Evan didn't return home, which suited Zoe just fine; she didn't want to see the man that was heartless.
Zoe woke up with a stomachache.
She rose, barefoot, remembering the medicine she had stashed under the bedside table. The clock read 3 am.
She took out the medicine, enduring the pain to open it, and went to the living room for water.
After taking the medicine, she curled up in bed, finding no relief.
Half-awake, she drifted in and out of sleep for five hours.
Her stomach ache had lessened by morning, and she decided to visit the hospital for her test results.
At 8:30 am, Zoe stepped out into a light rain. She sighed, returning for an umbrella.
In the hospital, Zoe, pale and lips trembling, entered Edward's office.
"It's cold outside today," she thought, despite the warmth of the office.
Edward took a look at her and lower his head to continuse his paperwork.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't annoyed upon meeting such a whimsical patient for the first time.
"I thought you were avoiding the hospital due to some virus scare," he commented.
Zoe's nose reddened as she chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, I've been busy lately."
"Too busy to care about your health?" He raised his head and looked at her sternly.
His words startled her. "Is something wrong?"
Edward huffed, fetching her medical records. "Your Helicobacter pylori count has skyrocketed, accompanied by an infection."
Zoe remembered that the result was the same as her last test.
Edward closed the file, staring at her. "You need IV antibiotics to treat this. If left unchecked, it'll worsen. No more recklessness. Come in daily for the IV, understood?"
She nodded silently, following the nurse for the treatment.
Fatigue washed over her, and she fell asleep.
Awakening at 11 am, she found the drip finished, the considerate nurse not wanting to disturb her.
As she prepared to leave, the nurse informed her, "Miss, Dr. Smith wants to see you in his office."
She complied, go to Edward's office, sitting opposite him.
"When did you sleep last night?" he asked, having heard she was deeply asleep earlier.
Zoe answered truthfully, "I slept at 11 pm, woke up at 3 am with the pain, and hardly slept after that."
Edward frowned. "Avoid staying up late. I'll prescribe more medication to take with what you have."
Writing the prescription, he added, "Take them half an hour after meals, regularly."
"Together?" she inquired.
"No, take what you have first, then this half an hour later. Keep a consistent schedule."
Zoe nodded.
Her stomach growled untimely...
Edward smiled slightly. "Are you hungry?"
Embarrassed, she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yes."
Realizing she'd only had soy milk yesterday morning, she hadn't eaten since.
"Alright, get your medicine and have a meal," Edward handed her the prescription slip. "Sign here."
Zoe scribbled her name.
