The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

She’s burning up

campus health center closed for the night…

take her to Mass General.

Fragments of conversation drifted over me as consciousness ebbed and flowed.

Car doors opening and closing. The rhythm of movement. Bright lights overhead. The antiseptic smell of a hospital.

“Her ID says she’s a BU student….

temperature of 105.8…*

need to start an IV for fluids…

Voices faded in and out like badly tuned radio stations.

I tried to focus, to respond, but the effort was too much. It was easier to let the darkness pull me under again

* 432

I awoke to the steady beep of a heart monitor and the feeling of something cool against my forehead.

For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was or how I’d gotten there. Then the sterile white ceiling and privacy curtains came into focus

and with them, the realization that I was in a hospital.

Welcome back

That voice. I knew that voice.

I turned my head slowly, wincing at the stiffness in my neck, to find Daniel Prescott sitting in a chair beside my bed.

He wore navy blue scrubs under his white coat, his hair slightly mussed as though he’d been running his hands through it.

Despite the late hour – the clock on the wall read 11:47 PM – he looked alert, his eyes sharp behind his glasses.

“Daniel? My voice came out as a rasp.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “We seem to keep running into each other, don’t we? Though I hadn’t expected our next meeting to be quite like this.”

I tried to sit up, but he gently pressed me back with a hand on my shoulder.

“What happened?” I asked, confusion clouding my thoughts as I glanced around the hospital room.

Easy. You have a nasty case of influenza, compounded by exhaustion and dehydration. Your body needs rest.*

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10:55 Mon, Mar 9 MM

Chapter 18

“How did 1…” I trailed off, struggling to piece together the fragments of memory.

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A classmate from your dormitory brought you in.” He checked something on the chart at the foot of my bed. “A Ms. Rebecca Chen? She found you collapsed in the hallway and called an ambulance.”

I vaguely remembered the Chinese-American girl who lived three doors down. We’d exchanged pleasantries in the elevator but never really spoken beyond that.

I made a mental note to thank her properly when I returned.

“The ER was swamped tonight – this weather always brings an influx of patients. I happened to be on duty when they brought you in.”

His expression remained neutral, professional. “Your fever’s come down, but I’d recommend you stay overnight for observation.

I nodded weakly, too tired to argue. “Thank you.”

Daniel glanced at his watch. “Is there someone we should call? Family? A friend who could come stay with you?”

The question brought an unexpected lump to my throat.

Olivia was out of town. My grandmother was hours away in Portland. And my mother…

“I should call my mom,” I said reluctantly.

Daniel nodded and handed me my phone from the bedside table.

Victoria answered on the fourth ring, her voice tight with annoyance at the late-night call.

“Emma? Do you know what time it is?”

“I’m sorry,” I began, then had to stop as a coughing fit overtook me. When could speak again, I explained the situation as briefly as possible.

“Oh my goodness!” Her tone shifted to theatrical concern. “You’re in the hospital? That’s terrible, sweetheart. I would come right away, but…”

I closed my eyes, already knowing what was coming.

“Robert has that important meeting in the morning, and I can’t leave Leo alone. You understand, don’t you?”

“It’s fine, Mom. I just wanted to let you know.”

There was a pause, then her voice brightened. “You know who you should all? Nicholas! What a perfect opportunity for you two to spend some

quality time together!”

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10:55 Mon, Mar 9 MM

The Forbidden Throb