So I read another prompt and it sucked me in lol. I'm pretty sure at least one other story I have was based on a prompt from this same person haha. Anyway, I'm going to admit that I don't know a lot about kidney disease, but I am doing some research to keep it as close to realistic as I can. For at least the first chapter, the POV's are going to be divided, after that, I'm not sure. I also don't know how long this will be but let me know what you think.
Read~Enjoy~Review.
Chapter 1.
"Hey Emma, time for your medication." Ruby the nurse who couldn't be much older than Emma said cheerfully as she came over to Emma's bed with two cups in her hand.
Emma sighed and carefully sat up, taking her headphones out of her ears. "Great. Highlight of my day." Emma mumbled, taking the pills from one cup and swallowing them with the other cup of water. Emma had been in more hospitals than foster care in her sixteen and a half years of her life. It was discovered when she was about five that she had a chronic kidney disease that was most likely genetic, but since she had never known her parents, there was no way to know for sure. Emma had been found as a baby on the side of the road and had been adopted. She thought it was great, remembered being happy and loved, but the day they found out about her disease, they decided it was too much for them. She remembered going to the hospital in pain and feeling so tired and three days later, she was told her parents no longer wanted her. She was devastated and terrified as she was in the hospital alone, not knowing what the hell was going on in her life. She had to grow up fast because even after that, even after warnings, families who said they wanted her, would be okay with a 'sick kid' decided they didn't want her and weren't okay. So many times she'd go into the hospital with a family and leave alone. Some even left her after dropping her off in the emergency room. She understood that it wasn't easy to deal with, but they were warned and it broke her heart every time she had to say goodbye…or didn't get to say goodbye. She sighed and looked at Ruby. "Do I have dialysis today?"
Ruby checked the chart. "Yes, in about an hour." Ruby looked at the teen. "I know you usually like to have it during visiting hours, but we have a surprise guest coming to see all of you today, so they pushed up your time."
Emma sighed and sat back. "You think I really care, Ruby?"
Ruby sighed sadly and sat on Emma's bed. "Look, I know you got some not so great news Ems, but there's still time."
Emma shook her head, trying to fight the tears in her eyes and the lump in her throat. She looked around and then looked at Ruby. "What's the point, Ruby? Seriously. Why the hell would they give me a donation when I have nothing going for me? I have no family, no real education, no chance at a normal life anyway. They'd give the kidney to someone who has all those things before they'd pick me."
Ruby knew exactly where Emma was coming from, but it still made her sad to see the girl going through this. "Honey, you have a future. It may be hard to see, but you still have a whole life to live."
"Except I don't!" Emma said, growing louder. "I have nothing to look forward to. Every family I've ever been with has given up on me at the first sign of me getting sick. I've never had anyone visit me, I've been left in countless emergency rooms by myself, I'm too old to be adopted and I'll be aging out of the system if I ever actually make it to my eighteenth birthday with nothing. No support system, no job, no education, just fucked up kidneys from some mysterious genetical disorder that no one knows anything about because, oh that's right, my fucking parents threw me away when I was only a few hours old." Tears were now streaming down Emma's face and Ruby let her cry. The blonde rarely showed emotion, so when she did, the nurse was there for her. "Now I get told if I don't find a donor in the next six months, I'm dead. Like it's that fucking easy to do!"
Ruby winced and looked around. Sure, they were on the teen ward, but most of the teens here were younger teens. "Emma, I get that you're mad and you're allowed to be, but we have to keep the swearing down in here. If you want, I can find us a private room to go to."
Emma laid back, holding the blanket she'd had her whole life. "No. I just want to be alone."
Ruby sighed and checked that Emma's pitcher was full of ice water. She then stroked Emma's cheek. "I'm sorry, Emma. Life is never fair, but yours couldn't be further from fair and I wish there was something I could do to help you." She said softly, kissing the girl's temple.
Emma sniffed and then grabbed Ruby's hand before she left. "You do help me, Ruby. You help me more than you know. You're like a big sister to me and I appreciate you so much." Her eyes were honest and caused a lump in the nurse's throat. Emma let go of her hand and Ruby gave a small nod before heading out of the ward and to the nurse's station.
"Damn it!" She said, throwing down her clipboard and letting her tears fall. She knew she shouldn't be this close to a patient, but she couldn't help it. The others in the ward all had issues as well, but they had family and friends who visited them every day, who brought them gifts and food, who shared their pain and struggles and worries while Emma had no one. The girl was literally alone in the world save for her social worker who maybe visited once a month for a half an hour. Every two to three months it was a new social worker and after every visit, Emma was left feeling more down than before.
