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hours ago, it was now eleven o’clock, and already I was rushing back to the restroom for the second time. I’d arrived in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon, but because I’d been up and down throughout the middle of the night, I was starting to feel weaker as time went on. Right now, it was a major task putting one foot before the other.
    In the ladies’ room, I slid into one of the stalls and hung my belongings onto a hook. But just as I prepared to remove my clothing, I started feeling dizzy. I even grabbed the side of the wall and closed my eyes, waiting for this spell to pass, but when I opened them, all I saw were huge, blinding stars. My head twirled and I wondered when I would ever feel normal again.
    This all lasted for more than a minute, but when it stopped, I left the restroom and headed up to my suite. I decided that the conference, at least for the remainder of today, would have to do without me, and the partners would just have to understand that I wasn’t feeling well.
    When I arrived inside my quarters, I dropped everything I was carrying on the sofa and walked into the bedroom, where I removed my shoes and blazer. I then proceeded into the bathroom, cleaned myself up, and found something comfortable to put on. Finally, I lay across the bed, trying to rest my nerves. I still felt pretty weak, but my mind raced back and forth, hoping that I wouldn’t have to be hospitalized away from home. What an ordeal that would be. My parents would be worried sick, hopping on a plane immediately, and I didn’t want them going through so much trouble.
    I relaxed for maybe an hour but the problem occurred when I tried to stand up. I felt dizzier than I had earlier, and without warning, I fell to the floor. I tried to lift my body up, but I couldn’t. I tried again and again until finally I just decided to lie there. I prayed that God would take care of me and that it wasn’t my time to die.

    When I stood up and sat on the side of the bed and saw that it was four o’clock, I realized that I must have passed out or something. But the thing is I felt stronger because of it. Admittedly, I wasn’t my old self, but I didn’t feel as bad as before. Yet I decided it was time to call Charisse to see what she advised. I’d told Whitney bits and pieces of what I’d been experiencing, but I hadn’t shared anything with Charisse because I knew she was going to chastise me. She would insist how irresponsible it was for anyone to bypass seeing a doctor when they knew something was probably wrong with them. So until now I hadn’t wanted to hear it, but after obviously falling unconscious, I really didn’t have much choice.
    I dialed her number but knew it might be hard getting in touch with her, especially if she was in surgery.
    “This is Karen,” a woman said.
    “Hi, is Charisse Richardson available?”
    “She just walked down the hallway, but can you hold?”
    “Sure.”
    I switched the phone from one ear to the other and flipped on the television. I waited two minutes before Charisse answered.
    “Hey, girl,” I said. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
    “No, actually, I don’t have to go back into surgery for another hour. We’ve already done three but we still have two more to go. But hey, how’s the West Coast?”
    “Beautiful as usual, but to be honest, I haven’t felt well since I got here.”
    “Why, what’s wrong?”
    “I’ve been bleeding way too much and now I’m having dizzy spells.”
    “Oh no. When did this start?”
    I could tell she was already hyped up.
    “Well, the bleeding has been going on for months, but I assumed it would get better.”
    “Why would you assume something like that? I mean, if you haven’t always experienced heavy bleeding, then you had to know something was wrong, right?”
    “Maybe, but when I had the dizziness today, I knew I needed to see someone.”
    “Well, it’s my guess that you haven’t been taking those iron pills that your doctor prescribed for you.