Watch You Cry

“It’s nothing to be worried about, I’m sure.”
Declan Slade pushed her blonde hair tightly behind her right ear and looked intensely at a man she had been sitting across from for roughly seven years.
“Declan, collapsing isn’t good. I don’t have to tell you that, surely.” The grey-haired man replied.
He shuffled in his seat, resting back and taking off his small glasses.
“And this happened two days ago, correct?” Declan nodded. “May I ask why your mother isn’t here? She knows, doesn’t she?”
Declan looked to the right of her doctor’s head, avoiding eye-contact.
“Doctor Reeve, I know it’s not a big deal. My mother doesn’t have to know; she’s seriously worried enough as it is. My eighteenth birthday is in less than a month an—“
“Okay, okay. Back to what’s important. How are you feeling now?”
The blonde haired girl breathed out heavily. “I feel... fine.”
“Not light-headed? Drowsy?”
“I’m fine. It was just dehydration or something. No big deal.” Declan looked to her right as her eyes felt dry.
“Regardless of whether you feel it is ‘no big deal’, Declan, it certainly is something to have concern over. Now, I know we discussed reoccurring visits as something you weren’t happy to do, but with this event happening, specifically at this time, I think it might be safer for you to see me at least once a week.”
“Once a week? No. I mean, come on, Doc, please. I don’t need to be watched over. I know how I’m feeling and I’ll know if something is wrong.”
“Declan, it’s for reassurance. And I’m afraid I’m going to have to call your mother down here as well.”
“Doctor Reeve, please. My mother doesn’t need to know about this. You’ve seen how she gets; She won’t be able to handle it. I can handle this.”

• • •

Declan Slade’s hands paled as she held them together tightly. She was placed stiffly in the outside waiting room of Doctor Reeve’s office, listening to the faint voices of her mother and her Doctor.
“Catherine, I know this is worrying. I’m not sure what else we can do other than making sure episodes like this don’t happen again.”
“Wh-... What does it mean? Her fainting... Does it... Is sh—“ Came the weak voice of Declan’s mother. Declan’s eyes closed tightly as the adults conversed about her physical health.
“For now we don’t know. And I’m sorry for you to hear this, but... This may be her body tiring. It could be her deterioration.”
An ache shot through Declan’s eyes as she squeezed them shut even tighter.
She removed herself from the uncomfortable chair hastily and marched straight to the beige door that read ‘Dr. Reeve.’
Barging in, she furrowed her eyebrows.
“It’s not. I swear, I’m completely fine! Run the tests, do the scans!” She exclaimed as the door swung open.
Catherine stared wide eyed, along with Dr. Reeve as the girl before them stood tall.
“Declan, you have to understand our concern.” The doctor began to say softly.
“I’m standing aren’t I? I’m alive and breathing and I’m fine.”
“Declan—“ Her mother tried, holding back the sob that was tearing her throat in two.
“Mom, I want to go home. Please.”

• • •

Catherine Slade shook Doctor Reeve’s hand weakly after arranging another appointment for Thursday afternoon; in one week exactly. Doctor Reeve smiled with sad eyes.
“Catherine, her body may be weak but she’s a strong girl. She may beat the odds, you never know.”