Her True Heart

Talia was nervous looking into the health conditions of her grandfather. She went through the hospital her grandfather likely is taking his treatment and found the security of the hospital's system was pretty lax.

'Is it okay for hospitals to not invest more in cyber security? Shouldn't they protect the confidentiality of the patients?'

She wondered and tried to search for her grandfather's name but was surprised to get no results about her grandfather. For a moment she was happy but then she realised the serious issue there.

She was sure this is the hospital her grandfather would go for yearly medical checkups for as long as she remembered. And this hospital is computerised for decades and her grandfather's name must appear at least in those general checkups list.

So upon further digging, she found out her grandfather's medical report. Science was not her strong subject and all the medical terminologies made her head hurt and she had to search in the internet about everything in the reports.

Who knew human body had this much minerals she was sure she learnt in chemistry in it and they all had to be at particular level too? And what's with all those other... Things... ECG, EEG, ACR, GFR, Creatinine, albumin and whatnot.

She searched for everything and the normal range and the conclusion made her head spin. Her grandfather has chronic renal failure with underlying heart conditions and he currently is very very sick. She never thought this would be this serious.

Grandpa only had at most ninety five days to live? And this report is a week old and that means...

Talia's hands tapping on the keyboard trembled and she cupped her hands over her mouth and did breathing exercises so that she won't hyperventilate.

After composing herself for a while, she looked for the possible treatments available for his conditions and nothing seemed optimistic.

Except... Kidney transplant!

Talia who never gave much attention to biology classes back in school, frantically tried to learn new things about the human body, surgeries and the various criteria for transplants. And what she learnt didn't give her much hope.

Her grandpa has the rare O-neg blood that runs through the Brunton family and it would be really hard for him to get a matching kidney. Also, the organ procurement organisations won't be having her grandfather who is over seventy with a heart condition as their most viable candidate for organ transplant surgery. They'd rather chose someone who has more chance of survival.

If so, how will grandpa be cured?

Talia found about the details of the doctor treating her grandfather and immediately called him with no second thoughts.

She needed to find out about her grandpa's condition through his mouth and also what could be done to save him.

Grandpa cannot die!

He cannot!

Talia felt her throat getting bitter by the sadness she felt and gulped as the call connected.

When she first told told Dr. Garret her name and inquired about the health of her grandfather, he refused to tell her anything claiming that Mr.Jerome Brunton is perfectly fine.

Talia knew the doctor would be advised to lie about her grandfather's condition since if any journalist or his enemies knew of his true condition, it would greatly affect the stock of the company.

Talia felt a deep pain in her chest that held her from breathing properly as she realised if she was beside her grandfather, no one would dare to hide her grandfather's condition from her. Now that she is far away, no one could even know that she really is his granddaughter calling to enquire about his health.

She couldn't say who was the most pitiful. Her or her grandfather. She is the only blood relative left for him and even she is far away from him while he is suffering alone.

But still... I can't be there... If I go there... My grandpa will surely die! I'm the purple eyed monster. Everyone I Iove, dies. First it was mother, then it was father and then, Cyrus... It happens, Always...

I'm jinxed. And so...

It's better for me to stay away from the people I love.

As Talia tried to convince the doctor she received another call and she saw it was some familiar number but she couldn't pinpoint who it was and so she let it ring.

Dr. Garret on the other end, was walking through the extravagant hallways of the Oakley Castle the official home of Duke of Oakley - Jerome Brunton.

His sickness is kept under tight wraps and they had secretly installed a dialysis machine in his home for his use. Dr. Garret was here to help him hook on to the machine while this scary phone call from a woman claiming to be Talia Brunton inquiring about the health of Jerome Brunton.

Did he walk under a ladder today to have attracted such a bad luck?

No matter how much he explained, the woman on the other side was digging deep trying to get to the bottom. He is a doctor! Not a criminal in court! Why is he being interrogated?

