Page 87 of You Loved Me Once
“So? We were just chatting away, and I’m sure you came in here for more than a chat, right? Is everything okay?” she asks.
Crap. Yes, that’s the point of this, not to be her friend. I’m a little concerned with a few things on her bloodwork. It could be nothing, but I won’t run that risk.
“The scans came back good,” I say quickly. That’s usually the biggest worry. “But your iron is a little low. How are you feeling? Are you dizzy or weak?”
Allison rubs her stomach. “I’m really fine other than the cramping.”
Cramping wouldn’t be caused by anemia.
I move over to the side of her bed. “Can I take a look?”
She nods.
I press around. Her abdomen is firm, but that’s not necessarily abnormal. “I’m going to run a few more tests, order an ultrasound, and just ensure we’re seeing the whole picture.”
“Okay,” she sighs. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I pat her shoulder. “It’ll be okay, we’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“Thank you,” she says and then crumples over, clutching her stomach.
“Allison?”
Her eyes are wide, and she’s holding her breath. “Damn it,” she cries out and then I watch the color drain from her face. “God, it hurts!”
I hit the button to call the nurse in. Something is wrong.
“Take a deep breath, Allison. I’m right here. Is it your stomach?”
“Yes, it’s like stabbing,” she huffs.
My training kicks in and I start to assess everything. I pull the sheet back, to find blood everywhere. Fuck. She’s hemorrhaging.
A nurse runs in and I point to the door. “Get me an OR. Now.”
A few other nurses and Martina come rushing in. Allison’s eyes are wide and tears start to form.
“Allison, you’re hemorrhaging. It could be just a cyst that the scan missed. I need to go in and get the bleeding to stop, okay?”
“It was just a little,” she says and her voice cracks.
“You were bleeding before?” I ask.
“Please,” she grabs my hand. “Please don’t tell him. It’s been days and I didn’t want to worry him.”
“Who?”
“My husband. I didn’t...I couldn’t tell him...please,” she begs, and her head falls back.
Right now, none of that is my concern. I need to get her into surgery. My team moves around her, getting everything unhooked so we can move her.
“Let’s not worry about that, okay?”
She lifts her hand and then it falls limp. I bark orders at everyone. If her levels weren’t so off, it wouldn’t be a huge deal, but she can’t lose a lot of blood when she’s already low.
We start to wheel Allison out and Bryce rushes in the room. “Allison!”
“It’s okay,” she tries to perk up, but she has no energy.
