Cara’s POV
Silence hung heavily in the room, the thick smell of antiseptic, suffocating despite being in an office. The leather chair felt as cold as the diagnosis made me feel as my husband and I took in Doctor Bruno’s last words to us.
Our lives felt like a labyrinth of chaos; with every step we took forward, there was more trouble waiting to jump in our faces.
It seemed like there was no end to this.
Adonis’s sickness seemed too convenient, just like the other unplanned and unforeseen problems. One after another. Yet I couldn’t show how I was feeling. I was always the dramatic one-the one amongst us who couldn’t hide her emotions and would display exactly how it was, leaning on my man’s broad shoulders.
Not this time.
Adonis did his best to hide it, but I could see how shaken he was about losing his memory. He had taken the crown from me. It was my turn to be there for him and support him as he always did me. It was like wearing his suit, too large and heavy, but necessary.
I suppressed the emotions that threatened to erupt, mustered my courage, and spoke
“This is bad. Very bad.”
If I couldn’t show them, at least I was allowed to voice them out.
“It’s fascinating…” Dr. Bruno responded. “The fact that his memory loss is selective and linked to his trauma. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any good.”
Was I supposed to be happy that his case was rare?
“Mr. Bernardi would be fine.” He assured me. “We’d study and monitor him closely. I’m sure we’d have a breakthrough. We know the source; we can take it out.”
In other words, test subject.
My eyes darted to Adonis for a second; he was still quiet-in shock even, if I may say.
“It… it feels… a little abrupt to me,” I repeated. “I mean, look at him; does he look like a sick man to you?”
“It’s that way in some people, Cara. Moreover, he complained about some symptoms, which he thought were normal, and we also confirmed them in the tests. The way forward would be to start treatment immediately.”
“And that is?”
“For one, I’d run the tests and scans as I told you, then he’d be admitted. We’d place him on some medications to battle the symptoms first. I recommend we carry out the surgery before the therapy techniques. Those are nothing to worry about.” He explained.
I glanced at Adonis again to see if he had anything to say, but he kept staring off into space, unfocused. He wasn’t this shocked when he heard about the sickness.
Stepping up once more, I nodded, “We’d like to proceed as soon a-
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
I and Doctor Bruno both turned to the man standing by the wall.
“Did you say something?”
He slowly turned towards us.
“We… we discussed this yesterday. I told you I’d like to wait.” His voice was firm, but a flicker of uncertainty betrayed him. “All I’m asking for is a little time. Do anything you must and can, but not the surgery.”
I couldn’t help the scoff, “You must be joking.”
“Never in the habit, I’ve told you before.”
“Didn’t you hear what he said? Your health is deteriorating fast! Are you still going to stand by that decision?”
“I have no reason to go back on my word,” Adonis said firmly.
“We just found out that you’re losing your memory!”
“It doesn’t make me any less sick. Do as I say, doctor.”
“Adonis…
He looked me dead in the eye. “I’m… I’m not bending in this, Cara.”
I felt helpless, a knot of fear tightening in my stomach.
What if he was right? What if I was wrong? What if this decision cost him everything? What else could I do to convince him that this is more important than whatever he had going on?
A life was worth more than anything else in the world. All humans knew this!
Doctor Bruno sighed heavily, “Are you sure about that decision, Mr. Bernardi?”
Adonis nodded firmly.
“You’re lucky we can tackle it now. In older adults, memory loss is mostly an onset of Alzheimer’s and the like. Since it’s progressing rapidly, the symptoms might become too overwhelming.” He rose to his feet, walking towards a chart of the brain. “You could lose your hearing; your headaches could become more aggressive. You could also become faint, have balance and coordination issues, and many more.” His finger circled a part repeatedly. “Excessive build-up can result in brain damage or death.”
I listened intently, memorizing every detail, every procedure. I’d need to know everything but someone else didn’t find it as serious as I did.
“Are you trying to scare me?” Adonis smirked, making me pissed.
I was trying my best to be understanding. He is sick, and fighting wouldn’t do any good for his health, but he was testing my patience.
