Flames In The Fire

SIX

Ellie POV

The smell of the hospital and all the noise is getting to me. I want to go home and be with my husband and my animals. I have so much I want to do with the time I have left. I am so sleepy. I close my eyes and hear someone come into my room. I open my eyes to see Patsy standing at my bedside. 

“I was going just to leave when I saw you were sleeping,” Patsy says.

“It is fine. I am happy to see you,” I say. I try to push myself up in the bed, but it isn't easy. Patsy tries to help me. “It is fine, Patsy,” I say to her. I look at her sweet face. She smiles at me. What a glimmer of light she is in this horrible place. 

“Joshua told me you were leaving, and I wanted to come by and see you,” Patsy says.

Patsy and I have been friends since high school. We were both cheerleaders. Patsy married Joshua, my doctor. Every time I have been here, she has been to see me and convinced me to stay a few times longer than I wanted to stay. 

“I hope Joshua did not recruit you to convince me to stay here?” I ask. 

“No, he knows I will always take your side. I only wanted to see my friend,” Patsy says.

“I am not dead yet, Patsy. You can come to the house when I go home,” I say to her.

Patsy begins to laugh and then cry. “Please do not do that,” I say to her.

“I am sorry. I wanted to come by for another reason, too, and I did not want to do it at the house because I know how upset John gets about you know your family,” Patsy says.

“John does not get upset. He just backs me up; that is all,” I say.

“Your brother wants to see you. He asked me to come to you and see if you will see him,” Patsy says.

“No, not right now, but I will think about it, okay,” I say to her. 

“Thomas does not know what is going on, and I would never say anything to him, but you should see him,” Patsy says. 

“I will think about it, but since you are here, there is something you can help me with, if you don’t mind,” I say.

“Sure, anything,” Patsy says.

“Tell Joshua I said thank you,” I say. 

“For what?” Patsy asks.

“He knows,” I answer.

*Flashback*

“Daniela, there is a young man here to see you, Joshua. He is such a sweet boy. You know his entire family is doctors, and he is in medical school,” my mother says to me as I walk down the staircase to the front door. 

I greet Joshua at the door. “We are going to the lake and dinner,” I say as I exit the door with Joshua quickly.

We walk out the door to his sports car. Joshua opens the door, and I get into the car. I look back to see my mother and father watching me leave with the doctor's son. I am sure they are so proud. 

“You know, for a grown woman to be sneaking around is a little weird, don’t you think?” Joshua says.

“I know, but I have to do this for a little while. I do not want to cause any trouble for John, and you know how my father is about John’s family,” I say.

“You owe me big,” Joshua says as he drives me to John’s house. 

“I will dance at your wedding,” I say, laughing. 

“I would have to meet someone first,” Joshua says.

“You will, Josh. You are a great man and a damn good friend. Any woman would be lucky to have you,” I say to him.

“Yeah, you think so,” Joshua says.

“Yes, doc, I do,” I say.

“I am not a doctor yet,” Joshua says.

“Hurry up; I need someone to figure out why I am having headaches,” I say to him.

Joshua pulls into John’s farmhouse. John comes out to meet us. “Thanks, Josh,” John says.

“You kids don’t get into any trouble. I will be back after my study group,” Joshua says.

John takes me into his arms as Joshua drives away. He leans in and kisses me. “I hate all this sneaking around,” John says. 

“Think of it as an adventure,” I say to him. 

*Present Day*

“Ellie Ellie Ellie,” I hear my voice, but I cannot open my eyes. “I think she is having a seizure; get Dr. Newbern,” Patsy screams.

“Ellie, come back to us,” I hear her voice saying. It echoes loudly in my ears.

“Ellie, please, Ellie,” Patsy pleads.

I feel cold and damp. “Ellie,” I hear Dr. Newbern say my name.

“Joshua, I need to get to John. Can you drive me? Please don’t tell my parents,” I whisper to him. 

I feel cold again, and then I open my eyes to a beeping noise and Joshua. “Ellie, look at me,” Joshua says.

“Hi Joshua,” I say softly.

“I disapprove of you leaving here. Please stay another week,” Joshua says to me.

I begin to cry. “I have to go home to John. I need to be at the beginning when it ends,” I say.

“Ellie, I can give you more time with him. Is it your dogs? I will march them in here myself to see you, please, listen to me, as your doctor and your friend,” Joshua pleads with me. 

I reach out, and I touch Joshua’s face. “I do not have a lot of time left; please let me go home,” I say. I look over to Patsy. Her face is red from crying. I reach out and touch Joshua’s hand. “Please do not tell John about this. I have not had this kind of episode in a while, please,” I plead with him. 

Joshua shakes his head and agrees not to say anything. “You are on a lot of pain medicine. This will happen again,” Joshua says. Patsy leaves the room crying as the EMT’s come into the room to take me home.