The Bucket List of Georgina Reed

Chapter 7 - Nightmare

I glanced up at Dr. Ferrell. He looks at me sternly, and then clears his throat.

"So Miss Reed, first things first. How are you feeling?" He asks.

"I-I'm fine. It's just, my head's a little fuzzy but it's getting better." I replied honestly and his mouth twists. "Well, good to know." I gave him a small smile.

Seriously! What's going on people?!

He looks at his doctor files in his hands and flips some pages. "Anyway, if you don't mind, I need to ask you something. Did you have any exhausting, or draining activity these past few days?" He glances at me and the look on my dad's face was anxious.

I jerked my head up, trying to collect anything what this doctor was referring to. What did I do draining? After a few moments, it dawned on me. Oh shit.

"W-Well, I..." I stuttered, trying to find the right words. Jeez, how can I tell this without sounding like an idiot?

"I s-sort of had a chase with Natalie last Friday and Drake's accident gave me an exhausting stress. So I guess that's it."

"And I assume you forgot to take your meds?" He asks sternly, sounding quite sure. I nod guiltily and mom's eyes narrowed at me.

"I guess so. Well as we all know, you were diagnosed with a 'Broken Heart Syndrone' a year ago due to emotional trauma. And by living with it, you should not forget to take your painkillers and the such each time you feel something ache in your chest."

I gulped. Holy shit. Where is he going with this? I didn't realize that missing my meds would be such a big deal.

I'm so stupid.

"And as I am the doctor, I'm here to tell you a couple of things you need to know." As he said those words, I feel that he's nervous.

"In your case, you had a Silent CHD or the Silent Heart Attack."

What? I think my jaw just fell on the floor. I had a heart attack? No. No no no.

As much as I would like to speak now, my mouth won't voice out. Mom spreads her arms around me, silently sobbing while my dad has his head bowed down and arms crossed in his chest.

"Your body as of the moment, is not capable of enduring such exhausting or draining activities. It's the emotional fatigue that caused you to faint and based on your tests, the tendons, or your 'Heart Strings' tend to break. It may cause your heart to lose form or pump blood ineffectively whenever you experience these things."

I could not believe it in my ears. My mouth was agape the whole time and out of nowhere, the power of speech came back, forcing me to speak.

"S-So, what now? Am I going to get any better? D-Do I need to drink a bottle of painkillers everyday just to cure myself?"

I asked him, words struggling to be said. Sarcasm was dripping out of my voice while I was throwing those questions at him, but I don't even care. Hell, I want the truth. Maybe it was just a side-effect  of how pissed I am.

He shakes his head and answered me.

"No, I'm afraid not. And to be frank, it is possible that you may have another attack, but we'll never know when. I am sorry to tell you this but when that possibility happens, this attack might be fatal."

Stunned. That's what I'm feeling right now.

My mind is having a hard time to comprehend what this man is saying. I don't know how exactly how to process this.

Is this some kind of a sick joke?

Tears started swelling up my eyelids and continuously dribbling on my cheeks. My mom hugs me once more, harder this time. "I'm so sorry baby..." she whispers in my ear. Not minding his tears falling, my dad hesitantly went beside me, clasps my shoulder and kisses my forehead.

As much as I want to hide, and avoid recalling the bad things that happened in the past, this moment gave me glimpse of it.

Whenever I got bullied or I have a bruise when I was little, I would always come running in their arms and together, they would comfort me and help me ease the pain. But after all that's happened, I can't help but feel to be that little girl again. Both of them soothing me, and not as husband and wife (though technically they still are), but as my mom and dad.

Wiping my tears with my hands, I cleared my throat, causing my parents to hold me loosely and look back at Dr. Ferell, who is also looking apologetic.

"Well, is there any way to prolong my life?" I choked out, asking the most basic question that a sick person can think about.

"I mentioned to your parents that heart transplant is the most curable option. But to be honest, it is quite difficult to find a donor and a match. As for that option, what we all can do is to patiently wait and hope for the best. As for the time being, we can stick to oral medications and see if there will be any progress." He states with finality.

I blinked at him a few times and sighed heavily. This is just unbelievable.

That's it? We just have wait? Oh what, wait for me to die? God, this is making my head hurt even more.

"Can I go home tomorrow then?" I asked weakly, touching my forehead. I just want to go home, forget this nightmare and sleep.

"I don't see why not. Just have enough rest." He briefly smiled and said goodbyes to my parents.

When he was gone, I curled up in my bed, trying to avoid their post-crying faces and just gaze over the window.

A pang of guilt washes over me and a voice in my head was trying to say that this was entirely my fault. I already know that I was weak enough and still didn't take care of my health. If I hadn't been so stubborn and forgetful this woudn't have happened. Sighing heavily, I placed my palm over my chest and mentally cursed myself.

So this shit is real, huh?