Chapter Six - Ethan Hernandez & Jason Havelock
CHAPTER SIX
Ethan Hernandez & Jason Havelock
THE MORNING SUNLIGHT peeked through the blinds of the bedroom window, casting slanted shadows across Ethan and Jason’s shared bedroom. Jason stood at the edge of the bed adjusting his gloved hands, his backpack slung over his shoulder. He watched as Ethan lay curled on his side, cocooned in the blanket. His face was partially obscured by the blanket, and lines of tension on his forehead were visible.
“You skipping class today?” Jason asked, working to keep his voice neutral, but the concern leaked through.
Ethan groaned as he shifted under the covers, “I slept like shit,” he snapped, his tone more harsh than he intended. “I’m sorry. My head is killing me,” he continued. Rubbing his temples, he tried to dull the ache in his head. The migraine was threatening to flair up once more. “It’s just a headache. It’ll pass. Gonna try and sleep it off.”
Jason hesitated, it was unlike Ethan to skip class. Academics were his top priority, so it was strange to see him cast it off so easily. The air in the room felt heavy. Should Jason tell him about last night? The shaking bed, the creepy sounds, the barstool askew?
No.
He had enough to worry about.
Jason reached down and brushed it gently across Ethan’s exposed calf peeking out from the beneath the blanket, “You want me to bring you anything to eat—?”
“I’m fine,” Ethan said cutting him off.
Jason’s hand lingered before he withdrew it, “Sorry. I’m just worried.”
Ethan sat up and threw the blanket back. His face was pale, his hair was in disarray. His normally warm brown eyes were dull and glassy, sitting sunken in on his face. Ethan winced and pressed his palm to his forehead, trying to abate the pain. “Just go to class, Jason. I’ll be fine.”
Jason’s lips tightened, but he nodded. “Okay,” he replied softly. “Just…let me know if you need anything.”
Ethan gave no response, lying back down, he pulled the blanket over his head. Jason lingered for a moment, then turned and left. Ethan heard the front door click shut.
Spending the morning in bed, Ethan drifted in and out of fitful sleep. Just as he would fall off into something restful, the dull throb in his head would jerk him back from the edge.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered to himself. Ethan was not used to being this vulnerable, this helpless. Having been a foster kid since he could remember, he was used to relying on himself. Lying in bed felt like giving up, but the migraine came out of nowhere last night. It was debilitating. A pang of guilt shot through him at the thought of making Jason worry.
By late morning, Ethan’s frustration had outweighed his pain. He pulled himself up and sat on the edge of the bed. The clock on the nightstand read 11:47 AM.
“I can’t stay like this. I have to do something.”
Ethan stood up, but dizziness overtook him as he braced himself against the edge of the mattress. He had classes and lab work, everything was piling up. His determination grew as he stepped away from the bed and fought the dizziness.
Ethan dressed quickly and moved to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and surveyed himself in the mirror ignoring his rumpled appearance. Normally, he was careful to maintain rigid hygiene and grooming, a habit picked up in living in filthy foster homes, but now he was just glad he could stand upright. The pain in his head ebbed on-and-off, as he splashed water on his face. He grabbed a coat off the rack adjacent to the front door and stepped out into the chilly morning air.
The walk to the campus health center felt endless despite his and Jason’s campus-based apartment. A living space they were lucky to obtain. Ethan occupied himself with the thought of the two of them moving in together so quickly after starting to date. After sharing rooms with his foster brothers was reluctant to sharing a living space again. While in the dorms, his scholarship had afforded him his own room. Yet when a one-bedroom apartment came open and dorm life had grown tedious, he and Jason agreed to try it out. Much to Ethan’s surprise, he and Jason were complimentary cohabitants. Jason was tidy enough and part of Ethan didn’t mind cleaning up after him. Made them feel like a real couple and the apartment felt like a real home. Something Ethan had previously not had.
He reached the campus health center and was greeted by a disinterested receptionist. His head was pounding again, a steady drumbeat making it hard to focus as the receptionist droned on with her questions. After completing the appropriate paperwork, Ethan took a seat in the lobby.
Eventually, his name was called, and his vitals were taken by the medical assistant who quickly exited the exam room to another patient. Ethan sat on the exam table, the paper crinkled beneath him. The fluorescent lights flickered, sending little shards of ache through his eyes and up to the crown of his skull. There came a knock on the door and a large middle-aged man with a receding hairline and glasses perched on the tip of his nose stepped in.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Alberts,” he said carrying a laptop. Ethan watched as he took a seat on a stool with wheels, he perched the laptop on his lap and began clicking through screens, having yet to look up at Ethan.
“What brings you in today?” The doctor asked as he continued to click on the laptop with the enthusiasm of someone filing their taxes.
‘It’s my head,” Ethan said, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat, “I have this awful migraine. It seems to be getting worse and I’ve been able to sleep.”
The doctor sighed and continued typing. He set the laptop aside and made eye contact with Ethan for the first time, he pulled his stethoscope from around his neck placing it in his ears.
