Straightening Affairs - 6. Chapter 6

One morning, just a week before Michael was due to start classes, Sarah had woken up in severe pain. She had been dealing with mild abdominal discomfort for months, but hadn’t mentioned it to Michael. Doctors were expensive, and they were barely making ends meet. She had considered telling her parents, but the last thing she wanted was to worry them further. So, she stayed quiet, pushing through the pain. But today was different. Today, the pain was unbearable.

"Michael… Michael!" she gasped, clutching her abdomen. "Something is wrong. I’m not feeling well."

Michael rushed into the room, his heart pounding at the sight of Sarah’s pale face. She was hunched over, one hand gripping her stomach, the other clinging to the edge of the bed for support.

"Sarah, what’s going on?" he asked, his voice laced with panic as he helped her sit down. "Let me get you some water."

“No,” Sarah moaned, shaking her head. "It’s more than that. Something’s really wrong. We have to go to the hospital. The pain is too much.”

Fear gripped Michael’s chest. He had never seen Sarah like this. Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone and called 911. His hands were trembling as he spoke to the dispatcher, trying to explain the situation. Just as he hung up, Sarah collapsed to the floor.

“Sarah! No, no, no… stay with me, Sarah!” Michael knelt beside her, trying to keep her conscious. “Help’s coming. Just hold on.”

Within minutes, the ambulance arrived. The EMTs rushed into the basement, quickly assessing Sarah’s condition. Her blood pressure was dangerously low, and she was drifting in and out of consciousness.

"We need to get her to the hospital right away," one of the EMTs said, already preparing the stretcher. "Her vitals aren’t stable."

Michael didn’t leave her side for a second. As they carefully lifted Sarah onto the stretcher, his mind raced with fear and helplessness. The thought of losing her—of something being seriously wrong—was more than he could handle.

His parents had been out for the day, but when they pulled into the driveway and saw the ambulance parked outside, panic set in. Michael’s mother was the first out of the car, rushing toward the house, her face a mixture of concern and suspicion.

"Michael! Michael!" she called out, rushing to the scene. "Is my Michael okay? What’s going on?" she demanded of the EMTs.

The EMT explained the situation briefly as they prepared to move Sarah into the ambulance. Just then, Michael emerged from the house, following closely behind the stretcher. His mother caught sight of Sarah, pale and unconscious, being loaded into the back of the ambulance. For a brief moment, a strange expression crossed her face—a faint smile, almost imperceptible, before she masked it with feigned concern.

"Michael, what happened?" she asked, her tone soft, though her eyes revealed something colder. "Is Sarah alright?"

“Mom, something’s wrong with Sarah,” Michael replied, his voice tight with fear. “I have to go to the hospital with her. I’ll call you once I know more.”

But then, without warning, his mother’s voice took on a familiar, calculating edge. “Michael, how are you going to pay for this?”

The question hit Michael like a slap in the face. He froze, staring at her in disbelief. How could she even ask that right now? His heart pounded with a mix of anger and shock. Didn’t she see what was happening? Did she really hate Sarah so much that, in this moment—this terrifying, life-threatening moment—she cared more about money than her son’s fiancée?

For too long, Michael had bitten his tongue, avoiding confrontation, letting his mother’s criticisms and manipulations slide. But this? This was too far.

He wanted to scream at her. To tell her off. To finally say everything that had been building up inside him for months—for years. But now wasn’t the time. Sarah needed him.

His voice was shaky but firm. “Mom… what… never mind. I’m going to the hospital. I’ll call you from there. We’ll talk later.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and climbed into the back of the ambulance, taking Sarah’s hand in his as they sped toward the hospital.

As the doors closed behind him, Michael felt a mix of dread and resolve. The woman he loved was fighting for her life, and he couldn’t afford to waste any more time on his mother’s pettiness. There would be a time to address it—there had to be—but right now, all that mattered was Sarah.

At the hospital, the urgency of the situation took hold as Sarah was rushed into a room. Doctors and nurses worked quickly, trying to assess her condition. Michael stood helpless in the hallway as they peppered him with questions—about Sarah’s medical history, symptoms, when the pain started—but his answers were scattered and insufficient. He realized with a sinking feeling that he didn’t know enough about what had been going on with Sarah. How long had she been in pain without telling him? What if this was something serious?

It hit him then that he needed to call her family. Reluctantly, he pulled out his phone and dialed Jennifer first. His hands trembled as he waited for her to pick up.

Jennifer arrived quickly, her face a mix of concern and fear. The moment she saw Michael, she rushed over, pulling him into a hug.

“What happened, Michael? Is she okay?” Jennifer’s voice was tight with worry.

