The Darkest Hour
Chapter 5: Topsey Turvey World
"Had what, my darling?"
Clarisse asked, somewhat fearful of what Joseph was about to confess to her.
"Clarisse, for a while after I had made my realization, I began suffering from Clinical Depression. So I know how you feel. I've been there myself. I know it isn't easy, but if I just keep loving you and continue to show you how much I love you and that nothing will ever come between us, I think we can make it. Clarisse, you are a strong, beautiful, attractive, and stunning woman. I know you can beat anything you come up against. I love you, darling."
Joseph said, kissing his wife on top of the head, all of a sudden, he felt Clarisse go limp. He immediately shook her trying to get her back to consciousness. When he saw that it wasn't working, he picked her up and rushed back to the palace; as he burst through the door, he told Charlotte:
"Hurry! Call the doctor! Clarisse has blacked out!"
Charlotte just nodded as she was too shocked to say anything. Joseph took Clarisse up to their suite and laid her down on the bed gently. She was still unconscious. He sat on the side of the bed and softly spoke to her.
"Clarisse, my love. I don't what happened. In just one second, both of our lives have turned upside-down. In the beginning we were so happy, but now, what is going to happen next? Please, darling, I don't know why this is happening, but you just have to wake up. I have lost you once, I don't want to lose you again…I can't. I love you with all my heart, Clarisse Marie Renaldi. The doctor has been called and should be on his way. Just hold on Clarisse, please."
Joseph said, caressing her hand. He took the back of his hand up to his mouth and placed a small, gentle kiss on it.
"Joseph, the doctor is here. He's outside in the hall. He wants and audience with you."
Charlotte again, felt bad for interrupting another intimate moment between the couple. First it was the "Wango" back in San Francisco and now this?
"Yes, doctor?"
"I need to know a few things before I take a look at her."
Joseph nodded for him to continue.
"Had she eaten anything prior to her black out?"
"No, not that I know of."
"Was she stressed out for any reason?"
Joseph remembered their escapades earlier that morning and remembered how relaxed she had seemed then, and then answered truthfully:
"No."
"Alright, well, let me take a look."
After about an hour, Clarisse woke up, and the doctor was still in the room. He had thought he found the reason for Clarisse's fainting, but couldn't be for sure, so he had her ask a few questions and get a urine sample.
"Alright, Clarisse, I am going to ask you some personal questions, does it matter if your husband stays in the room?"
"Yes, I want him over here by my side, holding my hand."
Clarisse stated as Joseph moved from the open doorway to Clarisse's side of the bed. He grasped her hand in his and whispered in her ear: "Everything will be alright, darling. I love you."
"Alright, Clarisse, we will start with a few small questions first. Have you been experiencing some nausea or vomiting?"
"A little, but not all that much."
"How about dizziness?"
"A tad, yes."
"Now for a big one, have you been…sexually active?"
Clarisse remembered her shower adventure with Joseph this morning and blushed at least five different shades of bright red. The doctor waited for her answer, but when she didn't answer, he asked her again.
"Mrs. Romero, you have yet to answer my question."
"Oh, I am sorry doctor. Yes I am sexually active."
The doctor somewhat gave a small intake of breath.
"So I see the depression has somewhat calmed, I see?"
Joseph and Clarisse both nodded, simultaneously.
"Alright, I am going to need a urine sample, so if you would please."
He handed her a cup and she got up and went into the bathroom. A few minutes she emerged and the doctor took it from her hands and said,
"I will have to wait to test this when I get back to my office, but until then, just be sure to get plenty of rest, and drink fluids. Joseph, may I speak with you, please?"
Joseph nodded, and kissed his wife, gently and walked out into the long hallway outside of Clarisse's room.
"Joseph, I think I have a slight inkling on why your wife passed out in the gazebo today."
"Oh really? Why?"
"Well, see, I am not one hundred percent sure, so please, don't repeat this, especially to Clarisse. I think she might be…"
"Yes?"
Joseph asked as he got the news that shocked his world. First his wife was battling depression and now that that was over, THIS of all things happened, he would rather her have depression than this!
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Okay, guys that was it for chapter five. Please, review! Thanks so much!