Chapter 5: Hospital
2005 Words
And then... the unforeseen happened.
Jay fell to the ground a few moments after eating his ice cream. The horrific transition between astonishment of deliciousness to choking and becoming unconscious on the ground was not something that I could analyze. It felt like my surroundings were frozen. I just stared at him with a confused expression. I was in total shock.
Jay did not know what was going on, but he held his chest and then his throat as a sign of loss of breath. It happened all too fast!
"Call 9-1-1!" I heard a fuzzed voice.
I could barely hear her over the loud thuds of my heart beat. I felt extremely light-headed. The lady began assessing for airway. She was conducting CPR while looking at me like I was crazy.
"Call an ambulance!" she urged.
I shook my head and tried to regain my thoughts. I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed 9-1-1. An operator answered the phone.
"9-1-1 where's your emergency?" she asked.
"Help! My friend-he..." I got cut off from her.
"9-1-1 WHERE'S your emergency?" she repeated.
"Uhhh," I looked around, "In the middle of the park!"
"Which park ma'am?" she asked.
I began to panic, "The one near Beverly Hills!"
"Ma'am, there are several parks near Beverly Hills, can you identify which one?" the operator rephrased.
I looked around, and the lady gasped for air, "Tell them it's Beverly Gardens Park," she panted and resumed what she was doing.
"Beverly Gardens Park," I repeated.
"Okay, now how can I help you?" she sounded like she was reading off a script!
"I don't know! My friend just fell unconscious after eating ice cream..."
She interrupted, "Is he breathing?"
"The ice cream lady is doing CPR on him, I-"
"It's a yes or no question. If you are not sure just say you are not sure," she stated.
This lady was not helping at all! I don't understand how we can be in such a calm manner when we are in crisis mode? I know I should calm down, but not only am I scared, but now I am pissed!
"I'm... not... sure," I responded.
"Please check for breathing," she said.
I then felt the ice cream lady grab my phone and set it on speaker, "She just said that I was doing CPR. Obviously, the person is unconscious and not breathing! Get the damn ambulance here ASAP!" she was not happy.
"I understand that you wish to request an ambulance but we are going to need you to calm down," her words were professional but irritating.
"What is your name? And badge number? I will talk to Elliot about this," she paused.
"Oh!" the operator changed her tone, "I will send an ambulance right away, please wait 5-10 minutes."
"Your name!" she repeated, "This man could be dead by the time they get dispatched."
There was a pause and we heard her croak, "Katherine."
"Badge number..." the lady demanded.
"Please! I can't get fired! I have three kids!" the operator was not reading off a script anymore.
"I'll look you up later, get the ambulance now!" she hung up.
I looked at her in amazement, "H-how?"
"No time!" she looked at me scornfully, "Your friend needs medical attention."
Before I could say anything I heard the whirring sound of the sirens come closer. There was the firefighters running towards our direction with a stretcher.
"How did they know where we were exactly?" I then stepped to the side.
"Everything can be tracked. You see that phone you have there? It doesn't need its GPS to be on for networks to locate you. They use cell towers to pinpoint your location from your provider," she tried to explain and then shrugged, "Nevermind... the paramedics have arrived they will take over."
The lady nodded at the fire fighters who bent next to Javon who returned the same gesture to her. The ice cream lady walked away to her truck and drove off. The two firemen look up at me.
"How long has he been unconscious?" one asked.
"Probably for 5 minutes?" I guestimated.
"What do you think caused this reaction?" the other asked.
"Well, I am not sure... he was eating ice cream earlier," I didn't know what to say.
"What kind of icecream?" they asked.
"Uhhh, a rocky road?" I recollected.
"Is he allergic to any of the ingredients?" they lifted him onto the stretcher.
"I don't know," I honestly answered.
"It's okay," the other set an oxygen over his mouth, "We found a pulse so we will take care of it from here. Are you his girlfriend?"
"No," I instantly replied, "We are friends."
"Okay," they turned to the ambulance that had just arrived, "You may see him at the hospital."
I rushed off in the opposite direction to where I had parked my moped. The first responders quickly dispersed to the hospital. I cranked for my moped to start and revved on the gas handle. I attempted to follow the ambulance but was left behind as I now realized we weren't utilizing Jay's powers. We would have made it to the hospital in a blink of an eye, but I am driving without him. And every MPH that went by killed me. I wanted to make sure he was okay. He will be okay. Right?
What felt like forever, I found a parking spot miraculously near the emergency room entrance. I panted as I entered the facility.
There was the check-in nurse who asked how she could help me.
"I have a friend, Javon. He was brought here in an ambulance," I needed to catch my breath.
"Are you a relative?" she asked.
"No," I replied, "Friend."
"Without consent or not being immediate family, you will have to wait in the waiting room. If he wakes up and approves for you to see him, we will let you know. What's your name?"