Michael did his best to explain what had happened, though the words felt weak and empty. He didn’t know enough—didn’t have enough answers. “She’s in with the doctors now… they’re running tests. I don’t know more than that,” he finished, feeling useless.

Within the next hour, Sarah’s parents arrived, followed closely by Nathan and Ryan. The air in the waiting area was thick with anxiety. Michael explained the situation again, his voice growing hoarse from repeating the same sparse details. But beyond what little he could share, it was just a waiting game now.

They all sat together in the sterile hospital waiting room, the minutes feeling like hours. Jennifer sat beside him, scrolling absentmindedly on her phone, her face pale. Sarah’s parents sat quietly, their eyes glued to the door, hoping for the doctor to come out with any sign of news. Nathan and Ryan were talking quietly between themselves, their voices barely above a whisper.

Michael’s thoughts kept drifting to Sarah, replaying the moments before she collapsed, the panic in her voice, the way her face had gone pale. His mind was a jumble of worry and guilt. He should have noticed sooner. He should have pushed her to see a doctor before it got this bad.

But then, out of nowhere, his thoughts drifted to Ryan. His presence had always stirred something in Michael, a strange pull that he tried to ignore. And now, in this moment of all times, when his fiancée was lying in a hospital bed, potentially facing a life-or-death situation, those thoughts came creeping back in.

Michael felt disgusted with himself. What is wrong with me? he thought. Sarah is fighting for her life, and all I can think about is Ryan? The shame twisted in his stomach, but the thoughts wouldn’t stop. He stole a glance at Ryan, who was sitting across from him, quietly talking with Nathan, his handsome face illuminated by the dim hospital lights.

Michael’s heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear, guilt, and something else he didn’t want to name. How could he think about Ryan now? What kind of person was he to let these thoughts intrude when Sarah needed him the most?

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to banish the feelings. But the harder he tried to suppress them, the more persistent they became. Michael had been able to push these thoughts aside before—convince himself that they were just fleeting, meaningless distractions. But now, sitting here in the hospital, those feelings felt impossible to ignore. They gnawed at him, leaving him feeling hollow inside.

The sound of footsteps jolted him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes just as a doctor approached the waiting area. Everyone sat up a little straighter, their eyes locking onto the doctor, hoping for any news.

“Are you Sarah’s family?” the doctor asked, her face serious but calm.

“Yes,” Sarah’s mother replied, standing quickly. “Is she okay? What’s happening?”

The doctor paused, glancing around the group before speaking. “Sarah is stable for now. We’re running additional tests to figure out what’s going on, but we believe she may have a ruptured ovarian cyst. It caused significant internal bleeding, which is why her blood pressure dropped so suddenly. We’re monitoring her closely, and if necessary, we’ll proceed with surgery.”

The relief that washed over the room was palpable, though the tension still lingered. Surgery. The word hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.

“Can we see her?” Michael asked, his voice shaky.

The doctor nodded. “One or two of you can go in at a time. She’s still groggy, but she’s awake.”

Michael and Jennifer were the first to go in. As they walked toward Sarah’s room, Michael’s mind was still spinning, trying to process everything. The fear for Sarah’s health was still front and center, but those nagging thoughts about Ryan lingered at the edges of his consciousness, threatening to pull him under.

As they entered the room, Sarah looked up at them weakly, a faint smile on her lips despite the pain.

“Hey,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Hey,” Michael replied softly, taking her hand in his. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” Sarah said, her eyes closing briefly as she took a deep breath. “I didn’t… I didn’t know it would get this bad.”

Michael squeezed her hand, guilt washing over him again. He should have noticed. He should have done more. But for now, all he could do was be there for her.

“We’ll get through this,” he whispered, trying to sound reassuring, though his mind was still clouded with fear—and those other, unwanted thoughts that he wished would go away.

The air in the waiting room was thick with tension and exhaustion. One by one, everyone had gone in to see Sarah, leaving Michael and Ryan outside together. The weight of the past few days—no, the past few months—pressed down on Michael’s shoulders, making it hard to breathe.

Ryan turned to him, his voice soft. "Hey, Michael. I’m really sorry about what happened. I know Sarah means the world to you."

Michael nodded, his throat tight. “Thanks, Ryan. I appreciate you being here.”

Ryan smiled gently. “No worries. Nathan means a lot to me, and so does his family. You’re family too.”

The words hit Michael harder than he expected. Being close to Ryan, hearing his voice laced with compassion, it stirred something deep inside him—emotions he had long suppressed, emotions he didn’t fully understand. His resolve crumbled, and before he could stop himself, tears started to fall. Months of turmoil, fear, and now relief mixed with guilt overwhelmed him. He began to sob, unable to hold it in anymore.

