Chapter 77 Reality hits
CHAPTER 77
Reality hits.
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and quiet urgency. Ruby sat beside Jane in the consultation room, her fingers loosely intertwined in her lap, her posture composed but her mind far from calm. The past few days had taken a toll on her, even if she tried not to show it. Between emotions, confusion, and everything changing so quickly in her life, her body had finally begun to react.
Jane sat close beside her, watching her carefully. “You should have told me you weren’t feeling okay,” Jane said softly.
“I’m fine,” Ruby replied automatically.
Before Jane could respond, the door opened. The doctor stepped in, holding a file, with his calm and observant expression. He took a seat across from Ruby, flipping through her results briefly before looking up.
“Miss Ruby,” he began gently, “I’ve gone through your tests.”
Ruby straightened slightly. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
The doctor shook his head. “Nothing critical,” he said. “But your body is showing clear signs of stress.”
Jane frowned slightly. “Stress?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes. Elevated fatigue levels, irregular sleep patterns, and physical exhaustion. It may not seem serious now, but if ignored, it could lead to something more concerning.”
Ruby lowered her gaze slightly. “I didn’t realize it was that bad,” she admitted.
“It often builds gradually,” the doctor explained.
“You don’t notice until your body forces you to slow down.”
Jane crossed her arms lightly. “I told you,” she muttered.
Ruby gave her a small look but didn’t argue. “What should I do?” Ruby asked instead.
The doctor closed the file gently. “Rest,” he said simply. “Proper rest. You need to reduce emotional and physical strain. Eat well, sleep regularly, and avoid unnecessary stress.”
Ruby nodded slowly. “I can do that.”
“And if there’s anything affecting you emotionally,” the doctor added, “don’t carry it alone. Talk to someone.”
Jane gave Ruby a pointed look. “She has me,” Jane said.
The doctor smiled faintly. “That’s good,” he replied.
After a few final instructions, the consultation ended. Ruby and Jane stepped out of the office, the quiet hum of the hospital surrounding them once again. Nurses moved efficiently, patients sat in waiting areas, and distant sounds of machines echoed faintly in the background. They began walking toward the reception area.
“You heard him,” Jane said. “You need to slow down.”
“I will,” Ruby replied.
“I’m serious,” Jane insisted. “You’ve been going through a lot lately.”
Ruby exhaled lightly. “I know.”
Jane softened slightly. “Just don’t shut me out, okay?”
Ruby gave her a small smile. “I won’t.”
They continued walking side by side, their footsteps steady against the polished floor. For a moment, everything felt manageable again like something she could control. Until the sharp sound of sirens cut through the air. Both of them turned instinctively toward the entrance. An ambulance had just arrived.
The doors burst open, and everything shifted instantly. Doctors and nurses rushed forward in perfect coordination, their movements fast, urgent, practiced. A stretcher was pulled out quickly, the patient barely visible beneath the chaos of movement.
“Move, move!” one of the nurses called out.
The atmosphere changed from calm to critical in seconds.
Ruby and Jane stopped walking. They watched because the scene was unable to look away.
There was something about moments like that, the urgency, the fear, the unknown that pulled attention without permission.
The stretcher was rushed past them, doctors speaking in quick, sharp tones, medical equipment being adjusted on the move.
“Pulse is dropping!”
“Get the ICU ready!”
Everything happened so fast. Jane felt a chill run down her spine. “Let’s go,” she said quietly, tugging lightly at Ruby’s arm.
But Ruby didn’t move, her eyes followed the stretcher, something felt… off, she couldn’t explain it. She didn’t even understand why she was still looking.
As the stretcher was pushed past them toward the emergency unit, the covering shifted slightly.
Just enough for a glimpse she saw his face. Ruby’s breath caught, her entire body went still.
No, that wasn’t… This can't be? Have I seen something wrong? Someone tell me what is going on…. Ruby stood there with all the thoughts running through her mind. Her heart began to race.
She took a small step forward without realizing it.
“Ruby?” Jane called, confused.
But Ruby wasn’t listening and her eyes were locked instantly. She saw him earlier, was that him saying goodbye? That can't be possible.
“Dad…” she whispered.
Jane’s expression changed instantly. “What?”
Ruby’s lips trembled slightly. “That was my dad.”
Jane blinked, disbelief crossing her face.
“That’s not possible,” she said quickly. “Ruby, you’re probably mistaken……”
“I’m not,” Ruby cut in, her voice breaking. Her breathing became uneven, her chest rising and falling too quickly now. “That was him,” she repeated. “I saw him.”
Jane grabbed her arm firmly. “Ruby, calm down……”
But it was too late, everything around Ruby began to blur. The sounds, the movement, the voices. It all became distant. Her mind replayed that single image over and over again. Her father, standing close to her, gave her one last look.
“Something’s wrong,” she said, her voice barely audible now.
Jane’s grip tightened. “Ruby, look at me.”
But Ruby couldn’t focus, her vision darkened at the edges. Her body felt weak.
“I need to….” she started, but the words didn’t come out fully and then everything gave out.
Her knees buckled.
“Ruby!” Jane shouted, catching her just before she hit the ground completely.
People turned instantly. Nurses rushed over.
“What happened?”
“She fainted!” Jane said quickly, panic rising in her voice. “Please help her!”
Within seconds, Ruby was lifted onto a nearby stretcher.
The same urgency from moments ago returned but this time, it was for her.
Jane stayed close, her heart pounding as she followed alongside.
“It’s okay,” one of the nurses reassured.
“We’ve got her.”
But Jane wasn’t reassured, not when she had seen the look on Ruby’s face. Or when she mentioned seeing her dad.
Jane’s mind raced. Was it really him? Or was it a shock? Confusion? She didn’t know.
But one thing was certain: nothing about this was normal anymore.
As Ruby was rushed down the hallway, unconscious and pale, Jane followed closely behind, her thoughts spiraling because of what Ruby saw was true. Then this wasn’t just a fainting spell, this was something much bigger.
And whatever had just arrived in that ambulance had just changed everything