We pulled up to the emergency room, and Evan and Laverde wasted no time getting out of the car. Evan held my hand as we walked in, while Laverde went to find a nurse. It didn't take long before he returned with one who brought a wheelchair for me to sit in.
"On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?" The nurse asked me in a calm and professional manner.
"Eight... I think it's something I ate," I replied without hesitation.
"Okay, we'll get you admitted for a doctor to check on you right away," she said as she wheeled me into the emergency room. Evan and Laverde were waiting outside for me.
Once inside, everything seemed to happen in a blur. The doctor's questions, the examination, the tests—and then, the news.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. Like icy water splashing over
