YOU'RE NOT ALONE - CHAPTER 2 - "Not One Moment Longer"
In Ken's car......after Lita's appointment at the hospital.......
"I can't believe I'm diagnosed with Hepatitis", exclaims a shocked Lita, "how can something like this happen to me?"
"I know how difficult it is for you right now, Lita", assures Amy, "I know it isn't the easiest thing to face right now, but It's a good thing they caught it when you had the blood work done".
"Now I have to go back Monday to have the biopsy done", says Lita, "I still don't feel good about this. I don't even know how I ever end up getting it in the first place".
"The doctor was really nice to give you information about the illness, Lita", adds Molly, "you should seriously check them out. She gave you a few pamphlets and a video. Do you have a VCR?"
"Yeah, Molly, I do", answers Lita.
"Then you should watch the tapr", says Molly, "this could really help you to deal with this".
"You know, Lita, she's right", adds Ken, "I remember the doctor mentioning the 3 kinds of Hepatitis, so this biopsy should really give you an idea which type you have".
"Trust the doctors, Lita", assures Amy, "they're there to help you, like they helped Molly".
"Well, OK, guys", nods Lita, "if it will help me, then I will go through with this, and whatever the outcome will be, I will support their decision as to what treatments are there for me".
"You do want to live, right?", asks Ken.
"Yes, I do", answers Lita, "plus I want you guys to be there for me when I have it done".
"I will certainly be there for you, Lita", assures Amy.
"Count me in", adds Molly, "I want you to be healthy so you can keep up with that great cooking of yours, especially your cherry pie".
"Me, too", smiles Ken.
"Um, come to think of it", wonders Lita, "what's been up with Raye?"
"Now that you mentioned it", wonders Amy, "I haven't seen her in a few days. I asked Chad the other day, and he said that Raye must have some kind of the flu".
"Did she have the same symptoms that I have?", asks Lita.
"Yes, she did", answers Amy, "plus, Chad mentioned that Raye's skin was a bit on the yellow side".
"You don't think that Raye may have contracted Hepatitis also?", wonders Molly.
""She should seriously get checked right away", says Amy.
Meanwhile.....at the park.....in front of the ice cream stand..............
"Have you noticed Lita hasn't been herself lately?", notes Mina.
"Yeah, I did", answers Serena, "she has been looking very tired lately, as if she has some kind of the flu or something like that".
"I hope she'll be alright", says Mina, "I heard she had to go to the hospital".
"Oh, my God!", exclaims Serena as she almost drops her ice cream, "I hope it isn't anything too serious".
"Well, Amy and Molly went with her", says Mina, "I'll talk to either of them to get the full story".
"Oh, please do that, Mina", says Serena, "I just never heard of anyone going to the hospital for the flu".
"It could be a number of things", says Mina, "we'll find out something".
"By the way, Mina", wonders Serena, "what's up with Raye? I haven't seen her in a few days".
"Come to think of it, Serena, you're right", notes Mina, "I did noticed that. I heard she has been under the weather lately. Something about the flu".
"I wonder if it's the same thing Lita has", wonders Serena, "want to go to the shrine and maybe cheer Raye up a bit?"
"Sounds like a great idea", agrees Mina, "let's go".
20 minutes later...........at the Hino shrine...........................
"Hey, Chad", greets Mina, "how's it going?"
"Pretty good, girls", answers Chad, "how about yourselves?"
"Not too bad", says Serena, "we're here to see Raye. Is she here?"
"Yeah she is", answers Chad, "she's in her room".
"Can we come in to see her?", asks Mina, "I hear she's been under the weather lately".
"She hasn't been feeling well lately, Mina", says Chad, "she looks really flushed and tired. She's complaining about headaches and her joints aching. She claims it's the flu. I got a closer look and noticed her skin in a bit on the yellow side. She's been doing all this meditation and using all kinds of Shinto healing spells and medications to cure herself".
"Well, we will see ourselves in", says Serena.
"Go right ahead, girls", grins Chad, "and watch out for her grandpa on the way through".
