Him, His Uncle And I!

Hospital fees

Rebecca's pov

We’d been at the hospital for a day now, and thankfully, Getty was stabilized. The fear that had gripped my heart eased as I watched her breathing return to normal, the telltale purple hue that had marred her skin fading into a healthy tone. It was a relief that felt almost surreal after the chaos of the previous night. I had fallen asleep in the waiting area, exhaustion dragging me down as I processed everything that had happened. When they finally told me that Getty was okay, I broke down, and I collapsed.

But my moment of peace shattered when I woke to the sound of Kayla’s high-pitched voice echoing down the hospital’s passage. “What do you mean you can’t further the treatment?” she demanded, her tone rising in panic. I strained to hear the response from the nurse, “I’m sorry, ma’am, it’s hospital protocol. Half of her bills need to be paid before we continue her treatment.”

“What? That’s ridiculous! We already said we would cover the fees! Why would you—” Kayla’s voice wavered, her frustration evident.

I couldn’t take it anymore. “Kay, calm down,” I interrupted, standing up from the uncomfortable plastic chair. Turning to the nurse, I asked politely, “What’s going on?”

“They stopped Getty’s treatment,” Kayla said, her voice trembling. I could see the panic in her eyes as she hovered on the brink of breaking down. It hit me hard; I had been so wrapped up in my own fears and pain that I hadn’t considered how exhausted she was, too. We were both teetering on the edge, and it felt selfish to not recognize her struggle.

“Alright, Kayla,” I started, trying to soothe her. “It’s okay. I’ll take over. Go get some rest, okay?” I said, trying to inject some calm into the storm of emotions swirling around us.

“No,” she protested vehemently. “No, Rebecca! We can’t just—”

“Kayla,” I interrupted, my tone firmer now, “it’s alright. Go get some rest. Getty is stable now, and it’s thanks to them. They were with us since last night, fighting for her. We can’t treat them like this at the moment; it’s a bit unfair.” I aimed my words at the nurse, hoping to carry favor with her, recognizing her as part of the rescue team that had brought Getty here. I knew that a few kind words would help her feel appreciated, and maybe even ease the tension in the air.

Kayla hesitated, her eyes welling with tears, but finally, she nodded, looking defeated. “Fine. I’ll be right back,” she murmured before stepping away, her shoulders sagging as she left.

As soon as Kayla was out of earshot, I turned back to the nurse and smiled apologetically. “I’m really sorry. My friend has been through a lot already,” I said, my voice softening.

The nurse smiled slightly and replied, “I understand. The hospital tends to make people feel this way, so don’t worry. I get it. But unlike your friend, you are very friendly. That is a very odd combination of friendships.” I laughed softly, the tension easing just a little.

However, the nurse’s tone shifted as she added, “But your other injured friend—her injuries were very serious. I wonder what happened to her.”

At this, I stiffened, my heart racing. I knew exactly what had happened, but I couldn’t share that information with them—not in a human hospital. I had to find a way to deflect the question. I smiled stiffly and replied, “Honestly, I don’t really know what happened. One minute she was okay, and the next she called us, stating that she needed us. She couldn’t breathe, and we just rushed to her. Hopefully, when she wakes up, she’ll clarify things.”

The nurse paused for a moment, nodding as if she understood, then said, “Okay, alright. Well, let’s just be thankful that she’s stable now, right?”

“Right,” I agreed, feeling a flicker of hope. Just as she was about to leave, I hesitated. “Wait, about the hospital fees... is it possible for me to talk to the doctor in charge?”