She's My Sleeping Pill

Monet’s platelets were low and she had seizure attacks thrice. The doctors had been doing their best to stabilize her condition when she suddenly suffer from a respiratory failure. Now, they were giving her parents an ultimatum, to choose whether to save the baby through a C-section or just let it die along with the mother. There wasn’t even the option to save her; obviously, they were giving up on her. And the baby, the risk was high if they take him out of her belly. He might not survive.

“Thomas.” Mrs. Lhuillier called for his attention but remained still on his spot. She wasn’t sure if the man has heard her. “Thomas, I know you aren’t responsible for any of this. I know that you also want to see her well, but we need to make a choice.”

“Son, we need you to be strong.” Mr. Lhuillier said while giving Thomas a gentle pat. “Our choice may not be the option that you like but this is what I and my wife agreed on. We are willing to put our everything into her life.” Thomas finally lifted his head to look at them and for the first time, they saw the light in his eyes. “We’re not giving up on her and the baby. Yes, her condition is unstable and she may leave us at any moment. However, as long as she’s fighting, as long as there’s this little chance for her to live, we will stake our hope on that.”

“Are you going to transport her overseas? There is better equipment abroad.”

“No, Thomas.” Monet’s mother expressed. “I agree with the doctors here. If we keep moving here, she will be at higher risk of really losing her life. Since it has come to this, we called someone to come and help. He’s one of the best doctors in the world, and the hospital agreed for Dr. Johnson to come so that they can learn from him. He’s coming tonight.”

Thomas nodded his head. He never thought of doing this. He lost his cool and was thrown into the abyss of despair. Thankfully, Monet’s parents were able to think rationally.

When evening came, Dr. Johnson arrived and talked with the doctor assigned to Monet’s case. They discussed what has been done and what they should do in the next few days.

At first, when Thomas heard that Dr. Johnson was one of the best doctors in the world, highly paid for his consultation and medical practice; a new hope started to bloom in his heart. This tired organ which was pumping his blood was suddenly full of vigor. He was happy.

.....

Then his heart was crushed along with his hope. Apparently, Monet’s doctors didn’t give up on her. Even though they gave her parents the choices to make, they also wanted to continue looking after her. There was a clause that stated, the baby will only be taken out of her belly if she really dies. As long as they manage to save her every time she has seizures and respiratory failure, they would allow the baby to develop continuously inside her stomach. Thomas didn’t know this.

The fact was, there was really no other way to save her. Even Dr. Johnson frankly admitted this truth to them. He wasn’t God. He can treat people but he can’t bring anyone back to life once they die.

Right now, Monet isn’t dead yet but if she continues to be in this state for the next three months, they’d be able to get the baby safely out of her and the chances of her death will be higher.

“I’m not giving up on her even if it will take us years, even if I die first. I won’t let her go.” Thomas declared and left.

Monet’s parents weren’t able to say anything. They felt sorry for him. They regretted what they did in the past but they still couldn’t tell him why Monet left him even though she loves him so much.

Dr. Johnson sympathizes with the family but even if he was considered the best, there are things that he couldn’t prevent from happening as well. “Don’t worry Mr. and Mrs. Lhuillier, we still do our best to make sure that her condition is stabilized for the development of her child. After three months, if her condition continues, we’ll talk about her again.”

Three days later,

Stefan scheduled a lunch meeting with Dr. Albert. Why he agreed to make it at noon? Obviously, it was because he can come with Cayenne. It was another chance for him to take her out on a – not really a date but something they can enjoy with a change of scenery. He reserved a table at Imperial Blue where Cayenne can have endless choices of seafood that she likes to eat.

“Dr. Albert? Hm. I never thought you’d agree to see that man again.” Cayenne commented with her legs swinging under the chair she was sitting in. She was waiting for Stefan to choose her clothes; her lifetime clothes stylist. “Does he have other things to tell you?”

“Not really. He just wanted to thank me for asking the court to give him a light sentence.”

“About three years in jail, is that considered light punishment?”

“For him, that should be fine,” he said as he walked to her side while carrying the black leggings, white turtleneck shirt, and brown down jacket. “These will look good on you. You can pair them with low-heeled boots.”

“Thank you,” she said and kissed his lips which took him by surprise. He was rewarded greatly today. His wife was in a good mood and he even earned a kiss from her. Stefan grinned happily and returned her kiss.

Meanwhile, Dr. Albert arrived first at the restaurant that Stefan had booked. He talked to one of the waiters and asked if there was an available table next to the reserved space. Sadly, all of the tables close to Stefan’s reservation were also booked. He could not even understand why that man reserved a table with other customers around when they could just eat privately. If he needs to pay, he could even do it for him.

He had no idea that it was Cayenne who wanted to eat as ordinary people do. She didn’t like to waste money on private booths when you get the same services as common folks.

“Is it possible to exchange one reserved table for a private booth, I can pay for it. I really need another table close to Mr. Dumrique’s reservation because I need to pay close attention to my wife.”

“Is it not possible for her to sit around the same table as you?” The waiter asked tentatively, not wanting to offend the man in front of him, especially since he was going to meet Mr. Dumrique.

“My wife is ill. I mean, she’s suffering from a muscle problem and I need a bigger space for her. If it’s okay with you, can you give a call to your customer in table 7? Ask your customer if it’s possible for them to use a private booth. I’ll really pay for it. I can swipe my card now if you want.”

“Alright, sir. I’ll try to do that.”

“Yes, please. Thank you.”

Latticia was watching Dr. Albert talk to the waiter and from time to time, he’d turn back to look at her before shifting his attention to the man. Sometimes, she’d find him very familiar, as if she had seen him before, but whenever he looked at her and smiled, he looked really different from the person she once knew. Perhaps it was his resemblance that she remember the boy that got bullied in her school before.

“I settled it with them.” Dr. Albert said when she looked at him with that inquiring expression on her face. “You can sit here with your back facing us and I’ll make sure that Stefan will be sitting behind you. You’d be able to hear his voice clearly.”

“Tt...enk...you...”

“You are always welcome. Do you want some fruit shake, I can get them for you. You can’t take solid food yet.”

“I....ooww....”

“You like strawberries, right? I’ll get them for you.”

Dr. Albert walked back to the counter and requested if they could make a strawberry fruit shake for his wife.

The customers who came earlier and saw how caring he was could not help themselves but admire this man. How many people could do the same thing as him? He was very patient with his wife.

Unknown to Dr. Albert, one of the customers took a picture of them and posted it on her social media account. If she was an ordinary person, it would take a long time for this post to go viral. Unfortunately for Dr. Albert, the photo got shared a thousand times because the woman was an actress. She was Riley’s co-actress in her current drama project.

As people believe, no secrets can be kept forever, even when a person is dead.