Max paced around the hospital lobby in a frantic state. When Caroline had fainted he panicked and didn’t know what to do, someone had helped him call an ambulance in the midst of his screaming and now he hoped that she was doing alright.

After a while when his thought processes started coming back, he decided to call Caroline’s mom. The first time no one picked up and then he tried again. This time Mrs. Owen answered but there were noises coming from the background probably a blow-dryer of some sort.

“Uhmm Max I’m sorry I was a bit busy”

“O…k” Max stuttered and his phone almost slipped from his now sweat palm that shook from panic”

“What’s the matter? Are both of you on your way home now?”

Max could hear the blow-dryer go off on the other side that seemed to give a dead silence.

“Max? Are you there?”

“Max tried hard to swallow the lump that appeared in his throat from nowhere. He was hesitant to say anything, he knew that Mrs. Owen was a worrywart but had to tell her somehow. “Its Caroline” Max said switching the phone to his other hand and tried to dry off his sweaty palm on his light colored jeans that now had a bit of mud stains. “S…She’s in the hospital” his voice finally broke down as he tried to complete his statement. “How many times have I cried today” he thought to himself still subconsciously wiping his now dry palm on his jeans

“What?” Mrs. Owen said in a high pitched tone almost shouting

Max heard a slight commotion happen in the background but couldn’t figure out what it was from the sound. He almost regretted telling her, but he had to. Mrs. Owen had a habit of disregarding everything including herself when she’s in a worried state.

“I’m coming now, which hospital? Never mind just text it to me I’m on my way” Mrs. Own finally said and hung up. She immediately left the salon but before that she had to apologize to the person she was attending to at the time. Fortunately she was almost done and was about closing up for the day.

Meanwhile Max went ahead and called his mom and Mrs. Brenda answered almost immediately

“Mom” Max voice came out almost in a whisper. He still hadn’t recovered from his panic but he felt better inwardly assuring himself that Caroline would be fine. “I don’t really know what happened. Caroline, she was fine one minute and all of a sudden she just fainted” He continued but he started to feel panicky again.

“Wait, slow down dear. What happened to Caroline?” Mrs. Brenda said as calmly as she could through the phone

“She just fainted” Max paused for a while trying to calm down as he adjusted himself in his seat “But she looked like she was in so much pain, I have seen her like that before. It was scary”

“Where is she now” is she still unconscious?”

“I don’t know yet but we’re at the hospital”

Mrs. Brenda sighed as she felt her worries were cut in half “Ok don’t worry she’ll be fine. I’ll be there soon. Did you call her mom already?”

Just as Max was about to answer, Mrs. Owen came rushing in. she looked really exhausted and out of breath as she scanned the lobby with her eyes. It seemed like she was not aware of the receptionist because when she saw Max she immediately rushed to him and bombarded him with questions
“Where I she” Mrs. Owen asked breathlessly

“I guess she’s already there then” Mrs. Brenda said “I’ll be there in a while.”

Noticing Max on the phone, Mrs. Owen paused for a while catching her breath as she tried to calm down. She thought that since they were at the hospital they could do no more than wait for now but she couldn’t help worrying. It was her daughter after all.

“What happened” she asked after the call, this time a bit calmer. She noticed Max stressed expression as he hesitated in telling Mrs. Owen about Caroline.

“I really don’t know but she just collapsed” Max bit his cheek as he regretted what he said. He didn’t want another wave of panic by triggering Caroline’s mom. Heaven knows what she might have destroyed in her salon judging from the sounds he heard over the phone earlier. “she’ll be fine though, they’re already attending to her’ Max continued in attempt of reversing the effect his first statement may have caused.

Fortunately, the doctor came out of another section of the hospital to Max relief and he hurriedly walked towards the doctor with Mrs. Owen behind him

“How is she” Max and Mrs. Owen asked almost simultaneously

“She is fine but we need her guardian or someone related to do some paper work so she can be discharged”

“I’m her mother” Mrs. Owen said immediately, almost bumping into the doctor who took a few steps back

“Regaining his stance, the doctor slid his hands into his pockets like nothing just happened “Alright then, please follow me”

Mrs. Owen went with the doctor back through the place he came while Max sat and continued to wait in the lobby. He was finally able to relax as he took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. He pushed his head back and closed his eyes, he could feel all the exhaustion of the day catching up with him. “what a day” he thought

“There he is”

Max eyes snapped open as when he heard the familiar voice “Mommy?”

Both Lucia and Brenda came into the lobby walking side by side. “You look really tired” Lucia said

“I am” Max said as he got up to give both his mother’s a hug and led them to sit

“Where are they” Brenda asked in her usual calm tone as she sat on the chair Max has shown her

“Caroline is still inside but they‘ll be discharging her soon. Her mom just went into clear up some stuff”

“Ok” Brenda finally said

They were all quiet for a while as they patiently waited for Caroline an her mother. Not long after they both came out into the lobby and Caroline was looking slightly weak leaning on her mom’s shoulder. This prompted them to get up again with Max in the lead.

“How are you feeling?” Max asked

Caroline using maybe her last will for the day beamed with a smile “I’m fine, you don’t have to worry” Noticing the rest of the group, Caroline was wide eyed with surprise “Seriously I just got my insides twisted and besides I’m fine now. You guy didn’t have to come”

Lucia chuckled at Caroline’s and finally asked “Doesn’t that require surgery?”

“It does but the doctor told me to take a second scan when I wasn’t feeling any more pain and my stomach was back to normal. He said I should consult him if I feel any pain again” Caroline tried to rephrase everything she was told by the doctor

“Oh that’s good but I think its best we leave now” Lucia said looking up and around her” I don’t really like hospitals. Besides its pretty late and Mabel you look like a train wreck”

Mrs. Owen didn’t really mind her looks when she had bolted into the hospital in panic but she felt a bit embarrassed now and tried to put herself in order which did little to help her present state “Yeah we better get going” She finally said and her hand went back to support Caroline who was still leaning on her.