Ryan didn’t hesitate. He sat down beside Michael, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. “Hey, man… it’s okay. We’re all here for you. Sarah’s strong. She’s going to get better. You just need to stay strong for her.”

Having someone—no, having Ryan—put his arm around him felt different. It felt… right. It was comforting in a way that went beyond friendship. Michael hated himself for feeling this way, especially now, in the midst of everything with Sarah. But no matter how hard he tried to push those thoughts away, they kept coming back. He was drawn to Ryan, and that terrified him.

After what felt like hours, Nathan and Sarah’s parents returned to the waiting room. Ryan stood up and gave Nathan a quick hug, asking how Sarah was doing.

“She’s stable,” Nathan replied, relief in his voice. Sarah’s parents approached Michael, their faces tired but hopeful.

Sarah’s father spoke softly. “Michael, I’m so glad you called 911 when you did. The doctors said if you hadn’t… she might not have made it. They’re going to keep her for a few more days for observation, but she should be able to go home by the weekend.”

Michael nodded, feeling both relieved and completely drained. His emotions were still swirling, a storm he couldn’t quite make sense of.

As Sarah’s parents looked around the room, her mother asked, “Are your parents coming, Michael?”

It hit him then—he hadn’t even thought to call his parents. He had been so caught up in the moment, in making sure Sarah was okay, that it hadn’t even crossed his mind to inform them. The truth was, after his mother’s heartless comment about how they’d pay for the hospital, he didn’t want them there. Not in this moment, not when things were so raw.

“I forgot to call them,” Michael admitted quietly. “I’ll let them know what’s going on.”

For now, Sarah’s parents accepted that explanation, but Michael knew there would be questions later. How could he explain what had been happening in their lives? The constant tension with his mother, the way Sarah had been silently suffering? He couldn’t bear to think about it.

The next few days were a blur of tests, doctors, and waiting. Michael stayed at the hospital with Sarah, sleeping in the uncomfortable chairs by her bed, watching as she slowly regained her strength. Her color began to return, and soon she was sitting up, smiling weakly at him. It was a relief to see her looking more like herself again, but the fear lingered in the background. They weren’t out of the woods yet.

It felt like the universe had turned its back on them, and each small moment of hope seemed to come with a shadow.

Then, on the last day before Sarah was supposed to be discharged, the gynecologist came in. She introduced herself and sat down with them, her expression serious. The conversation quickly turned from Sarah’s recovery to the long-term implications of what had happened.

“The ruptured ovarian cyst caused a significant amount of internal bleeding,” the doctor explained, her voice calm but direct. “Sarah, we’ve managed to stabilize you, and you’re recovering well. But there’s something else we need to talk about. The damage from the cyst… it’s going to make it difficult for you to conceive in the future.”

The words hit them like a bombshell. Michael felt his breath catch in his throat. He looked over at Sarah, whose face had gone pale again, this time from shock.

“What… what do you mean?” Sarah whispered, her voice barely audible.

The doctor’s eyes softened. “It doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but you’ll likely have trouble conceiving naturally. You may need to consider fertility treatments, or other options down the road if you want to have children.”

It was as if the ground had fallen out from beneath them. In an instant, their future—the life they had dreamed of, the family they had planned to have—felt like it was slipping away.

Michael’s mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not after everything they’d already been through. The thought of Sarah not being able to have children… it was too much to process.

He felt like he was watching their life unfold in slow motion, like a bad story that he couldn’t stop. Clouds were supposed to have silver linings, weren’t they? But the clouds above them only seemed to get darker and darker.

As they sat there, stunned into silence, Michael reached for Sarah’s hand. She squeezed his fingers tightly, her eyes filling with tears. The weight of what the doctor had said settled heavily between them.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor added gently. “I know this is difficult to hear. We can discuss your options when you’re ready, but for now, focus on your recovery.”

After the doctor left, the silence in the room was deafening. Sarah stared at the ceiling, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. Michael sat beside her, feeling completely helpless.

“We were supposed to have a family,” Sarah whispered, her voice cracking. “We were supposed to… to have everything.”

Michael’s throat tightened, and he didn’t know what to say. He wanted to promise her that everything would be okay, that they would find a way, but the words felt hollow. How could he offer her hope when he didn’t feel it himself?

All he could do was hold her hand and pray that somehow, someway, they would find a way through this darkness.

The months that followed Sarah’s hospitalization were grueling. Her recovery was slow, made even more difficult by the tension and hostility in Michael’s parents' home. The fact that Michael had to juggle school and a new part-time job meant that Sarah was often left alone during the day, a situation that weighed heavily on both of them.

