Presley Tower, Wesbury
As I’m about to leave the office, my phone vibrates, snapping me back to the present. It’s Simone’s name on the screen, stirring a mix of curiosity and unease in me.
‘Hello, Simone?’ I answer, trying to keep my voice even.
Her response is a faint whisper, laced with strain and pain. ‘Hey, Duke.’
My worry spikes at the sound of her voice, so unlike her usual self.
‘Are you okay?’ I ask, my concern mounting with each passing second.
There’s a heavy pause before she admits, ‘I’m in the hospital.’ My heart races.
‘What happened?’ I manage to ask, striving for calmness.
‘I started feeling some abdominal pains and…’ Her voice stops, replaced by a soft groan of pain. The sound of her suffering through the phone sends a pang of empathy and helplessness coursing through me.
‘Are they taking care of you?’ I ask, seeking some reassurance.
‘Yes,’ she responds, though her voice lacks conviction.
‘Are you feeling any better at all?’ I press.
She sighs, ‘Not really.’
My heart sinks further. ‘You’re still in pain?’
‘Yeah. They might keep me overnight,’ she says, and I feel a tight knot of concern in my stomach.
‘Stay overnight?’ I repeat, trying to grasp the full extent of her situation.
‘Yes,’ she confirms.
‘Is it serious?’ I ask, my mind racing.
‘It seems so,’ she replies.
I run a hand through my hair, trying to think clearly.
‘Okay, I’ll call you back in a bit,’ I tell her, needing a moment to process this and figure out what to do.
‘Okay,’ she says softly.
‘Who’s with you right now?’ I ask, hoping she’s not alone.
‘No one. Mariah’s coming later. I’m by myself for now,’ she reveals, and my heart clenches.
‘I’ll call you right back,’ I promise, already thinking of ways I can be there for her in this moment of need.
I hastily end the call with Simone, her words lingering in my mind, igniting a flurry of worry. Without hesitation, I dial Leonard’s number, my hand shaking slightly as I bring the phone to my ear.
Leonard picks up, ‘Yes, Duke?’
‘I need to go to Knoxville,’ I say, the urgency in my voice unmistakable.
Leonard’s confusion is immediate. ‘Wait, why? What’s happened?’
I rush into an explanation. ‘Simone’s in the hospital. It’s serious, Leonard.’
‘What’s wrong?’
I relay what Simone told me. ‘Abdominal pains. It doesn’t sound good at all.’
‘Take a breath, Duke.” Leonard tries to calm me down. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.’
But I can’t shake the feeling of responsibility. ‘It’s because of me, Leonard. This whole situation.’
‘You can’t blame yourself. It’s not all on you.’
I’m struggling to understand, my worry clouding my judgment. ‘But what if it’s something major? They’re keeping her overnight.’
‘I’ll go to Knoxville. You don’t need to.’
I pause, the weight of his offer sinking in. ‘You will?’
‘Yes, I will,’ he confirms.
