I watched as Edward's doctor entered the room. He's balding and fat. And he has a round face that's just slightly too small for his body, which makes him look comical and alien-like. I didn't know his name, I didn't want to know his name. I know he's going to bring bad news.
Edward had been put into a medically induced coma after his seizures didn't stop. Now his face had gone calm and he was breathing steadily. I run my hand through his thick coppery hair, trying to avoid the tubes that are attached to him. He has the beginnings of 5 o'clock shadow on his jaw.
"Ahem." The doctor fake coughs in order to get my complete attention. I don't want to give it to him though, all I want to do is watch Edward. I want to make sure he's okay. "Ma'am." The doctor tries again to get my attention. I finally give in and turn my head towards him.
"Yes Doctor?" I asked him, my voice quivering. I already know it's going to be bad news, now I just need to know how bad.
"After reviewing his MRI, we're confident we know what is causing the seizures." The doctor pauses. "He has a brain tumor." He lets the information sink in.
"He. . . He has a tumor?" I feel my eyes go wide, and my chest constricts as I feel myself start to panic. "A brain tumor? He can't have a brain tumor he's only 26! He's young! Brain tumors are for people who've smoked their entire life, or worked in mines, or were around radioactive material." My verbal diarrhea takes over as I begin to hyperventilate.
"We're going to have to take a sample from it. We're not sure if it's cancerous." The Doctor explains slowly. His voice is monotone, not because he's hiding his emotions, but because he has no emotions.
"Right now?" I take a deep shaky breath as little sobs shake my body.
"Right now would be better." The doctor waves is a nurse who had been waiting outside the door. They planned this. I was upset now. The nurse, whose name tag I didn't bother to read, handed me a clipboard with several pieces of paper stuck to it.
"Those are release contracts that will allow us to operate on your husband." The nurse said to me gently.
"He's not my husband." I responded mutedly, staring down at the pieces of paper. Half of the questions on the release forms I didn't know the answer to. When were you last sexually active? Does your family have a history of high blood pressure? Are you currently or have you ever given a sperm donation? I barely knew anything about myself medically speaking, let alone my boyfriend. I could feel tears pooling in my eyes. I was going to lose it anytime now.
"You're not married? Well, then you need to contact an immediate family member that can get here as soon as possible. Otherwise, we can't do the operation." The nurse explained. "Only immediate family can sign the forms. Do you need to use a phone?"
I lost it. I dropped down onto the chair behind me and put my head in my hands. I sorted through my mixed emotions and tried to decide which of Edward's relatives to call. I didn't know his brother's number, but I was pretty sure I knew his mothers.
"Could I use your phone?" I ask, even though the nurse had just offered to let me use one.
"Sure sweet, come with me." She motioned for me to follow her, and I dutifully stood up and walked behind her. "Who are you going to call?" She asks, turning around to make sure I was following.
"His mother. I'm going to call his mother." I mumble. She leads me towards a line of payphones.
"Press 9 to get out." The nurse tells me and then walks away. Wonderful. I dig through my purse to try and find a quarter. No luck. After a quick pat in my pockets I turn up empty again. A man who isn't dressed in a doctor outfit comes walking down the halls. I pounce.
"Do you have a quarter I could use?" I walk towards him. His eyes search through the hall and finally land on me.
"Sure." He puts his hand in his back pocket and pulls out a quarter. "Do you need more?" He asks as his other hand goes into his pocket again and produces another quarter.
"Yeah, thanks." I say grabbing two quarters. He smiles at me.
"What are you here for? My wife is giving birth on the next floor. I needed to get away from the screaming for a little while. She decided to go au natural for this one." The man ran his fingers through his thick black hair, a smile playing across his lips. "It's our first kid." He chuckles at this idea.
"My husband has a tumor." I say deadpan. I never understood why people were so happy to have children. I never saw the reason for it. There were enough people on this planet already. Edward and I had talked about the prospect of kids in the future, while he wanted one or two, I'd never wanted any. He just assumed it was a phase, but in reality, growing up in a small city, I saw my share of young mothers and their children. I wanted nothing to do with the slobbering, puking, mini-humans. And I made this very clear to him.
"Oh." The man's smile fell from his face. I almost laughed at how comical it was.
"Thanks for the quarters." I say, and turn back to the phones. I hear the man walk away awkwardly.
I start to dial Edward's mother. The phone rings, and rings, and rings. I'm almost sure that she won't answer when I finally hear a voice on the other end.
"Esme speaking." Edward's mother had the sweetest voice imaginable. It was light, and sounded so free and kind.
"Esme, it's Bella. Something's wrong with Edward." I say, trying to keep the tears from springing out of my eyes. "They found a tumor."
"A tumor?" Esme's voice sounds strained. "Well . . . in that case his father and I will be with you soon. You're at the local hospital right?" I can hear Esme telling her husband Carlisle to get the car keys.
"Yeah, they won't let me sign the form that gets him into surgery. They say they need an immediate family member." I can hear my voice get scratchy as I hold back the emotions.
"Bella, don't you worry. We'll be right there. Edward will be fine." Esme comforts me over the phone. "We'll be there soon. Don't worry." And then she hangs up.
~~**oo**~~
Authors Note:
I hope you all liked this chapter. Review it you loved it! Review it if you hated it. Might as well right? Next Chapter will be out tomorrow!