Way Back Into Love

Chapter 2

When Estelle reached the hospital where Calyx is admitted, she then rushed into the reception hall, steps louder as she took each step. "Ca-Calyx Garcia," Estelle stuttered as she was also catching her breaths. The nurse looked shocked while looking at Estelle whose hair is all messed up, top stained with contents of the puke that she had released earlier and eyes, blood-red because of the crying. The nurse just smiled at the messed up form of Estelle and tried to relax her by offering a chair and instructing her to take deep breaths but Estelle was hard-headed and insisted that she must see Calyx's condition. The nurse was worried about Estelle's complexion because she expected that sooner or later, Estelle will collapse due to the shock and stress that she is experiencing.

"Miss, you really need to rest, your complexion isn't that good-"

"No! I must see Calyx," she shouted and slammed her fist to the marble counter startling the nurses present. "Miss, you might collapse if this continues," the nurse said, almost pleading because, for her, a nurse's main priority is the health and the well-being of a person or patient. Estelle, who slowly understood the nurse's good intentions, slowly calmed down and arranged herself by taking multiple deep breaths before facing the nurse who still had her worried look for Estelle.

"Nurse, let's negotiate, alright? Let me know Calyx's room number and I'll throw myself away from here, promising to never show my face to you again...so please," Estelle pleaded and it seemed to move the nurse. She has experienced this many times, families of the patients come to her in panic with sadness and begging to tell them the situation of their family member. But it was their protocol to wait for the doctor and give them the work of breaking the news to their family, whether it was serious or not.

"Miss, it is the hospital's protocol to let the doctor tell you the news themselves before they give you consent to visit the patient's ward. Since my colleague is contacting the doctor in charge of Calyx Garcia, I advise you to sit there and collect yourself and brace yourself for the news that is to come," the nurse explained and Estelle who listened to the nurse speaking understood. She can't cause another scene again, though she already did it.

Estelle then sat at the chair that was given to her. She sat there, biting her fingernails while overthinking about the possibilities that will happen to her Calyx, numerous thoughts were knocking on her head but she tried her best not to consider the worst-case scenario happening. With this situation, Estelle was wary of her surrounding, studying every doctor that will walk in front of her hoping that it's the doctor that is in charge of Calyx.

Seconds turned into minutes and there was Estelle, still waiting for the doctor to arrive and tell her the news. While waiting, a thought came to Estelle's mind, 'what if Calyx is...'

"No!" Estelle shouted out of nowhere, making the people look at her with looks that tells 'she needs some help'. Seeing this, Estelle didn't mind their eyes and the way they look at her and continued praying that God may her prayers and answer them immediately. But prayers aren't that easy to receive, let alone God answering them.

"Miss Estelle?" a voice called and Estelle whose head was hanging down immediately looked up only to see a man wearing a white coat and a pink suit underneath. It was the doctor that she was waiting for. "Y-Yes?" Estelle immediately stood up and composed herself, she then watch the doctor's expression as he watched her compose herself. The two looked at each other as silence engulfed them. "Ehem," the doctor decided to break the awkwardness between them and spoke, "Miss Estelle, I need you to sign these for me," said the doctor as he gave Estelle the documents that she needs to sign.

Estelle was too shocked to even react so she took the documents from the doctor's grip but did not sign it and asked the doctor about Calyx's situation. She had read once that once a doctor hands a document to the patient's family or guardian, it can only mean three things: a document needed to be signed for the patient to be operated on, a document that is handed to the family for them to know that the patient had died and a document that gives the doctors consent for them to operate on the patient and take the organs from then donate them.

"Does Calyx need an operation?" Estelle asked as her voice slowly broke into pieces, though she had the idea that her worst fear is coming true. But that did not stop her to have some positivity, she'll wait for the doctor's confirmation. "About that...Miss Estelle, Calyx Garcia...has already died and the document that is in your hands is the document that'll confirm that the family is already notified that the patient died...I'm really sorry," the doctor explained and bowed his head towards Estelle who had collapsed to the ground.

"It became true," she said, her voice slowly nearing towards insanity. "HAHAHA, it became true," she repeated and this time the doctor had assisted her to sit down. "AHHHH CALYX! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!" she shouted as she buried her face in her hands, her voice echoing throughout the hallways. Estelle had indeed lost it all, her man, her happiness, and her desire to continue this life. Her desire died with Calyx. And to think that it happened in just one night.

When Estelle calmed down, she became quiet and her eyes had no longer held any emotion. She signed the document without starting a commotion. She just signed and then left without even seeing Calyx's dead body. Estelle exited the hospital and headed towards the bridge where she decided to take her life and be with Calyx once again.