My Christmas Wish - Ep.3

~Juliet~

I look over to the back seat to see Lucia yawn. She's clutching a small teddy in her hands and is kicking a small rucksack with her feet. I switch on the indicators as the doctors surgery appears on the horizon, I pull in as Lucia buries her head in her teddy. With a gradual fade the engine cools down and I turn to my daughter.

"It won't be that bad, will it? You've been here before and Dr. James says you're one of the healthiest children he's ever seen."

I can see her grip loosen on the teddy.

"So come on, leave the teddy and lets go..."

halfheartedly she puts the teddy in the rucksack and takes off her seat belt as I walk around to the door and open allowing her to get out by herself. Helping her be independent at a young age. We do the usual; go into the waiting room, see the lady at the front desk, watch as people tell Lucia not to worry, wait for a long time and then get called into Dr. James' room.

"Hey Lucia! How are you?"

Lucia looks up at me with hope.

"She's a little bit nervous..."

"Ah, hello Mrs. Harrison. I think today we'll mix it up and do the tests first then have a bit of a chit chat. Is that alright with both of you?"

Lucia nods and I sit down next to the stool that Dr. James lifts Lucia onto. He is known for getting to the point.

He runs through the usual tests; however, it took a lot longer than necessary because of Lucia's constant yawning and distraction. After all the tests are complete we all take a seat around his desk covered in papers for those mistreated by life. Well, at least that's what I thought before Dr. James looked down at them and then up at us.

"Mrs. Harrison, Has Lucia started school yet?"

"No, she hasn't"

He seems to make a mental note before deciding a written one was better.

"Has she been distracted in your lessons?"

"A little bit"

"Any mobility problems?"

"Um..."

"Like, does she walk every where on her own, complete simple tasks etc..."

"Most of the time. There have been instances where I've needed to help her obviously-"

"For example..."

"Getting her jacket on, carrying her rucksack..."

"Okay"

he takes another note.

"Last question, is she sleeping well?"

"About half the time I would say..."

"Mrs Harrison..."

He checks that Lucia is preoccupied and reads through his notes again.

"I regret to inform you that I think that Lucia has-"

He is cut of by a loud crash from where Lucia is as she drops a toy on the floor. Seeing that she is 'fine' he continues.

"I believe she has chronic fatigue syndrome. Also known as cfs, ME among other things.."

I hear the name loud, clear and strong. All the other words come out in a jumble of letters, words and questions.

"...can be severe...fatigue...moderate level...no cure...might improve over time..."

"But she's 4!"

"Yes, it is extremely rare for a child as young as Lucia to have the disease but nevertheless it is not impossible..."

Someone's phone buzzes outside the room yet I pretend it's mine.

"Sorry can I just take this?"

"Of course." He replies waving his hand to the door.

I run to the courtyard and shakily dial for Sara, by the time she answers I can feel tears rolling down my cheek.

"Hello"

"Sara! Help me, my life's a mess..."

"Julie, what's happened?"

"What other than the fact my son has no friends and my husband might be cheating on me!"

"Calm down... Where are you?"

"At the doctors"

"Oh no... Is it Lucia?"

I nod forgetting she can't see me

"Juliet..."

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, nothing major it's just..."

"Another thing..."

I nod again

"Listen, if you need to cancel our meetup and the girls' sleepover that's fine-"

"No, I think I need to speak to you now more than ever... I'll be there in 20"

"I'll make sure the kettle's on..."

I look at the clock, 23:34. I've been here 3 hours now and still nothing. I stay focused though, Lucia is having a relaxing evening with Jessica, I'll tell her tomorrow. Aaron only has 1 day left at school, they break up on Thursday. I stand up and make the bed... again. Straightening the cushions and tidying the blankets when I hear the gravel crunch outside. I run to the window.