Chapter 62

 

Two weeks later

 

AJ was worried.   It had been two weeks since Andrea’s funeral, and in those two weeks, Elyssa had done nothing but lie around and mope.  She hardly ate, she hardly slept.  She refused to go out, refused to see people.  She was slowly killing herself.   And AJ did not know what to do.  

 

Around noon that day, he headed down to the kitchen to make lunch.   He had been making lunch everyday for those past two weeks and carrying it up to Elyssa’s room for her.  And everyday, she had picked at the food, nibbling on it because he insisted, and then pushing it away, insisting she was not hungry.    AJ knew this could not go on much longer.   Not only was Elyssa starving herself, but she was starving her baby as well.  She was now over five months pregnant, and AJ knew that she was supposed to be eating to nourish herself and her baby. 

 

As he carried up a tray with chicken noodle soup and a turkey sandwich on it, AJ made a decision.  If she did not eat today, he was calling her doctor.  That was it.

 

“Hey, honey, it’s time for lunch,” AJ said brightly, setting down the tray on Elyssa’s night table. 

 

Elyssa struggled to sit up in the bed.   She was wearing a ratty old T-shirt and boxers, and her head was uncovered, exposing her nearly bald head.   She wore no make-up, and there were dark bags under her eyes and lines of worry on her forehead.   She looked awful.

 

Elyssa took one look at the food on the tray and frowned.  “I’m not hungry,” she said, refusing to look at AJ.

 

“Lyssa, please, you have to eat,” AJ urged, offering her the sandwich.  “Come on, baby, please?”

 

Elyssa shook her head stubbornly.  “I can’t,” she said softly.

 

“Yes, you can.  You have to.  Elyssa, you’re not only harming yourself, but you’re harming your baby too.  Our baby.”

 

Tears rose in Elyssa’s eyes, and she blinked them back furiously.  “I can’t have this baby,” she whispered.  “I’m not fit to be a mother.”

 

“Is that what this is all about?” AJ cried in exasperation.  “God damnit, Elyssa, you are not the blame for what happened!  It’s not your damn fault, so stop moping about it already.  Get over it and start taking care of yourself and your baby, for God’s sake!”

 

Elyssa stared up at AJ, her blue eyes wide and tear-filled.   Her body had begun to tremble.  She opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped.  Suddenly, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed, falling back against the pillows.

 

“Elyssa?  Elyssa?!” AJ cried anxiously, his eyes darting back and forth.  “Oh, God, Lyssa, wake up!”  He grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her frantically.   She was out cold.

 

Oh, my God, I did this.  I made her pass out.  Why did I have to go off on her like that?  She can’t help it.  This is all my fault,  AJ thought miserably.   He ran to the bathroom, wet a washcloth, and brought it back into the room, placing it over Elyssa’s forehead.

 

“Come on, baby, wake up now,” he pleaded softly, stroking Elyssa’s cheek.  She did not stir, and he began to grow scared.  What was wrong with her?

 

Without further thinking, AJ scooped Elyssa up into his arms and carried her slowly down the stairs, out the back door, and into the garage.  He struggled to get her into the backseat of his car so that she was lying down and closed the door.   Then he hurried into the driver’s seat, started the car, and sped out of the garage. 

 

Glancing back at Elyssa, AJ saw with dismay that she was still unconscious.   “Hold on, Lyss,” he murmured out loud.  “We’re going to the hospital.”

 

***

 

AJ paced the ER waiting room, impatiently waiting for news on Elyssa.  He had brought her in almost a half an hour earlier, and they had immediately taken her to one of the exam rooms, sending him off to wait in this waiting room.  Why hadn’t anyone come to talk to him yet?

 

Just when AJ was about to track down a nurse and complain, Dr. Tricia Hart, Elyssa’s obstetrician, entered the room.

 

Relieved to see a familiar face, AJ stood and greeted her. 

 

“Hello, Mr. McLean,” Dr. Hart said.  “Dr. Yang, one of the ER physicians, called me down here to examine Elyssa when she was brought in.”

 

AJ nodded.  “So, what’s wrong with her?” he asked anxiously.

 

“Elyssa’s severely dehydrated and malnourished, not to mention she’s suffering from exhaustion.  This is what caused her to collapse.  She’s not been eating, I presume?”

 

AJ shook his head.  “No, she hasn’t.  I don’t know if she said anything to you, but about two weeks ago, a one of her good friend’s daughter died, and Elyssa blames herself for it.  She’s been having a real rough time ever since.  She won’t eat, she can barely sleep.  Nothing I do will get through to her.”

 

Dr. Hart nodded.  “I’m glad you brought her in today.  Much longer, and there could be serious trouble.”

 

“She’s okay then, right?” AJ asked.

 

“Well, yes, she’s going to be all right.  We’ve got her going on IV’s to rehydrate and nourish her, and she’s resting.   I did a quick sonogram on the baby, and while it does look a little underweight, everything seemed okay to me.   We did some bloodwork on her too, and we’re waiting for that to come back so we can get some more answers,” Dr. Hart explained.

 

“Answers?  Answers to what?” AJ asked.

 

“I’m sorry, I have to make my rounds now.  I’ll talk to you later, Mr. McLean,” the middle-aged female doctor said quickly. 

 

“Wait, can I see her?” AJ asked, before Dr. Hart had gotten out of the room.  

 

She turned back to him.  “Oh, yes, of course,” she replied.  “Annie here will show you to her room,” she said, nodding to a young nurse standing a few feet away from her.   Dr. Hart handed Annie a clipboard and said something to her.  Annie nodded, and as Dr. Hart left the room, motioned to AJ.

 

“Okay, Mr. McLean, come with me, and I’ll take you to your girlfriend’s room,” the nurse said.

 

AJ nodded and followed her out of the waiting room.

 

***

 

 

Next

 

Back to index

 

 

1