Upside Down

Chapter 9

The rest of the day was a blur for Simon. However, at the same time it felt like an eternity. By the time Simon had reached the hospital, Cheryl clothes were soaking with a dark crimson coloured liquid, which was non other than her blood.

He had quickly raced inside of the hospital, carrying Cheryl in his arms, his heart beating rapidly. He called for the nearest doctor who immediately looked concerned. When he went to the reception to give in Cheryl's details, he recognised the receptionist's voice. She had a badge her uniform on which showed her name. Samantha Robin.

"Simon Cowell?" Samantha gasped unprofessionally dumbfounded. Not in the mood for this treatment, he rolled his eyes in annoyance, not in the least bit caring how rude and obnoxious he must look.

Realising his irritation, Samantha's now rosy red face, lowered and she set her attention back on the computer screen in front of her. She also gasped when she realised that Simon's friend was none other than Cheryl Cole herself.

Once the details were filled, Simon sat himself down on one of the chairs in the waiting areas. The doctor had rushed Cheryl into the emergency room leaving Simon alone and terrified. He'd never been so frightened and helpless in his entire life. He was so used to being Cheryl's saviour that not being able to do anything for her when she most needed help killed him.

He quickly blinked away his tears not allowing his emotions to get the best of him. He tried to be strong and keep a positive mind set. Maybe even hide away from reality with denial.

He saw a female doctor coming out of the room that Cheryl was kept in. Simon stood up and strode towards her.

"Ma'am? How is she?" Simon asked. The doctor looked taken aback at first as she recognised the person before her. Her mouth slightly gaped open and she stood motionless. Simon became impatient, and clearly irritated at the constant unprofessionalism.

"Ma'am would you answer my question please?" Simon snapped. The doctor snapped out of her trance and began fidgeting nervously.

"She's had an ectopic pregnancy. It's quite rare and dangerous. Unfortunately your... friend?" Simon nodded. "Has had one, and her Fallopian tube has raptured; hence the heavy bleeding and pain."

"What's going to happen? Simon asked worriedly.

"We've had to preform emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. We're afraid that the foetus has died, and wouldn't have been able to make it anyway. So now, our aim is to make the bleeding stop."

"Will she be okay?"

"There's a good chance that she'll be fine, but there's also a possibility she won't. For now, I'm afraid you'll have to just wait and see. We assure you that we're going to try our best."

Simon just nodded solemnly and walked back to his place. The silence overwhelmed him. He could hear the loud tick-tock coming from the large clock on the wall in front of him. He closed his eyes shut and squeezed his eye lids together. But the sound just irritated him as it penetrated through his mind.

*

Hours passed and Simon was still on the same spot. The doctors came out a few times and told Simon that they had completed the operation successfully and were waiting for Cheryl to wake up. Hearing the good news calmed Simon's mind but he still didn't feel right. He had to see her to truly believe that she was really alright.

Simon glanced the large clock. The small hand was was pointing a little over the number 5 and the long hand was pointing over the number 3. He then heard the door from Cheryl's ward opening and a doctor exiting. The doctor signalled for Simon to come and have a word with him. Obediently, Simon got up and strode towards the Doctor.

"The patient has regained consciousness. Does she have any other people here for her; preferably family members?" The doctor asked.

"No. Just me." Simon replied.

"Right, well then you are allowed to see her."

"Is there a time limit?"

"No. You can stay in for as long as you want."

"Okay, thank you."

The doctor gave a small smile and walked away leaving Simon standing alone in front of the door that separated him and Cheryl. He held his arm with his fist balled up and was going to knock on the door, but then realised how stupid that would be. Instead, he just placed his hand on the door handle and opened the door. He peeped his head in between the gap of the door first and saw an angelic looking Cheryl sitting up on the hospital bed.

They're eyes locked and Cheryl gave Simon a warm smile welcoming him in. A strange sensation rushed through her body when she saw his face. He wore a worried expression, his eyes revealing how exhausted he must be. The strange sensation changed into guilt knowing that she was the reason for his fatigue.

"Can I come in?" Simon asked softly.

"Of course you can. Come in." Cheryl replied, her voice also soft. She hadn't spoken much since she had awoken and her mouth felt dry. Simon obeyed and slowly walked towards her. He looked nervous, like he was scared to act like himself. Cheryl decided to help him out and tapped the side of the bed, motioning Simon to sit there, pain crawling up the side of her stomach.

Simon sat down on the empty space and stared at the disheveled Cheryl. He sat her vulnerability that she so badly wanted to hide. The pain the she so badly wanted to hide. The sadness that she so badly wanted to disguise.

"How are you?" Simon asked lovingly.

"Better, you?" Cheryl replied.

"Don't worry about me. I wanna know how you're really feeling."

"I am worried about you. You look exhausted."

"I'm not, just worried."

"There's nothing to worry about. I'm fine now."

"Really?"

"Yes I swear."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That you were in pain."

"Oh. I didn't think nothing of it. I thought it was normal because I was pregnant and the baby was growing. What did happen?"

"You don't know?"

"No. The doctors didn't tell me."

"Oh..."

"Well... what happened?"

"Um... well you know..."

"Simon, tell me, please."

"You had an ectopic pregnancy."

"Oh... what's that?"

"It's when your baby starts growing in the Fallopian tube instead of the tummy, where it's meant to."

Cheryl gave a confused look, glancing at Simon to explain more.

"At six weeks of the pregnancy, the baby starts growing and the Fallopian tube can only stretch to four/six centimetres. That's why you got such bad pain. And then, when the baby became too big, the Fallopian tube raptured, which is why you started bleeding."

"Right, but what happened to the baby?"

"I'm afraid the child didn't make it."

Simon felt his heart breaking when he saw Cheryl's facial expression once he told her. She looked distraught.

"Oh Cheryl I'm so sorry." Simon sympathised, not that it would make her feel any better.

Tears filled her eyes as she tried blinking them away. Women as sensitive as Cheryl would definitely have a hard time dealing with the reality that her unborn child was never going to be born.

Simon instinctively wrapped his arms carefully around her, mindful of her sour body. He comfortingly massaged her back with his hands. He knew that it wouldn't be easy for Cheryl but he was going to do everything in his power to help her through this.