Heartbreak or Heart Pains?

JASMINE'S POV

The bright light blinded me for a few seconds once I opened my eyes. After quickly adjusting to the light, I took notice of my odd surroundings. This was definitely not home, the white walls and the acrid antiseptic smell indicated I was in a hospital, but why?

I couldn't remember anything that would explain why I was here and my head was pounding so hard. Trying to sit up, I noticed an IV drip attached to my arm.

What the hell is happening? Someone really needs to explain before I lose it!

As if God heard me, the door opened and mum came in. She was smiling at me but for some reason I found her smile unnerving.

"Dear, how you feeling?" She asks carefully as she sits on the edge of my bed.

"I feel drained mum and my head is killing me, other than that, I'm okay. What's going on though mum, why am I here?" I ask back frowning.

My mum goes quiet, darting her eyes around the room clearly avoiding my eyes. Her actions confuse me and I start panicking.

"Mom! Answer me!"

She flinches from my tone and I immediately regret shouting at her. Letting out a loud sigh, I face the other side, not wanting to look at her. Feeling the warmth of her hand on mine, I face her.

Her eyes were full of pain and something else, pity.

Whatever she was going to tell me would be bad news. Feeling like a lump stuck on my throat, I held her hands tightly encouraging her to say it.

"Don't you remember what brought you here honey?" She asks.

"No, no I don't."

Mom lets out an exasperated sigh and says, " I received a call from Cole.

Mentioning him, all my memories come flooding back and my blood runs cold.

"Oh God! No! Please!" I chant once I feel the familiar heart-ache.

"There there dear, relax." Mum embraces me while patting my back soothingly, trying to calm me down.

"I hate them mum! I hate them so much." I say amidst the tears, holding her tightly as I let out all my sorrows as I sob on her shoulders. She lets me cool down.

After a while, all was left of my breakdown was the hiccups that didn't want to cease. Thinking of what happened to me, the tears started again.

"Please relax child, it's not good in your current health condition."

Pushing her back slightly so that I could face here, I question her curiously, my confusion intensified.

"I just fainted, what's wrong with my health?" Craning my head to the side, I awaited her answer.

Her eyes were full of tears to the brim, she tried holding them back as she gave me an apologetic smile but I saw her restraint falling as a drop of tear slipped down her cheek. Taking both of my hands, I could feel her hands shaking.

She gulps," Just know that I'm here for you always and we'll get through this together, okay?" She says smiling through her tears.

Feeling my own walls crumbling down yet again, whispering back, "Get through what mama?"

Mum sniffs, "You were diagnosed with a heart condition my child."

Stiffening in shock, at that moment I felt like my life had ended, like the universe was against me. I felt that I had no will to go on. I was tired of my misfortunes, it's all too much.

Mum lets me process what she just told me and seeing no reaction from me, she continues, "You're suffering from Arrhythmias, that's why you fainted when you got the chest pains. You have abnormal heart beat rhythms, when you went through the heartbreak...."

I cut her off mid-sentence as I dumbfounded stared at her.

"I know, my dear child, Cole brought you to the hospital, he found you fainted on the street when he ran after you. He called me and explained everything. I know what they did to you was wrong but he told me to tell you how sorry he was. Whether you want to forgive them or not is your choice, okay?"

Taking a deep breathe, I gesture her to continue.

"The immense pain you felt triggered it." She finishes off.

I just felt numb everywhere, no more tears, no pain, just a dull throb of sadness. "Anything else I should know?" My voice comes out hoarse.

"It can't be cured but it can be controlled, they'll prescribe you with medicines that you'll have to take, unfortunately for the rest of your life."

Covering my face with my hands, I took it all in. "The hospital bills mum, does my insurance cover it?" Again the pity look.

"No, not all of it, but don't worry, we'll figure everything okay?" She lovingly touches my cheek and I lean in.

"Okay."

"Rest up dearie, I'll go call the doctor." She says, giving me a chaste kiss on my hair.

My eyes close automatically, physically and mentally drained. I hear her walking away and the soft click from the door closing. Needing an escape from my painful reality, sleep consumes me immediately.

SARAH'S POV

Heading towards the hospital's reception, I couldn't stop thinking about her .My heart was breaking seeing her in such condition. She didn't deserve any of this. My poor sweet child.

She's been through a lot at her young age and the effects were starting to show. She had lost weight, she had faint crease lines on her face and her once vibrant eyes weren't as bright.

I promise myself that I won't let her go through it alone. Jasmine and John were my only family after my dear ken's passing. I will take care of her, I just hoped that she still had the courage and strength to go on.

Call it motherly instincts but I knew that this was the turning point to her life. Problem is that I didn't know if it was positive or negative or both.

Whatever it was, she had to be strong or she wouldn't make it. She will find happiness and peace someday, whether it takes days, weeks, months or in years, she will find it and I was counting on it.