"What's wrong, Lucas?" Dr. Dracon asked as she rounded the corner. "You seem very upset."
Ruby sighed, wiping her eyes. "Emma. That poor kid just can't catch a break."
Dr. Malory Dracon sighed sadly. "I know. I don't know how she does it to be honest. She takes in everything I tell her and has to deal with it alone. It's hard enough to tell a patient they're dying when they are surrounded by their family and loved ones, but do you know how hard it was for me to tell her that? I didn't want to. I just wanted to lie to her and tell her she'd be fine. She has no one to share her worries with, no one to tell her it's okay. Well, she has us, but you and I know that's not the same." The doctor wiped her baby blue eyes. "You know, I looked into being her foster parent."
"You did?" Ruby asked, a little surprised. The woman was a brilliant doctor and was great with the patients, but the staff called her Dr. Dragon for a reason. "What did they say?"
"Well besides it being a conflict of interest, apparently I work too many hours. Even though she's here and would remain here, they apparently think it's better she has no one than have someone who would see her every day and could see her outside of visiting hours."
Ruby shook her head angrily. "I feel like Emma's just a damn number to them; a number they can't wait to stop dealing with. They don't give a shit about her or her emotional wellbeing." Ruby then remembered who she was talking to and gave a look. "Sorry."
"Don't be. You're absolutely right. I've been reporting to social services about the lack of attention Emma gets, but nothing changes." Mal sighed and slipped her glasses off, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Between you and me, I'm trying so hard to get her name higher on the donor list, but social services aren't helping. I've left messages and sent emails to get them to write a letter talking about how much this would mean for Emma, but no one ever answers me."
"Could I write one? I know that girl better than anyone and I know exactly what it would mean to her."
Mal thought a bit. "Yes. Please do, Ruby. Maybe I'll get Mary Margaret to write one too."
"Write one what?" The pixie haired woman asked as she stepped around the corner. She was a volunteer at the hospital and devoted her time to both the children and teen wards. She too had a special place in her heart for the blonde teen that never got visitors.
"A letter to the donor board about Emma and what it would mean for her to get a kidney."
Mary Margaret's face went serious. "It means life or death, doesn't it? That poor girl has already been through so much." She sighed as Dr. Dracon nodded. "I'll write one up tonight. I was just about to get her and take her to dialysis. I see she has it early today."
Ruby gave a little smile. "Yes because of the special guest."
"Oh, that's right." Mary said, smiling. "Does Emma know? She loves that show she's on."
"No, she doesn't. I hope Miss Mills takes some time and talks to Emma. Hell, I hope Emma let's her. She was understandably a bit down today."
"My fault." Dr. Dracon said with a sigh. "I had to be honest."
"Well, I'll see what I can do to cheer her up." Mary said, grabbing a wheelchair. "Wish me luck." She wheeled into the ward and up to Emma's bed. "Hey Buttercup. You ready?"
Emma gave a shrug. "Do I have a choice?"
"Come on hun, it's Snickers day." Mary said with a grin. When Emma had dialysis, she'd always bring her a candy bar to eat on her way there to try and cheer her up. Snickers were Emma's favorites. Emma got up and Mary helped her into the chair. She didn't necessarily need it on the way there, but she'd be tired afterwards, so they took it. Mary tried, but Emma just wasn't in the mood to talk or joke around and didn't even want the candy bar. As Emma was going through the dialysis, Mary tried everything from changing the channel to something she thought Emma would like, to even suggesting they play a game, but Emma wasn't having it.
"I'm sorry, MnM, I just want to chill." Emma said, using the nickname the other kids gave the woman.
"Okay Princess." Mary said, keeping her voice chirpy. "I did pick this up on my way in." She said, handing Emma the latest gossip magazine. "I saw the cover and thought of you."
Emma looked at it and smiled softly. "Regina Mills." She said, sighing. "Do you think she's as spoiled as these people make her out to be?"
Mary shrugged and tilted her head. "The thing is, some kids are spoiled, but they aren't brats and they appreciate everything they have. I think she's one of those kinds of people. I mean, she gives to so many charities, including our hospital, so she can't be that terrible."
Emma started paging through it. "I wonder if she knows how lucky she is."
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Regina sighed as she sat in the back of the hired car and flipped through the magazine. She had no idea why people seemed to want to say the worst things about her when she had never done anything scandalous. Sure her dad was a huge movie director, her mom was the Queen of cooking shows, and her sister already had two Grammy award winning records, but that didn't mean Regina didn't work for her job and her money. Her parents had nothing to do with her getting her role on the new hit show River's Edge. She worked hard for the role and got it fair and square. She'd been acting since she was three and even though she made a name for herself, all the gossip was about how she'd be nowhere without her family. It didn't matter how much money she donated, how many hours she worked at soup kitchens, or how often she helped the Make a Wish foundation because no one wanted to talk about that. Though…if she really thought about it, that was okay because she didn't do it for the recognition; she did it to give back and she loved it.
