My Christmas Doctor

The apartment building had everything I could ever want too, with a library, a gym, a pool, and even a restaurant. There were other rooms as well that renters could make use of, like a viewing room with a large screen tv and plenty of seating, a room for the teenagers to hang out in and one for the younger children to play in also with lots of activities and toys. And it was all well-looked after by the apartment building staff. There was always someone on duty, available twenty-four hours a day. Anything I couldn't get here at the apartment building I could have delivered. I never had to leave if I didn't want to. I was perfectly safe and secure here. Not that it wasn't expensive. It definitely was, I mean it's NYC, so of course it's expensive. My rent cost me as much a month as it was for me to buy my first car. Still, I was never going back to Akron. Except to visit, of course.

I grabbed my pillows from the closet and fluffed them, stacking them up. Having the pillows propped up enabled me to sleep with less pain. With this gastric reflux, I'd come to find it was the best way to rest, or I'd never get any sleep. I climbed into bed and pulled my comfy blankets up around me. The medicine still wasn't doing much to help the pain, but finally about an hour later, I drifted off to sleep.Chapter 2JaneI had no idea what time it was when I woke, all I knew was that my chest hurt so bad and my breathing was shallow. Gasping, I stumbled out of bed to find my phone. I needed help. My medication wasn't working, and I feared there was something worse going on. Panicked, I hit the speed dial and called down to the apartment building's front desk — I knew there was always someone on duty — as I changed from my sleep shirt to a pair of yoga pants and top, I didn't even bother with a bra.

"Ms. Adams, what can I do for you?"

"Paramedics," I gasped out, "having chest pain."

"I will call right away, ma'am, and we'll get you help. Can you get to the door?"

"Y…yes," I stuttered.

"Okay, I'm calling now, and I will get them up to you as soon as possible, just stay with me on this line."

"Y…yes," I muttered as I stumbled to the door and opened it.

"Hello? Yes, I am needing medical attention for a resident," Noah — I finally realized who I had been speaking with — said. He went on to tell them exactly how to get to me. "Yes, I will be here in the lobby to take you up to her. Yes, I have her on the line with me as well, just a moment, I will ask her. Ms. Adams? Do you think it's a heart attack?"

"Don't know, pl…please… hurry," I gasped again as it felt as though my heart were being squeezed in a vice as I held tight to the door handle. I needed to sit down, so I held on to the wall as I made my way deeper into my apartment, back toward my bed.

"They are on their way; we'll be right up. Sir? Yes, she isn't sure, but she is complaining of chest pain, yes, I see you now," Noah said. "Ms. Adams? They're here, I'm bringing them up to you."

"Th-thank you," I managed and dropped to the edge of the bed. I hung up and set my phone on the table by the pull-out bed.

A few minutes later, four paramedics entered my apartment, along with Noah. Fuck, this is going to be expensive! I thought as they came toward me. Granted we lived so close to the hospital, the ambulance hadn't had to come far, and they'd been here within five minutes, but to me, it felt like an eternity. Still I had to wonder how much it would cost me just to have the ambulance drive around the corner to my apartment. Would it have been cheaper to just go down to the street and grab an Uber? Probably, but then hindsight and all that.

"Ms. Adams?" one of the paramedics said, coming toward me.

I nodded, my hand on my chest.

"Just lie back a moment, I'm going to check your vitals."

I moved to lay down, but the moment my body was prone, a sharp stab of pain went through my chest, back and shoulders and I shot right back up. Even breathing deep hurt. "C-can't," I gasped out.

"Okay, okay, just relax. How long have you been experiencing this pain?"

"Since… l-last… night, …a-round… s-seven…" I murmured between shallow breaths. "Get-getting… worse."

He nodded. "I'm going to give you something that should help with the pain." He turned to one of his partners who already had a needled syringe ready. "Can you tell me any medications you've taken? Any illegal substances?"