But Sarah was never truly alone. Jennifer, Nathan, and Ryan visited regularly, offering support and company. They knew how bad things had been, not just with Sarah’s health but with the suffocating atmosphere in Michael’s parents’ home. They were determined to help her however they could, regardless of how uncomfortable the situation became.

The first time Nathan and Ryan came by after Sarah was home from the hospital, Michael’s parents didn’t know that Nathan and Ryan were more than friends. They had always assumed Ryan was just another close companion of Nathan’s. But when the truth came out—that Nathan and Ryan were a couple—everything exploded.

Michael’s mother was furious.

“I will not have those faggots in my house,” she spat, her voice dripping with disgust. “This is my home, and I will not allow that abomination to desecrate it.”

Her words hit like a slap, leaving the room in stunned silence. Michael felt his stomach twist with rage, guilt, and shock all at once. The blood rushed to his face as he stood frozen, listening to his mother’s hateful words.

But then, something snapped inside him.

For so long, he had let his mother’s control and judgment dominate every aspect of his life. He had stood by while she belittled Sarah, questioned his choices, and poisoned the air with her toxic opinions. And now, here she was, spewing hate at the very people who had been nothing but supportive of him and Sarah during their most difficult time.

Michael took a deep breath, his hands clenched at his sides. And for the first time in his life, he found the courage to speak up.

“No,” he said, his voice shaking at first, but gaining strength as he continued. “That’s not happening. You don’t get to decide who can and can’t be here. Sarah needs care, and with me at school and working, she needs Jennifer, Nathan, and Ryan—yes, Ryan—to help her. They’re her family, and they’re here for her when she needs them most. You don’t get to stop that.”

The words came out faster now, with a force Michael had never felt before. He couldn’t believe he was saying them, but once he started, there was no stopping.

“You’ve controlled things for too long, Mom. And I’ve let you. But not anymore. Not with this. Sarah almost died, and if you can’t see that we need help—if you can’t see that Nathan and Ryan are here to help—then that’s your problem. But I won’t let you make Sarah’s recovery harder because of your hate.”

He was breathing heavily now, the adrenaline coursing through him. His mother stood there, her mouth slightly open, clearly stunned that her son had finally spoken up against her. For a moment, she looked like she might argue, but something about Michael’s tone stopped her. She turned on her heel, muttering under her breath, and stormed off to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

The silence in the room was deafening after she left. Nathan and Ryan had watched the whole thing unfold, and they stood there, unsure of what to say. It was clear that no one had ever seen Michael stand up to his mother like that.

Nathan was the first to break the silence. He walked over to Michael and put a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, man… I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to cause any trouble. If having Ryan and me here is going to make things worse—”

Michael cut him off, shaking his head. “No. You don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who should be sorry. I should have spoken up a long time ago. Maybe if I had, Sarah wouldn’t be in the condition she’s in now. I’ve let my mom control everything for too long.”

His voice cracked, but he continued, his resolve firm. “You and Ryan come here whenever you want. Sarah is your sister, and she needs you. I’ll deal with my mom.”

Nathan looked at him, clearly moved by the shift he was seeing in Michael. Ryan, who had stayed quietly in the background, came forward and gave Michael a nod of appreciation. He could see the struggle Michael had been through, and he understood how much courage it had taken to finally stand up to his mother.

Sarah, who had heard the confrontation from her spot on the couch, gave a small smile, her heart swelling with pride and relief. She had been waiting for this moment for so long—waiting for Michael to finally stand up to his mother and take control of his own life. It had taken her coming to the brink of death for him to do it, but he had done it. And that was a start.

Over the next few days, as Michael’s mother sulked in her room, Sarah’s recovery continued. Nathan, Ryan, and Jennifer became regular visitors, helping with meals, chores, and offering emotional support when Michael couldn’t be there. For the first time in a long time, there was a sense of warmth in the house, despite the lingering tension with Michael’s mother.

And though Michael still felt conflicted about his feelings for Ryan, he knew one thing for sure—he wasn’t going to let his mother’s hatred define him anymore. He had taken the first step toward reclaiming his life, and with Sarah by his side, he knew they could face whatever challenges came next.

Sarah’s recovery had been progressing well. The steady support of her family, and Michael finally standing up to his mother, gave her the emotional strength she desperately needed. But despite the improvements in her health, Michael knew one thing with certainty: they needed to get out of this house. Every day they stayed there felt like another day Sarah was being weighed down by the constant negativity of his mother’s presence.

Michael’s mind was racing with ways to make this happen. He couldn’t keep subjecting Sarah to the toxic environment of his parents’ home, especially not after all she had been through. He had to find a way to provide for her, even if it meant making sacrifices of his own.