Elliot feeling someone was watching him, turned back to look at Jonah. Elliot's face turned into a deep frown seeing Jonah's red eyes and runny nose. Elliot rushed to him, placing his hand on his shoulders.
"What happened Jonah?" He asked. Jonah looked at him and sighed before speaking, "First of all, I am very sorry she acted in that terrible manner to you." Jonah apologized on his mother's behalf.
"That is not important right now Jonah, I am sure we have gotten worse, how is your father, any good news on his health?" Elliot asked brushing off Jonah's apology. "Nah, no news yet, the nurse just said we have to wait till he is conscious but they are still running tests." Jonah said downcasted.
"Elliot, I am so scared. Mum has already said she hates me and promises to disown me if dad does not make it." Jonah tells him as fresh tears roll down his cheeks.
"Shh shh," Elliot quiets him. "I understand they are mad right now, but that is not a priority. Your priority is your father's health. They are your parents, we will figure out that part later." Elliot tells him. He sighs leading the sad Jonah to a seat in the lobby. He sits besides Jonah and Jonah rests his head on Elliot's shoulder for comfort as he continues sobbing. Elliot pats his head and whispers. "Everything would be alright babe, just calm down and try to get some rest." Elliot comforted him.
A soft, hesitant voice broke through the silence. "Mr. Hartfield? The doctor is ready to see you now." The same petite nurse stood before them, her eyes filled with genuine concern but a professional look remained on her face. Jonah raised his head from Elliot's shoulder nodding. "Alright we will be right behind you, just give us a minute." Jonah told her his voice hoarse from constant crying. Elliot turned to look at him.
"You know if you are not in the mood to see the doctor, this can wait or I could go in for you."
"Let us go," he said, his voice barely low. He rose, Elliot following close behind. The nurse walked them down the corridor to the last door. She asked them to wait outside for a bit while she entered inside with a file, two minutes later she exited the door, turning to face them.
"You can go in now." She told them before walking off. They entered the doctor's office, a small, sterile room filled with the faint scent of antiseptic, with bright almost blinding lights. It caused Jonah to squint his already sensitive eyes from crying.
Jonah's mother sat in a chair, her back rigid, her gaze fixed on the doctor's desk. As Jonah entered, she looked up, her expression a mask of cold disgust. A scoff escaped her lips. The doctor, a middle-aged man with tired eyes and a gentle demeanor, gestured for them to sit.
"Welcome, please, have a seat," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Mr. and Mrs. Hartfield," the doctor began, his eyes shifting between Jonah and his mother, "your husband and father's condition is delicate. The tests reveal a significant amount of stress-induced damage to his cardiovascular system. His heart is weak, and his blood pressure is dangerously high. He has a 60-40 chance of survival." Jonah could feel his heart skip. Sixty-forty. Those odds felt impossibly slim.
"We are doing everything we can," the doctor continued, "but at this stage, it is a matter of monitoring and supportive care. We can only watch and hope for the best." Jonah's stomach churned, the doctor's reassurance barely working. Jonah's mother remained silent throughout the discussion, her stare fixed on the doctor's desk. There was a long moment of silence, thick and heavy, punctuated only by the doctor fiddling with a ball point pen.
"Is there anything else we can do?" Jonah asked, his voice trembling. "Like to improve his chances, anything at all, if it is money, we can afford it." Jonah said nearly pleading.
"Sadly, there is nothing more we can do. Money will not do anything in this case. Be rest assured that we are using the best equipments and technology in modern medicine to care for him. To be honest just be here for him," the doctor replied, his eyes filled with sympathy.
"Your presence is the most important thing on the path to recovery." Jonah's mother sighed. "His presence is the reason he is in this state in the first place." She muttered, her voice laced with venom.
Jonah flinched, the words cutting deep. He looked at his mother, his eyes pleading for understanding, but her gaze remained cold and unforgiving. "Thank you, Doctor," Jonah's mother said, rising from her chair. "I will be going now to continue to be with my husband to ensure his speedy recovery." She turned to leave, her back slightly straight, her expression unreadable. As she reached the door, she paused, turning back to Jonah.
"I will be in his room," she said, her voice flat and emotionless. "I do not want or expect to see you there."
"Mom..." Jonah began with pleading eyes, but she cut him off with a sharp glare.
"Don't you dare call me that," she hissed. "As far as I am concerned, you are dead to me." The doctor's brow furrowed, he looked at Jonah's mother with a mixture of concern and disapproval. "Mrs. Hartfield, please." He said gently, "Jonah is your only child."
"As of today, I have no son," she replied, her voice cold and resolute. "Doctor I would like you to know that you have two possible HIV patients in your office right now." She sneered. She turned to look at them her eyes dark with hatred.
"I would advice you to get tested and start treatment as soon as possible. It is the least I am doing to ensure everyone's safety." She said her words dripping with poison. She turned and walked out of the office, the door slamming loudly behind her, leaving Jonah just standing there, his heart shattered. Elliot placed a comforting hand on Jonah's shoulder.
"Jonah," he said softly, "I am so sorry." Jonah nodded, his throat tight, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Let us talk to the doctor," he managed to say. "There has to be something else we can do." They settled into the seats and turned to face the doctor.
"I know you have given us a diagnosis and explained everything else but I mean there has to be something else we can do to at least increase his chances." Jonah said with pleading eyes.