ATTR-CM

My phone vibration woke me up, and checking it, it was Jane calling.

"Uhhhhh, it's so early..." I said grunting. And that's when my eyes went to the time. It was 11:24am.

What the fuck.. I have never woken up so late....

Jeez, I tried standing up. But I felt slightly dizzy and I collapsed back on the bed.

Looking at the side table. My mom had already made breakfast and brought it to my room. With a pink stick note on the edge of the table.

Stretching my hand, I pulled it out.

" Sleepyhead. You've been asleep for hours. Anyways I'll be back soon. And after that we would go to the hospital. Seems you might be having a fever. So eat up and get ready.

Much love. Mommy."

With a pink heart on it. I sighed. I'm not sick.

Probably just stressed.

My phone started to ring again.

"Hello, Jane" I said greeting her as soon as I picked up.

"Hey, you little punk. Why didn't you call me yesterday?" She asked sounding all upset.

She had all right to be anyways. I didn't call her to let her know I had arrived safely.

" I'm sorry. I had slept off as soon as I came back, and I just woke up." I said, my voice still dull.

"Oh my... You've been sleeping for that long?" She asked, I could hear the disbelief in her voice.

"Yes I have" I said with a sigh, also wondering how I managed to sleep for that long.

"You sure you're fine?"

I smiled, Jane can be as concerning as a mother when it comes to me.

"Not really, just got a splitting headache and I feel dizzy."

"Is your Mom at home?"

"Nah, she stepped out for a bit, but she would be back soon."

"Have you eaten...?"

"Gosh, Jane I'm just waking up." I said almost laughing.

And that didn't seem to make things light.

"Well, do take care of yourself. I'm sorry if I bother too much" she said in a disappointed tone.

"C'mon Jane, I didn't mean it that way.." I said, regretting why I sounded like that in the first place.

" Yeah, I know and it's okay. Take care of yourself and get better soon " she said, obviously about to end the call.

"I'll call you as soon as I get back from the hospital" I said in compensation for the mistake I've made.

"Yeah sure."

"Xoxo" I said, knowing fully well she was going to say it back.

"Xoxo" she said laughing and I ended the call.

I'm really glad we had this special bond.

How we easily understand each other and all that close friends stuff.

Uggh.. I sighed as I held my head.

I was still having this slight headache. Thank goodness we don't have classes today and any other days till further notice.

After a while of sitting and holding my heart, I decided I should head to bath tub.

I don't really have the strength to stand underneath the shower at the moment.

So the bath tub was the best option.

*****

"Miaaaaa...."

"Miaaaa.." My mom's shrilled voiced pierced through my ears.

Oh God, I slept off in the bath tub again.

I could hear her footsteps approaching.

"Mia, are you in here"...

That was fast she was in my room already.

"Yes Mom, I'm here" I said loud enough for her to hear.

And like flash she was at the door of my bathroom.

"You've been asleep?" She asked surprised.

"Yeah I slept off." I said, in a very hoarse tone.

" Miaa, you really don't look well.." she said picking up my bath robe.

"C'mon now, she said , as she helped me into the fluffy robe.

I smiled dryly, "I don't feel well either" I said, as I stepped out of the tub.

My mom's arm wrapped tightly around my waist as she led me carefully out.

"Sorry, the protest on the highway was what kept me this late." She said, as she carefully let me sit on the bed.

While she went to get some clothes from my closet.

"I don't remember you leaving your closet unorganized."

She said from inside.

And all of a sudden. I felt some kind of voltage, like I was electrocuted or something.

And it was as though I was in a trance or getting some vision of one kind.

And it clicked, someone was in my room last night.

And then the splitting headache came, groaning everything suddenly went dark.

But I could somehow pick up the faint screams from my mom.

Beep....

Beep....

I slowly blinked my eyes, trying to adjust to the extreme brightness of the room.

I could obviously tell I was at the hospital. This wasn't the first time, i would pass out and end up in the hospital.

I have been in and out of the hospital as a young child diagnosed with Transthyrethin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.

But then I got better, so why would I be back in the hospital after so many years.

The sound of the door been unlocked got my attention.

And a doctor with my mom, following close behind walked in.

"My baby" my mom almost on the verge of tears said, half runing towards my bed side.

"I'm fine" I said in an unusual raspy voice.

She couldn't say anything, she just smiled sadly.

And that got me scared .

"I'm fine, I'm i not?" I asked glancing at her, then turning towards the doctor.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" I asked getting all worked up.

And the cardiac monitor started to beep faster than usual.

"You need to calm down, honey... you shouldn't stress yourself at the moment." She said holding my hands tightly.

But I wasn't buying any of it.

I looked at the doctor again.

"Would you at least let me know what's going on?" I asked, I could feel the tears welling up in my throats I don't want to be sick again.

"Mia, we need you to calm down.."

And that's the point they don't get, I'm older now, I won't tolerate the fact that they want to keep a secret about my health.

I took a deep breath, I needed to help myself too.

After a few minutes of silence, and me working desperately to calm myself, by taking sharp deep breathes

My mom rubbing my palm, and the doctor adjusting the IV bag.

The cardiac monitor seemed to slow down the beeping for a bit

I opened my eyes, tears filled. I looked at my mom straight in the eye.

"Is my ATTR-CM back?" I asked, making my mom perplexed and the doctor turned to look at me in shock.