BEAUTIFUL ME

PART TEN

"THE STORY"

BY UMORU PRAISE

Tony walked in with Elizabeth into the ‘center’ with his hands on her shoulder.

They didn’t seem to show an elated expression as they walked in but Alex and Quinn didn’t noticed because they were engrossed on the desktop screen

“Finally you guys are here” Alex exhaled in relief.

Alex and Quinn turned their gaze towards them 

Alex beamed a smile on seeing Tony’s hand on Eli’s shoulders

“I’m happy you guys finally resolved whatever was going on”

“So I gat news”

“You mean us” Quinn interrupted

“Sorry, we gat news. So we hooked up the lady Malia caught Jeremy with, and her name is Sofia N’Dyare”

Quinn slides in “She’s is a transferred Economist student. She came in her second year” 

Alex took charge again “and since she transferred here, she has been really close with Jeremy right from the start”

“And guess the funniest part” Quinn stepped forward “even after Malia caught her making out with Jeremy, Sofia and Jeremy have still been in touch even till now”

“What” Eli was amazed “he didn’t cut tiles with her even after what he did? How can guys be so greedy and unfair a times”

Tony shifted his gaze towards her

“Apart from you of course. I know you wouldn’t cheat on me.” Eli cleared up the air with a peck on Tony’s face

“Mmm hellooo not all guys are the same. I’m definitely not part of them” Alex defended himself

Quinn simpered “yeah, tell that to the two ladies you dated at the beginning of this year”

“Hey that’s not my fault. Common guys, we all have relationship issues that lead to breakup” Alex defended heavily

“Well maybe this relationship issue was one Malia couldn’t handle” Tony finally spoke up

“Yeah” Eli concurred “I guess she didn’t like the fact Jeremy wasn’t ready to cut tile with Sofia after everything and she couldn’t handle it and decided to call for a breakup”

“Orrrr” Alex spoke up “Jeremy’s mysterious anger over something Malia did to him is the reason he called for a breakup”

“They could still be linked up though” Quinn said as she took a seat on the sofa “I was thinking we meet Sofia and see what she knows”

“and how do we meet her” you don’t even have her contacts”

“Well that’s what you think sweetie.” Quinn relaxed herself on the sofa “I searched for her Facebook page last night, and I found her contact. I even chatted her up and she was weirdly interested in meeting up. So I guess we have a date with Sofia today, can we all go?”

 “Mmm… actually I have something I want to tell you guys” Eli spoke soberly after a deep breathe

Tony gave Eli a seat and the Quad let serenity reign down 

“I didn’t want to tell you guys before because I felt there is nothing you could do about it and I was also scared how you might see everything happening around me but Tony made me realize what friends are for.”

They say a problem shared is a problem half solved… even if I don’t see a light after the tunnel. I feel you guys should still know, because at the end, you are my family one way or the other.”

Quinn felt an uncomfortable chill “Eli what’s up. Why are you talking this way? Is everything alright?”

“My mum is sick. Very sick. I wanted you all to know at once so I waited till today”

“She has sickle cell anemia”

“What!” the Quinn and Alex were stunned

There was a bit serenity again before Alex broke it

“Okay I’m sorry guys and I know this isn’t a good time for a joke.” Alex shuttered “But what’s Sickle cell anemia because I have no idea. I just exclaimed along with Quinn because of the way Eli said it. It sounded bad so I just…”

Eli didn’t seem in the right frame to explain so Tony who stayed up researching gave a clue

“It’s a sickle cell disease, as a result of inherited group of blood cell disorders. The red blood cell contorts into a sickle shape, where the cells tend to die early, leaving a shortage of healthy red blood cells” he stopped

Quinn decided to finish up “the inherited group of disorders he mentioned are from a particular genotype and when such genotypes meet or mate rather, they give birth to sickle cell victims”

“The AS genotype right?” Alex said “I have heard of the AS +AS resulting to SS stuff” he turned towards Eli “is it that bad”