“No.” The doctor refuted. “My job requires me to do this. You have to understand what you’re about to do to yourself. From experience, delayed treatment never ends up well.” He told him with a grim look. “Now, decide. Which is more important to you? Your life or your work?”
Adonis’s lips formed a thin line. “I’m not like most people. An ordinary fluid buildup would not bring me down,” he sounded sure, but I watched his hands, noticing the slight tremor he tried to hide as he walked over to Doctor Bruno. “Fourteen days should be fine. After that, I’d pack my things myself and move in here. We can proceed with as many surgeries as you want.”
He was also scared. That much I could tell so why was he hell bent on waiting?
“That’s risky, Adonis.” Doctor Bruno frowned. “The fluid, in your case, is building up, pressing against vital areas, disrupting function.”
“That’s all I ask of you.” My husband watched him expectantly, waiting for an answer.
It wasn’t like Adonis. He was a man who’d take his decisions by himself, not considering what anyone had to say. That he was doing this meant he knew the gravity of the situation. The doctor looked at me, letting me know the ball was in my court.
One promise I made to myself after our recent intense fight was to never let any argument get to that stage again.
Better yet, I’d let him have his way, knowing I had a backup plan. Would it be weird if I said I knew Adonis wouldn’t change his mind about putting the surgery on hold?
All through last night, I tossed and turned until I finally came up with a solution, which I planned to implement if he refused to see reason.
This was my cue.
Rising to my feet, I announced, “Let him have his way.”
Doctor Bruno’s face slackened. “Cara-
I shook my head. “I know my husband. If he asked for two weeks, he has a plan. Do everything else-as he says. We’ll be back.”
He sighed deeply.
No matter how much he wanted it, he couldn’t force us to do the right thing. It wasn’t up to him. The only thing he was allowed to-able to-was advise us, and he had done his best.
Adonis gazed at me quietly, his jaw tight, with suspicion in his eyes.
“I’ll hold you to your word.” Was the only thing I said to him with a soft smile. “What are we waiting for? He has someone important to meet tonight. Can he start the tests rerun now?”
“Oh… yes.”
Shaking himself out of his shocked state, Doctor Bruno walked back to his table, picking up the telephone to make a call.
Perhaps it was because he didn’t know me, or he wasn’t as skilled as my husband in reading people, that he easily gave up, unlike Adonis, who remained still, his eyes fixated on me. His doubt was expected though it didn’t mean I was going to say what was brewing within me.
He wanted to have his way, so be it! I was free to have mine too.
So I waited until a nurse came for him, and he left to change and get comfortable for his tests. I waited until the middle-aged man pulled on his lab coat, ready to follow them out before I finally let out the words that had been on the tip of my tongue.
“If anything happens to him, like falling unconscious, and an important decision needs to be made. Who gets that call?”
Doctor Bruno halted; his hand, which had risen to reach for the doorknob, fell back.
“His legal guardian?”
I looked down at my bump, holding it in a loving caress. “That’s me, right?”
“As you’re the only family available, yes?” He replied, confused.
“That is what’s really important.” I walked towards the exit, stopping by his side. “Does this hospital cafeteria boast of good food? I’m starving.”
“Errr… Cara. I’m a doctor, but you sound funny. Your mood doesn’t tally with the current situation.”
“Oh… don’t worry.” A bright smile stretched my lips, but it felt thin, almost brittle. “Yeah, I forgot to ask- how long do you think he can last before his first breakdown?”
“At this rate, a week?”
“Good. Can you please get the door?”
Still confused, he pulled it open, and I stepped out, heading towards the cafeteria while he moved in the opposite direction, towards the scanning room.
“Doctor Bruno?” I called over my shoulder. “Please tell my husband where to find me when he’s done and keep a spot free on your calendar for a week from now.”
“I don’t understand what you mean, Mrs. Bernardi.” He called back.
“In due time, doctor. In due time.”
Adonis had a ticking time bomb in his head, and I’d be darned if I let it explode.