Chapter two

The broken heart syndrome

Elena woke up with a shock. She looked around confused. She had woken up on the couch in the cabin. The problem is, she didnt remember driving up to the cabin. The last thing she remembered, was planning a trip to the cabin with Stefan. Elena called after Stefan, but he never answered. She looked around in the whole cabin and outside, but he wasnt there. She began to call him on his phone, but it went straight to voicemail everytime. ''Stefan, are you there? Please, pick up. I'm really worried, where are you? Please call me back immediately, when you hear this.'' was the message she left on his voicemail. Elena hurried back home to check if he was at the house. She searched the whole house, inside out. But he wasnt there. She went over to miss Davenport, her neighbour, and asked

Elena: ''Hey, miss Davenport, do you happen to have seen Stefan today? He doesnt pick up when I call, and I cant find him. I'm a bit worried.''

miss Davenport: ''Elena... Are you okay?''

Elena: ''yeah of course I'm okay, why would'nt I be?''

Miss Davenport: ''hun, Stefan is dead..''

Elena: ''what? What are you talking about, no he's not. I spoke with him yesterday.''

Miss Davenport: ''It seems like you have lost a part of your memory. A officer came to your door a week ago and told you, that Stefan was dead. And after that, nobody saw you in 3 days.''

Elena: ''look, I dont know why you would make this up, but you need to stop right now! And tell me where he is!''

Miss Davenport: ''Elena, I'm so sorry...''

Elena: ''No! No! no... It cant be true! -he cant be gone! No!''

Elena bursted out in tears. Miss Davenport could see her falling apart. But suddenly Elena held her hand hard on her chest, and fainted.

Miss Davenport: ''Help! Someone, call 911! Help!''

The ambulance arrived after 5 minutes, and Elena got to the hospital. Miss Davenport stayed with Elena.

Miss Davenport: ''Doctor, can you tell me what's wrong with her?''

Doctor: ''It's hard to explain. It's very rare this happens. Uhm, has anything traumatic happened in her life recently?''

Miss Davenport: ''Her husband died a week ago, and apparently she lost the memory of being told that he was dead, a week later. So when I told her earlier today, she fainted. Please Doc, what's wrong with her?''

Doctor: ''There is something called Broken Heart Syndrome. You know the phrase 'having a broken heart' right? Well, the phrase refers to the physical one may feel in their chest as a result of the loss, although it also by extension includes the emotional trauma of loss even where it is not experienced as somatic pain. somatic means 'of the body'. Although ''heartbreak'' ordinarily does not imply any physical defect in the heart, there is a condition known as ''Takotsubo cardiomyopathy'' (broken heart syndrome) where a traumatising incident triggers the brin to distribute chemicals that weaken heart tissue. That's the pain she felt in her chest, and that's why she fainted.

It was good she got to the hospital right away, because if she had come later, she may would have been dead. But she is stabile for now. You can visit her.''

Miss Davenport: ''Wow, okay. Thanks Doctor.''