“To be honest, her condition is really bad right now. She has… been going through intensive… sequestration crisis” Eli tried pulling herself together time to time

“What’s that?” Quinn asked curiously “is that the crisis SS usually go through most times. Cause I once had a friend back in high school, and when she was going through one of her episodes, it was really bad and painful to even watch talk more of how she felt”

“Yeah something like that” Eli responded “there are three types of blood cells. The white blood cell which fights sicknesses and infections, the red blood cell carries oxygen and carbon dioxide to and fro the lungs while the palettes clothes wounds and injuries. In my mum’s case, her anemia affects her red blood cells really bad. Sequestration crisis occurs when the red blood cells are trapped by the sickle cells that sticks together, blocking small blood vessels, making it difficult for the red blood cells to carry oxygen and causing many painful and damaging complications to my mum. It’s… usually really painful whenever…whenever I see her in anguish and now she has ACS” 

“What’s that” Tony asked

Eli only told him her mum was a sickle cell who had issues with her blood and nothing more until now

Eli continued “Acute Chest Syndrome. It’s a condition a victim suffers when the oxygen concentration in the blood drops below a critical level and breathing becomes really difficult”

“And let me guess, unfortunately it leads to death” Quinn said downhearted

“Yeah” Eli responded dejectedly restricting  her tears

Silence filled the room as sadness engrossed everyone. Elizabeth couldn’t hold her tears any longer

“Common there hasto be something that can be done” Alex said saddened

Tony couldn’t say a word as he understood the gravity of things

Quinn hurriedly researched on the desktop

“It says here, a blood transfusion could be carried out. It says an exchange transfusion is crucial in situations such as your mum’s”

“What’s exchange transfusion” Tony asked

Quinn read from the desktop “Exchange transfusion exchanges the patient’s sickle-shaped blood cells with healthy ones lowering the concentration of sickle cells without increasing blood viscosity”

“That means if she can get a blood transfusion on time, she could be pretty much better” Tony said with enlightenment

“It’s not that simple Tony, there’s still a big problem” Eli said with a melancholic tone

“I don’t understand what the problem is here, your mum needs a blood transfusion to get better and we can get her one” Tony said confusedly

“Or is it the money?” Quinn asked “that shouldn’t be a reason a life should die. I will talk to my parents. We can work things out”

Eli’s tears pierced through the trios hearts but she didn’t seem cheered up with every suggestion

Alex thought of a reason she was still feeling melancholic

“Does it have to do with the blood type?”

“She’s O negative”

“Oh” Quinn sighed

“Isn’t O negative a universal donor” Alex said

“Yes” Quinn responded “but even if they can give to anyone, they can only collect from themselves alone”

“If it’s the commonest, why is it still a problem” Alex felt confused

“After the national pandemic, it’s been pretty risky and kind of scare of a sought. That’s why I told you guys earlier, there’s pretty much no hope”

Tony grew a smile bit by bit

“Don’t give up so soon” tony stood up and picked up his phone

“Are you O negative” Alex asked intrigued

“No I’m O positive. I know someone that’s O negative and she would be willing to help out” he dialed a number in excitement “we can’t waste any more time. Babe lets go”

Eli didn’t know the expression to render as tony pulled her out…”

Alex and Quinn gave a heavy sigh of relief. They watched as the two rushed out with elation

“I hope this works out perfectly” Alex said

“Yeah me too. I gatto give my dad a call right now but how about we lay low a bit on Maremy case at least till Eli and Tony are back on track fully. I like it when we all go about the case together” Quinn said

“Yeah sure, I’m cool with that. It would be nice to see those two together again all happy and working on the case with enthusiasm and focus”

“Yeah… me too…”

Quinn caught Alex staring at her with a side smile

“What?”

“You are cool with it right?” Alex said with an aim

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you sure your interest is on everyone being on the case or you would just miss Tony’s presence” Quinn looked at him in shock “common I know you have feelings for Tony”

“Dude our friend’s mum is in the hospital in need of a blood transfusion to save her life and you are here saying nonsense instead of praying”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry”