Tristan’s POV
I was still standing on my spot as David rushed Elona to the hospital, my heart was beating at a rapid pace. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I know that she was in some sort of pain or not feeling well on camp, but if it got to this extent then why did she push herself through it and have sex?
Shit, was it because of me? Was I too rough? Did I hurt her that badly?
“Dad,” Cris snapped me out of my trance as she gently placed her hand on my arm. “Can we go to the hospital please?” she asked softly, panic laced in her voice. When I looked at her, I could see panic. Huge eyes looking at me.
“You can go, I will finish tidying up over here,” Eric stepped into the lounge.
I nodded, “Thanks,” I told him, and then my gaze fell on Cris again. “Of course, let’s go,” I said, and then we both hurried out of the house.
The ride to the hospital was silent as I weaved through the traffic. I wanted to get to Elona as soon as I could as panic was still coursing through my body. We pulled up into the parking lot of the hospital and then we hurried down the corridor, stopping at the receptionist.
“We are here for Elona Everett,” I said impatiently.
“On the sixth floor,” the receptionist said. Cris and I jogged towards the elevator, stepping inside just in time before the doors closed. The elevator ascended. Cris was fidgeting with her hands. She was nervous. I exhaled slowly through my mouth as I waited impatiently to get to the sixth floor.
The elevator finally stopped on the sixth floor. As soon as the doors opened, Cris and I hurried down the corridor. David was talking to a doctor further down. Cris and I didn’t want to intrude, so we took a seat on the two chairs available. I ran a hand over my face.
“Dad, I know how much you care about her, it’s clear. Sometimes I think that you prefer her over me-”
“Now is not the time to talk about this and you are my daughter. Stop thinking that I have a favorite because I don’t,” I said impatiently. I most certainly don’t have time for this right now.
“I saw the jacket that you left in the bathroom by Elona’s house. I could smell your scent on it. She told me that it was Uncle David’s.”
“Well, it is. We wear the same scent sometimes,” I lied.
“I also happen to see you both have wallpapers of the two of you, so I don’t know what to think about that. You don’t even have a picture of us on your screen. Ever since mom died you have stopped doing those things with me.”
“Cris, can we please not do this now? You are my daughter, and I love you. I am Elona’s guardian when she doesn’t have her father around. I am there to take care of her too, the same way as David would be there to take care of you when I am not around or if something has to happen to me-” I held her gaze.
“Don’t speak like that, I can’t lose another parent.” she looked down at her hands that were clasped in her lap.
“You won’t lose me. Let’s focus on Elona.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“You two didn’t have to come all the way here,” I looked up at David who was standing in front of us. His hair was disheveled. Sadness was evident in his eyes.
“We wanted to be here, Eric is keeping an eye on the house. How is she? What is wrong with her?” I asked. I was even afraid to know what might be wrong.
He let out a heavy breath, “She is in surgery.”
My heart stopped at the mention of that word. “Surgery?” I furrowed my brows in confusion.
“Um… I don’t think that I can say more. Elona and I have kept this between us for a long time. I don’t think that it’s my place to say anything when she made me swear to never tell a soul.” he was battling with it. He needed someone to speak to but nothing was wrong with pushing him to tell me what it was.
“How am I supposed to know what is going on when no one is informing me about this? I am her guardian. If you’re not around, I need to know these things. I need to know what to do,” I held my gaze on him. He nodded. It was difficult for him.
“She was diagnosed with endometriosis a few years ago. She must’ve stopped taking her birth control pills, which she never missed at all. But this is a first. They help with her pain and discomfort. It’s basically tissue that grows where it doesn’t belong. It grows outside the uterus and ovaries…” he had a difficult time with it.
“So… the surgery can cure that, right?” I asked.
“It can relieve pain, but it can return. It’s a chronic condition that she has. It can spread to her other organs, so if surgery is what is needed every time to help with her pain or try to stop it from spreading, then surgery is what she can have. I hate to see her in this kind of pain,” tears welled up in his eyes. “I just- I just wish that I could take all her pain away,” a tear ran down his cheek.
Cris let out a gasp as she covered her mouth with both of her hands. “So… so there is no cure for this at all?” I asked. My world was now completely shattered upon hearing this.
“No cure at all. And she might not even be able to get pregnant one day. There is a very slim chance that she can if she decides to try, but that all depends on her condition and how far things have progressed with the endometriosis. It can affect her fallopian tubes as well, so it will be difficult. And I might never become a grandfather one day.” so that could be the reason why she said she didn’t want to have kids either. At least we are on the same page on that. “I am just reminded of her mother and I just don’t want my daughter to suffer like this. I have seen her mother suffer and I just… wish to make things better for her.” he wiped a tear away with the back of his hand.
“I need the bathroom,” Cris said, her voice breaking a bit as she walked past us.
“I-I’m sorry that you both have to go through this. I will always be here whenever you need me. I will leave work in case of an emergency, and you have my word,” I said, even though this broke my heart.
“Thanks,” he said. “I need to go for a walk if you don’t mind. This just came suddenly when she was doing so well over the years. But her missing to take her pills just has me concerned. Perhaps she has a lot of stress with the final year of school and modeling. I will have a talk with her regarding that. Please call me when I’m needed here,” he said.
I only nodded, I didn’t know what else to say and then he left me all alone in the corridor. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. Staring at the floor, trying to soak this in. I wish that she had told me about this. I am her boyfriend, maybe she was afraid of what I would think, but this is something serious that has no cure.