"Katie," I went over and sat down.
My legs vibrated nervously as the long arm of the clock ticked by. I rested my head on the wall and slouched a bit.
How did it come to this? Our day was extremely unlucky. With Anita and Khlo'e, I thought going for a walk would help. Then we got ice cream. And now, we are in the hospital.
It sounded like something I am all too familiar with. Without the power and alien being, I have been unlucky most of my life. I know that I worked my way up to being a journalist, but there wasn't any true passion behind it. Now, all I care about is for my friend to be healthy.
Allergic to ice cream? Was it lactose... the marshmallow? The peanuts?
I started to blame myself for not knowing this unspoken information. I felt like I attempted murder on him. I denied that negativity, it was all in my head. It has to be. But still... I worried for him.
"Katie?" the ER nurse called out.
"Yes, that's me," I announced.
"Down this way," she gestured to follow her.
We walked past the double doors and down the long narrow hallway. We passed the curtain cubicles where people are brought in. I saw a man who was completely beaten up. His slurred speech indicated he was intoxicated. I heard one of the nurses trying to get him to realize what had happened.
"Sir, you were driving while intoxicated. Today is your birthday..."
I looked away. I should not be eavesdropping on someone in such a critical condition. Once we passed the curtain cubicles and the ICU, we took a turn and were now at recovery where the vibe was just so different from in the ICU. I could hear the screaming and code blue pings blaring. But, Jay was not in any of those rooms. I couldn't help but sigh relief.
"Room 318. We will prepare the discharge papers," she said, and then opened the door for me. She left shortly after.
I peered into the small room where Javon was hooked on IVs, probably to help flush out or hydrate him. I don't know... I'm not a doctor.
"Jay? How are you feeling?" I asked and sat down by his bedside.
"It's been a while since I've felt intense pain like this," he chuckled.
"How long?" I asked.
"About maybe... 3 light years ago," he laughed.
I don't know how to measure time by light years, but that has got to be more time than the earth was created!
Jay continued, "And all for a minuscule thing..." he pointed to a napkin with some chunks of nuts, "That."
"You might be allergic to nuts," I assumed.
"That is what the medical lady said," he shifted himself, so he could talk directly to me, "How can something on your planet be poisonous for consumption?"
"There are a lot of things that can kill humans. If anything, the only thing poisonous to this world is us," there goes my pessimistic thoughts again.
"I was watching the news while they continued chattering. Apparently, your planet is dying," he shrugged his shoulders, "And so is your sun."
I remember back in my high school days, my science teacher told us that our sun is in its "Red Giant" stage and could explode any time. Although there are bigger red giant stars, the one closer to us is all we are concerned about.
"The ozone layer is fading more than it can heal," was all I offered to say.
Jay looked at me, "They gave me this convenient injection thing in case I get poisoned or something."
"An epipen?" I confirmed.
"Yes, when we get ice cream again please stab me with it," he spoke with glee.
"That's not funny," but I chuckled.
"It was so delicious, what's the phrase again? I'm here for a good time, not a long time," Jay joined in the laughter.
I'm just happy he was okay. After a few more hours of trying to explain mortality to him he promised to be more careful. The CNA came in and winked at Javon before removing the tubes from his arms. She shortly left.
"Why are the humans just having some sort of minor seizure when I am around?" he asked.
"It's because, in our eyes, you are attractive," I explained.
"Attractive for what? Reproducing?" he sounded worried.
"W-well that, and, sometimes just for compliments," I awkwardly stated, "No homo."
"No homosapen?" he looked at me confused.
"No, it's a phrase I like to use when complimenting a friend," I helped him out of the bed, "My slanguage if you will."
"You're a good friend," he huffed, "No homo."
"We will work on it," I laughed.
We headed out to the discharge station. I signed some papers and so did he. He was appalled by the charge of bill that came with it.
"What the? $5000 for an allergy pen?" he gasped.
"That's American health care for you," I rolled my eyes.
It was now night outside. We headed to where I parked my moped, but suddenly we were stopped by someone. It was the ice cream lady.
"Detective Syrus, pleased to meet your acquaintance," she flashed us her badge.
"You're the ice cream lady..." I recalled.
"Yes, I was assigned on another case, but you two seem more interesting. Just wanted to make sure you are okay," she tipped her fedora.
"Everything is fine, I guess he is allergic to nuts," I chuckled nervously.
I felt Jay gently tug on my shirt from behind. I turned to ask what was wrong, but his eyes were fixated on Detective Syrus. His gaze was not cheerful but intense. I got the message that he wanted us to leave immediately.
"Well, we gotta head on home," I nervously bid farewell.
"Yes, I am sure you both need your rest. See you around," she waved goodbye.
As we got on my moped, I asked him what was that all about? He only said a few words...
"Just drive."
- Writer
