Broken 'Her' Syndrome

When someone's traumatized, it is not always crying that shows how they feel. It is emptiness. - miss_polarity

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Friday

The sun has come down. Caber and Sean quietly sat in the corner of the room after finishing their dinner with their parents. Melissa has been lying down wide awake on the bed beside Ella's now for almost two hours, expecting the doctor's arrival for Ella's periodical checkup.

Distant chattering can be heard from a distance before they become aware of a knock coming from the door.

But amid her sleep, she could not think. Ella was braced. Chained. To her past. To him.

It was her darkness. Darker than black. She writhes her way out in the coldness of the metal... and cries helplessly on her knees.

She looks abaft. And there she saw someone—someone who's smiling as if their plan is being thoroughly executed.

A laugh resounds throughout the void. "Oh, someone's watching."

Anthony and Melissa greeted Séance Kenwood and a few other doctors along with several nurses as they entered the room.

"Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Chance. How are you feeling today?"

"We're doing well, doctor."

"That is good to hear. Say, Ella's test results came in this afternoon."

Melissa's eyes glitter after hearing the doctor. "It's about time. Is it good news or bad?"

Séance looks to his fellow doctors before responding. "I'm guessing it's a bit of both. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"The good one, please." Melissa's voice has been ruled out by fear.

"Ella has been diagnosed with having takotsubo cardiomyopathy." He said slowly without hesitation.

Melissa thought it carefully before responding, "You mean the broken-heart syndrome?"

"Yes, madame."

"But there's no way for her to have that." Anthony reasoned out.

Both Melissa and Anthony know the basic information regarding the syndrome.

"That is true. Broken-heart syndrome, as you say, is typically a disorder experienced by women from ages 50 to 75—after menopause. As for Ella, we think she is a special case. The reason why it took us some time to inform you of our findings is because of this. We know you are knowledgeable in the medical field and we cannot afford to deliver any false diagnosis."

"But I, I do not think that is good news." Melissa cogitates.

Séance smiles. "It is, madame. Chances of Ella having long-term heart damage is exceedingly little.” He looks in Ella’s direction. “Even her prognosis is going well."

"And the bad news?" Sean ponders.

Another (female) doctor answers. "Takotsubo cardiomyopathy's precise cause is not known but we think it is the surging stress hormones—catecholamine—which triggered vagaries in her heart muscle cells. Various stressors are associated with it. Considering that, we would like to ask if Ella had experienced domestic violence before.”

“No.” Melissa defends assertively. “No, she experienced none.”

The doctor's head tilts a little. “Then, how about any fierce argument she had before the attack?”

Anthony interferes. “Doctor, that is e—”

“Pardon me, Sir. But your daughter’s life will radically improve if we can elucidate these issues.”

“It’s alright, Anthony. We had one, doctor.” Melissa responded to Doctor Kailah's question instead.

“If you can tell me the details?” The doctor deliberated.

“Very well.” She said with no reticence.

Melissa told the doctor, Kailah, the specifics.

“It happened on the evening, you say.” Kailah perpends.

“Yes.”

But after realizing what Kailah wants to articulate, another one of the doctors interjects, “I, personally, do not think that is possible.”

“What is, doctor?” Anthony questioned.

“There is no way she can survive the apical ballooning of her apex for so long without life-support (system).” He pointed out to both Anthony and Kailah.

“And neither is her current condition possible.” Kailah ventures.

Séance interposes the growing tension between his juniors. “We should consider every probable stressor, Cedrick." He then turned to Ella's parents. "Who spoke to Ella last?”

“Our driver.”

“Driver…” he wonders. “This is quite a puzzle. If I may, madame and sire, I suggest we seek the opinion of the psychologists.”

“Of course. Anything for Ella.” Anthony said.

Caber butts in. “What are they holding?”

“You are spectacularly the real conversation stopper.” Sean murmurs.

