requests.
"It's more commonly known as broken heart syndrome. It's basically a mini heart attack," the doctor explains.
"Why did this happen?" Riker questions.
"This is usually caused by a very stressful or traumatic event, which you said she's experienced. This is the most extreme case I've ever seen," he mentions.
If it is at all possible for this to hurt any more, it did. Clamping my teeth on my bottom lip, I force the tears back. I hold her tighter to my chest; cradling her limp body in my lap with my arms protectively encircling her. I've made a lot of mistakes and hurt her way too many times, but my love for her continues to grow each day. I won't let her slip away from me now. Not after everything we've been through.
"Will she get better?" Ryland asks quietly.
"Heart strings snap when a person goes through deep emotional trauma. If enough of Marriya's heart strings break, her heart will lose form and collapse in on itself. The results will be fatal."
Strength drains from my body, and is replaced by a mix of terror and pain. She can't die. I love her. It's my fault.
A tear slips from Ellington's eye, but he quickly wipes it away in an attempt to remain strong. Riker wraps his arm around Ratliff in support, and Ratliff doesn't move away.
"But I don't understand. If it's like a heart attack, why won't she wake up?" Rocky presses.
"Now that is something I've read about, but never seen before," Dr. Kingston replies. "I'll save you the technical explanation for it. She is basically paralyzed in fear, or in what we in the medical world have nicknamed a 'nightmare trance'. This is a result of the takotsubo cardiomyopathy."
As if she knew we were talking about it, Marriya begins to whimper as she stirs restlessly in my arms. Tears begin to slip from her closed eyes, but I quickly wipe them away. One of my hands runs repeatedly through her hair, the expanse of the other one rubbing soft circles on her back. Both actions I know comfort her. Soon, she settles back into a silent and motionless state.
"So she's dreaming right now?" Riker asks.
"She is trapped in a world where her worst nightmares are coming to life. Whatever she is seeing now is what she is most afraid of. Odds are whatever traumatic event that put her in this position is playing over and over in her head and there's nothing she can do to stop it. Everything she fears is there and she is being forced to relive it over and over again."
Again, all five of us exchange looks. The only exception is this time, they are of complete pain.
"So the screams..." Ryland trails off.
"She's feeling real pain. She's watching her heart break like a record on repeat. It's not her one worst fear, it's everything. It's her own personal hell," the doctor replies solemnly.
"So what now?" I ask weakly.
"Either she's going to wake up from it, or her heart is going to stop and she's going to die."
"You need to fix this," Ellington begs; tears streaming down his cheeks. "I've lost my parents, my wife, and my daughter. She's my sister, and she's the only family I have left. I can't lose her too."
The doctor looks at him with a look of sympathy and pity, but says nothing for he knows there is nothing he can do to save Marriya now.

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Hey guys! Sorry for the short chapter, I'm just feeling kinda uninspired right now. Hopefully I can get over this writers block and have another chapter for you soon!

All the love. Always.
~ Hannah