Today she'd be spending time in the Boston Children's hospital with both the young kids ward and the teen ward. These kids were facing the scariest times in their lives and she hoped she could help make today just a little bit better for them. "How much time do I get, mom?" She asked, looking out the window at the brightly colored hospital.
"Two hours on each ward." Cora said, putting her phone down. "You're twenty now, so I'm staying out here while you do your thing. You okay with that?"
"Yes, of course. Mom, you didn't need to come at all you know."
"I know, but I love spending time with you, even if it is just in the car. Now, go make those kids smile."
Regina gave her mom a smile and got out of the car, shaking hands with one of the heads of the hospital. She took a breath before heading into the hospital, reminding herself to not look at the kids with pity as they didn't need more of that in their lives.
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Emma winced as she sat in the chair after her dialysis; she was always a bit sore afterwards. She had to go at least three days a week, but may have to start doing it overnight three times a week if her damn kidneys kept getting worse. If she could just get one kidney from a donor, it would drastically change her life. They could take both her defective ones out and she could live with one healthy one. Sure, maybe not exactly normal as she'd have to be on a special diet and not do anything too physical, but it would be much better than having to stay in a damn hospital and go through dialysis all the time. But she knew she wasn't a good candidate at all as she had nothing going for her. She had no family, no future, and she hadn't been in school since eighth grade. Sure, she tried to teach herself, found free websites and loved reading anything she could, but she knew she'd never graduate like other kids her age. Still, she thought she could live with her disease, thought the trial she did would work. However, the news she got at her morning appointment took all her hope away.
"Emma, I don't want to do this, but I have to be honest with you." Dr. Dracon said, sitting in a chair across from the blonde. She took Emma's hand and the blonde noticed the doctor had tears in her eyes. This wasn't good.
"What? It didn't work?"
Doc shook her head sadly. "It didn't work, love." She took a breath. "All we have left is the kidney donation."
Emma sighed. "So how much time do I have left?" She asked, looking down and trying hard not to cry.
Dr. Dracon cleared her throat; she too was trying not to cry. "We need a donor in six months. If we don't have one by then, it'll be too late and you'll have about a year."
Emma started breathing harder as the reality hit her. "I may not see my eighteenth birthday?" She asked, her voice hitching as her tears broke free.
"Oh, Emma. I'm so sorry." Dr. Dracon said, holding the girl close to her. "I'll be with you every step of the way. You're not alone."
Emma tried to laugh, but it came out as a sob. "I've always been alone. Honestly, doc, who's gonna care when I die. Who's gonna remember me? Who's gonna be at my funeral? Hell, who's gonna pay for my funeral? What will happen to me? To my body when I die?" She looked up at the doctor. "I don't wanna die."
"My dear child." Mal said, her own tears falling now. "I'm going to remember you, I'm going to care, my love. I'm going to miss you and I'll be at your funeral." She sniffed and held Emma tighter. "I don't want you to die either, baby girl, but unless some miracle drug comes out soon, I can't stop it. I'm so sorry."
Emma felt terrible for making the doctor cry as the woman had always been so kind to her. "It's not your fault. I'm sorry…I don't mean to make you feel guilty I just…I don't have anyone to talk to."
"Shh. You have nothing to apologize for. You have every right to your feelings and you can stay in here with me until you feel better."
Emma sniffed as she remembered that morning and wiped her nose on her sleeve. She didn't even know she had been crying as Mary pushed her back to her ward. She didn't know why she was so sad as it wasn't like she had much of a life if she lived anyway. But damnit, she made it this long, she wasn't ready to die. "Thanks Mary." Emma mumbled as she got in bed and lay on her side. "I just wanna be alone. Can you close my curtain?" The ward had a total of ten beds, though only five were currently occupied. Each bed had its own curtain so the patients could have privacy should they want it. Mary closed the curtain and Emma laid back with her eyes closed.
Over each bed was hand printed signs that said each patients name and why they were there. Three said 'Fighting Cancer', one said 'Survived a car accident' and Emma's said 'Kidney Disorder'. She took her sign down and crossed out Disorder and wrote Donor Needed. Maybe whoever their surprise guest was would see it and try to get her a donor. Maybe they wouldn't, but either way, it made Emma feel better. Emma put the sign back up, opened her curtain and laid down, putting her headphones in and laying on her side as she listened to her music.
