At this point, she could barely breathe. She was confused and didn’t know what to do. Her dad had been struggling on his own until he went weak.
Her dad had been fighting with asthma for a very long time, though he always controlled it. But today, she couldn't tell what triggered it. And she was so startled to see that his inhaler was empty. He always bought dozens of it. But since he started taking his drugs, he has found the inhaler unnecessary. These days, he barely uses it.
She tried to wake him up, but it all went futile. At this point, she doesn't need any prophet to tell her that her dad needed urgent medical attention.
Anabel zipped down her handbag. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with her phone. Her fingers were slicked with sweat as she scrolled through her contacts. Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering in her chest. She struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but the sight of her father lying motionless on the floor had shattered any semblance of calm she had left.
She found the number and pressed call. Her thumb was shaking so badly that she nearly dropped the device. Bringing the phone to her ear, she paced the room, her eyes darting between her father’s still form and the inhaler lying uselessly beside him.
“Pick up,” she whispered urgently with her already strained voice. “Please, pick up. Don't waste my time.” The dial tone rang once, twice—then finally, a voice answered.
“Hey, Anabel. How are you doing?" Her family doctor, Doctor Maxwell, answered.
“It's not fine, Doctor!” Anabel answered immediately, her voice cracking with emotion. “It’s my daddy! He collapsed. He’s not moving! You have to come now—please, come now! I need your presence in our house.”
She heard the slight shuffle on the other end as Dr. Maxwell processed her words. “Anabel, calm down," he urged gently, though she could hear the urgency in his voice. “Tell me, did he show any signs before collapsing? Any trouble in breathing?”
“I was not with him when he collapsed. I don't even know how wrong he has been on the floor. I entered his room and saw him lying on the floor as if he were dead. And...there’s an inhaler beside him!” She cried. “He—he must’ve needed it, but he didn’t get to use it. It's empty".
"Is she responding at all?" The doctor asked.
"No, not at all. All I know is that his pulse is still working. He’s not responding! He’s—he’s dying!” Anabel explained, and Dr. Maxwell replied, “I’m suspending all my appointments. I’m coming right now.”
Anabel gulped down a sob. “Please hurry! I don’t know what to do! He’s just lying here. I don't want to lose my dad.”
“I promise, nothing is going to happen to him,” Dr. Maxwell assured her firmly. “I’m on my way. Stay with him—I will be there soon.”
The line went dead, but Anabel barely had time to process it. Her mind screamed that help needed to come faster. She immediately dialed her mother’s number next, her fingers shaking as she pressed the screen. The moment the call connected, she didn’t even wait for her mother’s greeting.
“Mom! Daddy collapsed!” she blurted out.
"What happened to him?" The mom asked.
"I don't know. I entered his room and saw him lying on the floor. I think something triggered the asthma, and the inhaler was empty. I've called Dr. Maxwell. He said he's on his way. Please come home now!”
“I’m coming home now!” her mother replied, and Anabel hung up.