Page 9 of Family Secrets

“There he is Granny,” Elizabeth whispered. “Your new favorite, Kane Cavallo.”

Elizabeth’s eyes remained on her Granny’s face, her heart in her throat and fingers crossed she would wake up. But as the door opened and several people pushing a bed on wheels entered the door, Elizabeth’s hope sank.

Moving out of the way, Elizabeth remained silent as they moved cords and IV poles, sliding her Granny from one bed to the other with ease. One of the nurses came to stand beside her, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulder. “They’ll take care of her, I promise.”

Nodding her head, Elizabeth followed the team with her eyes out the door and around the corner, waiting until she could no longer see them before letting the breath she held free.

With nothing left to do but wait, Elizabeth turned back to her seat in the corner, dropping her tired body into the torturous plastic chair. Tossing her head back in surrender, she stared at the ceiling catching sight of the odd contraption hanging there, reminding her of the top shelf internet available to her. Reaching behind her, she spun her computer around, clicking out of the now black screen of the boxing match, and opening a new browser. Her fingers flew across the keyboard with muscle memory, filling the empty box in the center of the screen with the combination of words and symbols designed to keep her safe.

It felt like forever since she’d last logged in, her eyes feasting on the cute memes and advertisements for new movies, and clothing. Scanning the page, she landed on a post from her friend Lisa which triggered her memory of the awaiting message she ignored earlier today. Unable to look away, Elizabeth scanned the skyline behind her friend, and while she wasn’t certain which Borough, she was one-hundred percent sure it’s the skyline of New York City. Elizabeth had never been outside the state of Kansas, the hospital she sat in was as far away from her home as she’d ever ventured. Elizabeth longed to travel, seeing the cultures outside this close-minded little town. However, reality shook its index finger every chance it got, reminding her there may be a big world out there, but her place was in Kansas taking care of her granny. With a sigh, Elizabeth moved her mouse to the waiting message, clicking the button.

Did you see my post???? I can’t tell you how pissed off I am right now. Stormy left; no note, no kiss my fucking ass, just walked the fuck out of the office.

Elizabeth movedher attention back to the post, taking in the angry face of the blonde she’d made friends with almost a year ago in a Facebook forum geared toward accounting. A fast friendship was formed when Elizabeth defended her against some knucklehead who commented on blondes in his office being too stupid to work with numbers.

The post, a selfie taken at what Elizabeth knew to be Lisa’s desk, judging by the leopard themed accessories surrounding her. Everything from her pencil holder to her stapler was covered in the predator’s print. As she looked closer at the photo, Elizabeth noticed several sections of Lisa’s hair that sported the animal print. Lisa’s signature duck lips sparkled from the copious amounts of gloss she spoke of being addicted to. Historically, Elizabeth wasn’t one to wear much makeup, not for lack of desire, more due to limited funding. Lisa sent her a box full of products she said she didn’t like a few months ago, most of it still in the cellophane wrapping with price tags which made Elizabeth’s eyes bulge.

The description at the top was as brash as the woman who wrote it, full of four-letter words Elizabeth didn’t care for. Still, Elizabeth felt bad for her friend’s predicament, having a desk piled high with files as a result of someone else’s ignorance was never fun. She scanned the hundreds of responses to the post, several names Elizabeth recognized as girls who worked in the same office as Lisa, all with similar conclusions of calling this ex-coworker a cock-sucking bitch.

I feel your pain, Lisa. Hang in there and don’t kill anybody. Elizabeth typed in response to the post, before returning to the message.

So sorry I didn’t respond earlier, my granny is in the hospital with what looks to be a stroke. Hopefully, your day got better, and I will talk to you tomorrow.

Loweringthe lid of her computer, Elizabeth closed her eyes intending to say a silent prayer, but as the words faded and the silence of the room lulled her, the next thing she knew was the firm hand on her shoulder shaking her awake.

“I’m sorry to wake you, Ms. Smith.” Dr. Griffin apologized, his tired blue eyes conveying an urgency Elizabeth didn’t particularly care for.

“It’s fine,” she croaked, her mouth dry and eyes feeling as if they were covered in sand. “How is Granny? Did the test go okay?”

The moment Dr. Griffin dropped his gaze to his coffee-stained shirt cuff, Elizabeth knew the news wasn’t good. Searching around her, Elizabeth found her rosary, clenching it in her right hand the way Sister Maria taught her.

“During the EEG, your grandmother had what we believe to be a second stroke. We were able to stabilize her, however, the additional strain on her body has left her unable to breathe on her own and we needed to place her on a ventilator.”

Numb.

Just like the skin of her butt, Elizabeth felt numb.

“As I told you earlier, I’ve never encountered a stroke as severe as the first, and with the second episode, I’m sorry to say, the test revealed no brain activity.”

Elizabeth may not know much about medicine, but she knew from a science class she took last year, the brain was pretty important for survival.

“Right now she’s upstairs in ICU, where she will remain until you’re ready to make any decisions.”

“Decisions?”

“Yes, Ms. Smith. Your grandmother can remain on the ventilator for as long as her body corporates, long enough for you to get a second opinion if you wish, or find a long-term facility to care for her. I can have the hospital's social worker locate one which will accept her insurance. Or, if your grandmother had a living will, give you time to say goodbye.”

Dr. Griffin hated delivering this severe of news. He, like many of his colleagues, preferred the triumphant stories, ones where the family hugged him tight and vowed their eternal devotion. He could see by the devastation on the beautiful woman’s face, this was a much deeper loss to her.

“I know this is a lot to take in, so I’ve pulled a few strings up on the floor to allow you some time with her outside of the normal visiting hours. If you need anything, let one of the nurses know and they will get it for you.”

Elizabeth shook Dr. Griffin’s offered hand, assuring him she would seek him out if she had any questions. But it was a lie, as the only question she had for the man was how to bring her granny back and he all but said that was impossible.

Gathering her meager belongings, Elizabeth took one last look around the tiny room. As she closed the door, she thought to herself how incredibly unfair it was when fate didn’t bother to ask for opinions before taking away things assumed to be around forever. She had no voice when her mother died, and now it seemed the same would apply to her granny.

Reaching out, Elizabeth pressed the button to call the elevator. She would be there for her granny, just as Birdie had been for her. She would hold her hand and tell her how much she loved her until the absolute end, and then…then she would be alone.

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