And if she is really his granddaughter, why isn't she talking directly with her grandfather?

Dr. Garret knew of the situation in the Brunton family but it really his expertise to recognise the other person is lying or not.

If the person in the other end really is Talia Brunton, he'd be screwed for bit revealing the truth about Jerome's health to her. Once Jerome hears his granddaughter's request was rejected, he'd end his career. So he'd have to reveal the truth.

But if the person on the other end is not Talia Brunton and if he revealed this confidential information to someone else, his entire life would be ruined.

Dr. Garret couldn't find a positive outcome for himself in any case.

" I have my grandfather's report in front of me right now, " Talia read some of the numbers from the recent reports making the good doctor stupefied.

Impossible!

And before he could think straight, the voice in the other end that was sweet, polite but had a underlying mockint tone was heard,

" And by the way... Dr. Garret, I see you are pretty good at your career and I can see why my grandfather trusts you, but the way you handle confidential information is totally wrong-handed. Or should I say... Imprudent..? "

" Miss, please... " Dr. Garret was now stunned.

Now what?

" My grandfather is a regular visitor to your hospital and when I search for his name, it says he never was a patient there. Do you see what's wrong here, Doctor? " Talia's voice was steady.

" Should I consider you are deliberately throwing suspicion over my grandfather's health for anyone who likes to investigate? "

" No, Miss. Brunton! We would never! " By now Dr. Garret was pretty sure this should be Talia Brunton. Who else could politely stab? It runs in the Brunton bloodline. Being polite and being ruthless at the same time.

" And you are willing to offend ME by refusing to talk to me about MY grandfather? "

Talia continued to speak while Dr. Garret ran with his might through the hallways scaring the maids and the butler and ended up in Jerome Brunton's room.

"Mr. Brunton, I think it's your granddaughter on the other line," Dr. Garret wiped his phone clean before passing it to Jerome.

'It's not my problem anymore!' Dr. Garret sighed in relief.

"No! No no no no no! Don't pass the phone!"

Talia's voice could be heard through the phone even through the speaker wasn't on.

Jerome could recognise his granddaughter's voice. It hasn't changed much from when she was here. His hands shook slightly after hearing her voice this close after a really long time and he wanted to hear more.

Talia on the other end felt her heart skip a beat when she realised the phone is now in her grandfather's hand. She wanted to disconnect the call but then her fingers couldn't move as she froze.

She wanted to hear his voice a little.

Jerome realised he's wasting time and she might end the call and spoke hurriedly,

"Mary-Ann..."

Talia's eyes watered a bit hearing her grandfather who was calling her like he always did. She wasn't close with her grandfather but that didn't mean she hated him. She liked to go against him but she would never wish ill on him.

"Grandpa..."

She said and it was hard for her as her throat felt heavy with all the emotions.

"My sweet child... Are you well?"

Her grandpa's caring voice heard from the other side. It was like she always remembered but it had become more softer now. The usual arrogance and authority in his tone was missing.

"Hmm... I'm fine. Don't worry about me," she said after taking a deep breath.

"You see, grandpa just want to..."

As he started speaking, Talia knew what he is meaning to say and she interrupted him with her voice a bit high pitched and she tried to speak as a threat but her voice broke as tears streamed through her cheek,

"Grandpa! If you die now, I will not even attend your funeral!"

Please don't die!

*Click*

The line went dead and her grandpa on the other side smiled but his eyes reddened.

What could he do with this child? Her heart is filled with love yet she wants to hurt herself and others by being so stubborn. Why can't she just return to where her heart is?

Talia on the other hand remembered clearly the words of her grandfather in her mother's wake.

If not for her being the purple eyed monster, her mother wouldn't have died of complications during labour and her brother would have survived too.

If not for her being the purple eyes monster, her father would t have become an alcoholic and ruined his health and died.

If not for her, Cyrus would be alive.

If she stays away, everyone would be fine!

But is it the time to stay away?