Chapter 5 The Choice
797 Words
Ruby carefully pushed open the hospital room door.
Lying on the bed, Laura looked frail. Ruby's tears spilled over uncontrollably.
Laura was a light sleeper. The moment the door creaked, she stirred and opened her eyes.
"Ruby, my darling! It's okay. I just need a few days of rest." Her voice was weak and slurred.
Ruby had lost count of how many times she had heard those words. Unlike when she was a child, she no longer believed them blindly. She noticed how half of Laura's face was slightly stiff, beyond her control.
"Ruby, you're here!" Mary entered the room, her face lighting up.
Ruby squeezed Mary's hand in gratitude. It was Mary who had noticed something was wrong and brought Laura to the hospital in time.
Mary pulled Ruby aside and whispered, "The doctor said Laura's body is partially paralyzed. She'll need professional care if she's to recover. What will you do?"
"Can we hire a caregiver for a month? I'll take care of the paperwork to temporarily withdraw from school and come home to learn how to take care of her myself." Ruby spoke decisively.
"Withdraw?! You can't!" Mary gasped. Ruby was the only child from their town to make it into Kingston University—Laura would never agree.
Ruby frantically motioned for Mary to lower her voice, but it was too late.
"Ruby, I don't need a caregiver!" Laura's weak yet firm voice cut through the room as she glared at Ruby. "I can take care of myself! You are NOT withdrawing from school!"
Laura struggled to move her left hand. "Get me a wheelchair. I'll manage. I can live on the first floor."
Ruby sighed in frustration.
Laura's stubbornness flared up. "The hospital has wheelchairs! Bring me one—I can do it."
Ruby had no choice but to comply. She wheeled the chair next to Laura's bed. "Grandma, if you can get into this chair by yourself, I won't withdraw. But if you can't, you'll listen to me. Deal?"
Laura didn't answer. Instead, she mustered all her strength, trying to sit up. But her body refused to cooperate. Her right hand and leg remained motionless, and even with her left hand pushing, she barely lifted herself before collapsing back onto the bed, exhausted and pale.
"Grandma, please listen to me. It's just a temporary leave. Once you recover, I'll go back to school." Ruby gently wiped away the beads of sweat forming on Laura's forehead.
"No... you can't withdraw..." Laura whispered. She was terrified that if Ruby left school now, she'd never go back.
Still at an impasse, Ruby sat on a hospital bench, exhausted. She knew withdrawing wasn't the best option, but the high cost of medical care and a professional caregiver left her no choice.
Her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen—Franklin.
A senior at Kingston University, Franklin had always been kind to her. Without overthinking, she answered.
"Hello?"
"Ruby! You missed my birthday party last night. Can I take you out for coffee today?" Franklin's voice on the other end of the line carried a hint of nervousness.
"I'm sorry, Franklin. I'm back in Sunset Hollow."
"Oh. Well, when you return, can we grab coffee?" he persisted.
"I'm not coming back. I'm planning to withdraw from school."
"Withdraw?! Why?!"
As Franklin pressed for answers, Ruby had no choice but to explain.
"Ruby, your grandmother is right. You can't drop out! Don't forget, Professor Graves recently invited you to join his research project! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you withdraw, you'll lose everything! Maybe... I could lend you some money—"
"No, Franklin. Thank you, but I'm not at that point yet. I can handle this on my own."
"Then let me help you find a job! One that can cover the caregiver's wages. Leave it to me! I'll call you back soon."
Before Ruby could protest, the call ended.
She sighed.
Franklin meant well, but she wasn't used to accepting such help. Rich kids like him always assumed things were easy. What kind of well-paying job could an undergrad like her get? Become a sugar baby?
Shaking the thought away, she focused on her plan.
She reviewed her savings and contacted the caregiver Mary had recommended—Bertha. They arranged to meet at the hospital.
One glance at Bertha and Ruby understood Mary's praises. Tall, broad, and exuding no-nonsense energy, Bertha seemed more than capable of handling Laura's needs.
Ruby immediately felt reassured. As they walked toward Laura's room, discussing her condition, an uneasy feeling crept up Ruby's spine.
The hallway was in chaos—doctors and nurses rushed past them, patients and visitors whispering urgently.
"Hurry! The patient in room 306 attempted suicide!"
Ruby's blood ran cold. Room 306... That was Laura's room.
- Writer
