Close to Heaven

Hospital

I sat on the bench outside of the building, waiting for Jae Eun. As she approached she smiled and waved. I didn't, and she immediately knew. "What is it? Did it get worse?" She bombarded me with questions once I was within hearing distance. 

I turned my face up to her, a pleading look filling my eyes. She grabbed my arm and helped me up. Me being 5'1", this wasn't difficult for her. At this point, I could barely use my legs without crumpling to my knees. 

Jae Eun hailed a taxi and helped me inside. As I tried to buckle my seatbelt, I found my arms were weak as well. Jae Eun whimpered with worry and reached across me to grasp my seatbelt and buckle it. The driver looked back, worry in his eyes. Jae Eun got in on her side, fastened her own seatbelt. "The closest hospital," She asserted. The numbness of my limbs slowly shifted to pain, stinging my muscles and most of all, my spine.

As we arrived, Jae Eun hopped out of the taxi before we had even come to a complete stop. She ran around to my side and pulled the door open, pushing her hands under my armpits and hauling me out of the car. 

She absentmindedly threw a wad of cash to the driver and slammed the door. The guard in front of the hospital spotted us and rushed over to help. I felt stupid in my helpless state. My arms and legs felt like noodles. The only way I knew they were there was the pain. 

The guard, a tall, well-muscled man hoisted me into his arms. One of his biceps was on my back, the other behind my knees. He rushed in through the doors and to the emergency room. Jae Eun followed closely behind. "What's wrong? Will she be okay? Can you help her?" "I don't know, the doctors will get her the help she needs," He replied. I wanted to say I'm right here and I can hear everything you're saying, but the pain prevented my usual sarcasm from entering the situation. 

The guard's lips were set in a line as he observed my helpless limbs. "Are you in pain?" He asked. "Uh-I-" "Be honest," he added. "Yes," I admitted. His face tightened. "How much? On a scale from one to ten," "five," I muttered through gritted teeth. He glared, and the silence forced me to reevaluate my answer. 

"Eight," The pain in my muscles was paralyzing me. The guard set me down silently and patted my shoulder. I knew something was wrong that he wasn't telling me. The truth was, I didn't really want to know.