Unfated Lovers

Chapter 17: The Coma

The fluorescent lights of the hospital flickered overhead as Yumi was rushed into the emergency room, her pale face almost ghostly against the stark white sheets of the stretcher. Paramedics pushed the gurney at a rapid pace, and Hana ran alongside them, her heart pounding violently in her chest. Panic clawed at her throat as she struggled to keep up, her thoughts spiraling into a chaotic whirlwind of dread.

"Stay with me, Yumi! Please!" Hana cried, her voice cracking with desperation as she grasped Yumi's hand tightly, willing her to respond. The rhythmic beeping of the machines created an anxious soundtrack, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Joey and Soojin followed closely behind, their faces reflecting the same worry that consumed Hana. Their classmates, who had been enjoying the birthday celebration just moments ago, now wore expressions of shock and concern as they rushed through the sterile corridors of the hospital.

As the doors to the ER swung open, Dr. Lee, Yumi's primary physician, happened to be passing by when he heard the commotion. Recognizing the urgency, he quickly stepped in, his eyes widening as he saw Yumi being wheeled in. "What happened?" he asked, immediately assessing the situation.

The paramedics provided details to Dr. Lee. "Patient is a young female, collapsed during a birthday celebration. Vital signs unstable—heart rate irregular."

"Hana!" Soojin called out, panic lacing her voice as she pointed to Hana, who was frozen in place. The moment Dr. Lee heard her name, he turned, his expression shifting to one of recognition. "Hana? Is that you?"

"Hana, he can help!" Joey urged, grabbing her shoulder to snap her out of her daze.

With a burst of resolve, Hana nodded and moved closer as Dr. Lee took charge. He approached the stretcher, his brow furrowed with concern. "Yumi, can you hear me?" he called, but there was no response.

Hana's heart sank. "Yumi, please!" she pleaded, squeezing her hand even tighter, trying to infuse some warmth into her cold fingers.

"Get me a crash cart!" Dr. Lee commanded, the tension palpable as the medical team sprang into action. The flurry of activity swirled around Hana, and she felt increasingly helpless, watching as the doctors worked tirelessly to stabilize Yumi.

Time felt distorted in the ER, each second stretching endlessly. Dr. Lee glanced at Hana, who was still holding Yumi's hand. "Hana, I need you to focus. Yumi has been experiencing serious health issues for a while now. She has a rare heart condition known as restrictive cardiomyopathy," he explained, his voice steady yet tinged with urgency. "Her heart isn't pumping blood effectively, and she will need an urgent transplant to survive."

"Transplant?" Hana repeated, the word heavy on her tongue. "What do you mean?" Hana's voice was barely above a whisper, her heart racing with disbelief. "She's always been fine! She's been... she's been happy!"

"Please, let me explain," Dr. Lee urged gently. "Yumi didn't tell you everything. "I've been her physician for a while now. She was diagnosed a few months ago, but she didn't want to worry you. She believed she could handle it on her own."

Hana's breath caught in her throat. "Why didn't she tell me?" Her mind raced back to moments they had shared—Yumi had been acting unusually distant sometimes, often brushing off Hana's concerns about her health. "If I had only paid more attention... if I had just asked her about her symptoms—"