Mina and Serena walk to Raye's room, where they find her in deep meditation, surrounded by candles and incense. Mina's cell phone suddenly rings inside her purse. Raye quickly snaps out of her trance, and looks at Serena and Mina
"Aw, crap", says Mina, "my cell phone's going off. I hope it's not my mother". She fumbles in her purse to get the still ringing cell phone.
"Uh, hi, Raye", blushes Serena, "didn't mean to catch you at a bad time, but we were worried about you, so we decided to come and cheer you up".
"Um, that's OK, guys", nods Raye slowly, too tired to argue.
Mina finally grabs the cell phone out of her purse and answers it. "Hello?......hey Amy, how's it going?.......how did Lita make out?.......Oh, man, that's not cool, I'm sorry to hear about that.....I wish her the best when she gets the biopsy done........I hope her condition isn't too serious.....Serena and I are at the Hino shrine, we're in Raye's room..........she just got out from her trance when my phone rang............she looks tired, like she hasn't slept for hours.......want me to get a closer look?.....hold up...", she advances to Raye to get a closer look at her, "Amy? her skin in a bit on the yellow side..........no way?? She may have the same illness Lita has?.....I'm not sure if Raye went to the doctor or not........you're saying she should get blood work done?........if it's that serious, she shouldn't wait another moment longer.............yeah, I got a pad and pen in my purse......sure let me get them....", Mina grabs a small notepad and a pen from her purse, "...OK, Amy, got it........", she proceeds to write something on the notepad, ".......that's the name and phone number of the liver specialist Lita is seeing, and that Raye should make an appointment with her as well?......hey that name sounds familiar. Is that the same doctor that operated on Molly some time back?.....Lita will definately be in great hands, and Raye will be as well.......I will do that, Amy. Serena and I will make sure Raye gets blood work done.........alright, keep me posted on Lita's condition......alrighty, bye bye". She shuts her cell phone off and puts in back in her purse. She hands Raye the slip paper in which she wrote the name and phone number on.
"Here, Raye", says Mina, "Amy says you need to make an appointment with this specialist as soon as possible. Plus, you need to have blood work done as well."
"What are you talking about?", questions Raye, "what did Amy tell you? What's up with Lita's condition".
"Lita's been diagnosed with Hepatitis", explains Mina, "which kind, I'm not sure. She's having a biopsy done on Monday. Amy feels that you may have it as well".
"That's crazy", exclaims Raye, "me having Hepatitis? There's no way".
"You know, Raye, Mina's right", counters Serena, "you should seriously get the blood work done. Then you will know if you have it or not".
"I still think it's a crazy idea!", exclaims Raye, "it's only the flu, gotta be!"
"You don't know that, Raye", counters Mina, "don't be stubborn. Serena may be afraid of needles but if she had to have blood work done, she has no choice".
"You have to go through with it, Raye", pleads Serena, "it's for your own health. We want you healthy".
Mina takes her cell phone out of her purse and hands it to Raye. "Here, Raye, you can use my phone. Now call up the doctor and make that appointment to have blood work done", she orders, "and while you're at it, make an appoint with the liver specialist as well!"
"Please, Raye", pleads Serena, "please go through with this. We're really worried about you!"
Raye takes Mina's cell phone from her hand. "OK, I'll call the doctor for the blood work". She dials a number on the cell phone. "......hello, this is Raye Hino. I would like to make an appointment to have blood work done. It's possible that I may have Hepatitis............No, I didn't have anything to eat for the last 12 hours, just some water and clear juice......in a half hour? Sure I'll be there.....alright, I'll see you then. Bye".
"What did the doctor say?", asks Serena.
"They can do the blood work in a half hour", answers Raye.
"That's great", nods Mina, "on the way, you're going to call the liver specialist and make an appointment. And if she says you needs to have a biopsy done, you have to go through with it."
"She's right, Raye", adds Serena, "if not for you, do it for Lita. So get dressed and get ready. Afterwards, we'll go get ice cream. How about that?"
"Well, alright", nods Raye, "I'll get the blood work done, and on the way, I'll call the liver specialist. I'll support any decisions the doctors make".
"We care about you, Raye", says Mina, "we want you to live".
"Thanks for the support", smiles Raye as she stands up, "I'm going to get dressed now. Don't want to miss out on ice cream".
TO BE CONTINUED..............................................