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Regina read books, played games, and spent time with each of the younger kids in the first ward. There were ten of them and they all had battles they were fighting. Most didn't know who she was, but she didn't care as just being there made them smile. It was now visiting hours and she smiled as she made her way to the teen ward. She watched from the window, seeing each bed surrounded by at least two to five people laughing and visiting with their loved ones. One bed, however, had no one there and it made Regina frown. "Doesn't she have visitors?" She asked the nurse with a red streak in her hair who couldn't be much older than herself.
Ruby looked to where Regina was looking and shook her head sadly. "She doesn't have family."
"That's so sad." Regina said, feeling a pang in her heart.
"She's had a rough day and though she is a fan of yours, please don't expect much from her." Ruby said, opening the door. "Hey guys, look who's here!"
The kids all turned and their smiles were wide when they saw Regina. "Hey, you're Lana from River's Edge!" One girl said.
Regina laughed. "I'm Regina, but I play Lana on River's edge." She glanced over and saw the blonde was on her side, facing away from them. She spent the next hour signing autographs and chatting with the kids. She had another hour, but she didn't want to take too much time from the families visiting hours. She took a breath and decided to go say hi to the blonde. "Hey there." She said, but the blonde did not even look up. Regina looked at the sign on the bed and saw the girl needed a kidney donor. It had to be bad if that was what she needed, and she felt such sadness for her. The girl wasn't much younger than her, from what she could tell. She was pale, but had a natural beauty about her that Regina couldn't deny. Her hair was curly and long and Regina had to resist the urge to just touch it. Instead, she lightly touched the girls arm.
Emma was in her zone, so when she felt the touch on her arm, she jumped, and then winced from doing so. She looked up as she ripped the pods out of her ears. "You scared the shit…holy hell, you're Regina Mills."
Regina couldn't help but chuckle as she sat in the chair next to Emma's bed. "Sorry I scared you. I wanted to say hi."
Emma didn't know what to say. "Oh, hi. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here. I was kinda lost in my own world."
"It's okay, I figured I'd come say hi before I left anyway. I have another hour here and thought maybe you could use some company."
Emma smiled softly and adjusted herself. "I'm sorry, I had dialysis today and I'm a bit sore."
"Don't be sorry and don't think you have to shift on my behalf. Tell me about yourself, Emma."
Emma bit her lip, not quite believing she was talking to the girl…woman she had watched on TV her whole life. "Well I'm Emma, obviously, and I'm sixteen."
"And a half." Ruby said as she walked by, giving a wink.
Emma chuckled. "Sixteen and a half. I have some crazy kidney disease and…it's not good. But you don't want to hear that."
"I do if you want to talk about it. How long have you had it?"
"Since I was five. I've only been here for a year, but I've been dealing with this practically my whole life."
"And…no visitors?"
Emma looked down and Regina instantly felt guilty. "No." She said quietly. "I'm sorry, I don't mean any disrespect, but I don't really want to get into that."
"It's okay." Regina said, putting her hand over Emma's. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
"It's okay. What about you? I mean, I know what I've read, but…"
"But it's not all good." Regina said with a chuckle. "I'm twenty and yes, my parents are famous, but I worked hard to get to where I am. I love giving back though, and this hospital is one of the places I love to give the most to."
The two talked easily about different things such as Regina's life growing up and Emma telling funny stories about the jokes she's played on Ruby and Mary Margaret. Regina found she loved talking to Emma and was sad when her time was up. "I'm so sorry, but I have to get going. My mother's waiting." She bit her lip and grabbed a piece of paper. "Do you have a phone?" When Emma nodded, Regina wrote on the paper. "This is my number. Text or call me any time."
Emma was stunned. "Really?"
"Yes." Regina said with a smile. "Oh, and would you mind if I came and visited you more often?"
"I…I wouldn't mind at all. I'll put you on my list." Emma chewed on her own lip. "Regina? Don't say you're going to visit if you're not though. No offense, but I can't handle more broken promises."
Regina again put her hand over Emma's. "I don't break my promises, Emma. I will be back to see you."
That night, Emma had a real and true smile on her face as Ashley, the night nurse, came in and gave the bedtime pills. "You look happy." The nurse said as Emma took her pills.
"I had a visitor today and she said she'd come back again."
Ashley smiled. "That's great, Emma. I'm so happy for you."
Emma fell asleep feeling better than she knew she should have given the news she'd gotten that day. Well, if she was going to die, at least she'd have met Regina Mills first.