“Lift your shirt,” the doctor sighed.
Ethan thought it strange, complaining of a headache but the doctor clearly wanted to check his heartbeat. Ethan did as he was instructed, slid off his coat, and pulled up his hoodie revealing his thin torso.
The doctor placed the stethoscope on his back and then on his chest. The chill of the metal forced a wince out of Ethan.
Stop moving kid.
“I’m sorry. It’s just cold,” Ethan said
“Mhmm…what’s that?” the doctor said pulling the stethoscope from his ears.
Ethan frowned, pulling his shirt down, “You said stop moving, I was just replying the stethoscope was cold.”
The doctor gave him a blank look, “Did I say that?” Shrugging he grabbed his laptop and started typing again. “Okay, kiddo. It sounds like a headache caused by stress, lack of sleep, or staring at screens too long. You probably need to cut back on the caffeine and get some rest.”
Ethan clenched his jaw. He would rest if it wasn’t for this damn headache. “This feels…different. Not just stress-induced. The pain — it’s sharp, like a spike poking through my head. Other times like a vice squeezing my brain. My vision is blurry for no reason. It’s…” Ethan trailed off, unsure how to put the rest into words.
The doctor glanced from the computer screen, raising an eyebrow. “Blurry vision, sharp pain…well let’s just hope it’s not a tumor, right?” He chuckled as he peered over his reading glasses back to his computer screen.
Kids these days stare at their phone screen for hours on end and they think it's brain cancer when their head starts to hurt.
Ethan froze, and his stomach dropped, “A tumor? Cancer?” he whispered.
The doctor waved him off, “Did I say cancer out loud? I just mean it’s definitely not a tumor.”
Ethan's brow furrowed. Did he say cancer out loud? He was sure he had heard it.
Alberts flipped his laptop screen closed, “Look, it’s probably just a tension headache mixed with some mild insomnia. I’m going to prescribe something to help you sleep. It’s a mild sedative. Take it easy for a few days, drink more water, take the pills, and you’ll be fine.”
The doctor scribbled out a prescription on the pad and tore off a thin sheet of paper.
“Here you go,” the physician said, handing it to him. “Take one before bed. Should knock you clean off your feet. Give your brain a break.”
Ethan took the slip of paper and muttered, “Thanks.” The prescription felt thin in his hand, weightless. All of this just because of a headache? He pocketed the prescription and made his way out of the clinic.
Had he heard the doctor right? Ethan wasn’t sure, with the pounding in his head, it was hard to tell what he heard and what he thought. On his way out of the building, Ethan nearly collided with someone’s shoulder.
“Sorry,” he said.
“Mr. Hernandez,” a familiar voice replied snapping Ethan out of himself.
It was Dr. Richard Bellamy in the hallway. The older man was dressed well in his tweed blazer and polished shoes, his greying hair combed neatly — a stark contrast from Ethan’s disheveled state.
“Oh hi, Dr. Bellamy. Sorry about that,” Ethan murmured.
Bellamy surveyed Ethan, giving him an appraising look. Ethan felt Bellamy’s sharp blue eyes scanning his unkempt hair, the dark circles under his eyes, and his hunched posture.
“We missed you in this morning’s lecture, Mr. Hernandez,” Bellamy said with authority.
Ethan straightened instinctively, though wincing as he did. “Sorry, Dr. Bellamy,” he said, sounding hoarse. “I wasn’t feeling well today.”
Bellamy tilted his head, his gaze lingered on Ethan’s face. “I see,” he said slowly. “I hope it is nothing too serious. You don’t look yourself today.”
Ethan gave a weak smile, “Just a headache. Jason took notes for me today. I went to the health center. They gave me something to help me sleep.”
Bellamy nodded, “Good thing you have Mr. Havelock. You two are quite a pair.” His expression conveyed nothing. “As well, sleep is essential, especially for someone in your position.” His tone was measured, almost deliberate. “I trust you’ll be back in the lab later this week?”
There is work still to do.
Ethan's eyes snapped to Bellamy’s who continued appraising him. “You and Mr. Havelock show a great deal of promise. I look forward to writing your recommendation letter, but that can only occur if you take care of yourself.”
“I’ll be back to the lab soon. I know there’s a lot of work to do,” Ethan said.
Bellamy's eyes narrowed slightly and then stepped forward towards Ethan placing his hand briefly on Ethan’s shoulder. The gesture felt both paternal and calculated, “See that you do. We have some exciting developments in the lab. I want you to be a part of them.”
Undergraduates would kill for the opportunity.
Ethan smiled weakly, “I understand. Jason and I are lucky to work with you.”
Bellamy pulled his hand back and his eyes met Ethan’s. “Yes, well, I look forward to your return.”
With that Bellamy walked into the building. Ethan stood there for a moment, dazed. The encounter was unsettling, he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Ethan’s head swayed, the migraine threatening to emerge in full force once again. He rushed towards the direction of the campus pharmacy to fill the prescription hoping for some relief.