If I Go

Chapter 12

A few weeks went by. I have been in the ICU for a month. I stared glumly out of my hospital window. Little flurries of snow gently hit the pavement below. Loretta came into my room and I turned my head from the window to look at her. Her hair was piled high in a topknot and she was jotting something intently on her clipboard. Then, Loretta looked up at me and smiled. I smiled in return. 

"Hello Natalie," Loretta said calmly as she looked up from her clipboard. "Today you are going to get an MRI. Do you know what that is?" 

I nodded as a lump formed in my throat. 

"What is it, then?" 

Once I swallowed the lump, I responded. "An MRI is an intense body X-ray." 

Loretta nodded vigorously. "Yes, good." 

"Am I getting it done right now?" 

"Yes, right now." Loretta replied. 

Butterflies swarmed around in my stomach as two other nurses helped me off my bed. 

My legs wobbled as I walked to the MRI X-ray room. Two nurses were at my sides, as if they were glued to me. They guided me to the room with gentle nudges. Once I got there, they helped me lay down on the platform. A few inches away was a circular machine that would be examining my body. Then, out of the corner of my eye a man with a lab coat came in.

"Hello Natalie," He said as he pranced over to my side. He was tall and had brown, slicked back hair. He had chocolate brown eyes and black glasses on. "Today you are going to get an MRI done. Your loved ones are watching you through that window and they are here to support you." He gestured to a large glass window.

I glanced over to see my Mom with a tissue box in her hands, and my Dad's arm was around her shoulder. Then, I saw Chloe waving frantically at me and I beamed at her. Lastly, I saw Gaven staring at me with a look of longing in his eyes. The man cleared his throat and I gave him all of my attention to him again.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Doctor Larry and I am going to be starting the MRI X-ray. You have to be as still as possible so that the MRI machine will have an accurate X-ray of your body. Got it?"

"Yes," I replied quickly.

Larry then continued. "Now it may take a few hours since the machine is slow and wants to be meticulous. But all you have to do is stay still." He emphasized the last two words with conviction. 

"Yeah, I got it. Stay still," I replied with a smile.

"Good. Now let's get started."