Séance tries not to laugh after hearing Sean. “Pardon me, young sir. I almost forgot. Apart from not knowing the cause behind your sister’s condition, there is no standard treatment for it."

He turns to Melissa and Anthony. "All we can recommend is for her to take standard heart failure medications such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers."

But Caber diverts his attention back to him. “Okay. So, administer her a dose of any of those medicines and have her consult a psychologist. Right?”

“Yes, it is, young sire.”

“Alright!” He exclaims. “Then, the discussion's over right?”

“Yes. Yes, that is right.” He said after his titters. His eyes saunter to Ella's side.

“We’re done doing the checkup, Doctor.” The nurse made Séance known.

She paused and then continued on with her report after returning to her position, “The ECG still hints of the abnormalities of the heart but it is nothing major and unlike yesterday’s.”

“Very well. We’ll take our leave then.” He said to the Chances.

The doctors aside from Séance proceed to their posts first and then, most of the nurses.

“I’m expecting she wakes in a day or two, and fully recovers within a month. But, I’m afraid if she still hasn't, she needs to be transferred to one of your hospitals that specializes in cardiovascular illnesses. Even if that means having the public know.”

Anthony decided not to say anything else and sent the doctors away with gratitude.

When all the hospital personnel has made their way out of the room, Sean notices another of Ella’s visitors.

“You’re here.” He said talking to Kenneth and Kim.

“Yes. Sorry, we have not made our presence known. We’ve been here for more than five minutes.” Kim said.

“Kenneth. You’re here.” Melissa said while Kenneth paid them respect. “Your parents, when are they intending to visit?”

“They have been quite busy, Tita. But they made sure that I visit you and send their regards.”

Sean secretly snickers while turning all of his attention to Malykith's wuzetka—which was originally for Ella.

“I see. Thank you. And who’s this young girl here?” She asks after seeing he did not come alone.

“Her name’s Kim. She’s the one I’m talking about last Tuesday.”

“Glad to meet you, madame.” She said carefully—not sure what to call Melissa.

“She is a beautiful young lady. Say, have you eaten?” Anthony mentioned.

“Yes, sire.”

Melissa intervened in their conversation, “But at least have some refreshments, my dears. Felicity?” She calls the majordomo.

“Yes, madame?” Felicity's composure never wavering.

“Please do make sure they eat before they leave. We will leave first.”

“We? Where are we going?” Anthony asked.

Her eyes landed on her husband's. “I still have questions for the doctor,” she said.

“Alright. Sean and Caber. Take care of our visitors.”

“With pleasure.” They bitterly said in unison.

"Shall we?" He then turns his wife towards the door.

****

--a phone call--

A petit girl in a white nurse uniform. “Noblest," she spoke first after recognizing that her call has been received.

"Code." A rough, modified voice sounds from the speaker.

"N3334H."

"Alas, you called."

"Noblest, you know the sound of my voice. Why do you keep on asking my code?"

"Protocol, my dear noblesse." The voice pointed out.

"All is going as planned. The young miss of the Chances is in bed. Do you want to end it now? We have phosphorus at hand."

"No. Let her live. Let's give them the time to suffer."

"As you wish. Apropos of what we are talking about, O1231E, albeit his successes, are you sure we can trust him?"

The voice's laugh resounds the girl's ears. "Hearing his code from your spiteful little mouth.. do not worry yourself for such a petty matter, dear. He's been working for us longer than you."

"'One can never be too careful' is what she said." She warned the Noblest.

"Ingrith, yes. And look what she turned into, my dear noblesse Eve? A goat."

"Right." She said, not liking the idea of her favorite character being turned into an animal.

Apprehending the doubt in her voice, the Noblest said, "We have full control over him. He even seems to enjoy every bit of his time. I guarantee his loyalty."

"As you say." She replies, never not wanting to trust the Noblest's words.

"Make sure to leave a clue. And bring me that phosphorus. Ciao."

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Learn, XOXO