Peccatori | Damiano David [ENG]

XVII

The quiet murmurs swirl in my head and bounce off its walls. They get louder and louder with time. I am able to understand more and more. Some people are talking to each other. One of them is clearly upset. The beeping of the apparatus. Beep. Beep. Beep. The darkness that envelops me is terrifying. I am immersed in the void together with intrusive thoughts. I've had enough, I have to get out of here.

I open my eyes. A pale light blinds me. It stings my eyes. I close them again, but again I lose myself in my thoughts. I already prefer this dazzling, unpleasant light. I squint my eyes to make my vision clearer.

I am lying in a hospital bed, half covered by snow-white sheets. A woman unknown to me stands by my bed. The wrinkles on her face betray her years. She is looking through a card. She lifts her gaze and smiles at me at an angle. We are alone.

- Good morning Miss Lilith. - said the woman warmly.

I am completely confused. I don't know why I am here. I still have shreds of the events of the previous evening in my mind. I have so many questions and yet no answers.

I got up from my seat. My heart started beating faster which was reflected in the faster and louder beeping of the apparatus.

- What happened? Why am I here? Is anyone here with me? - A stream of words came out of my mouth.

The woman approached me with quite a brisk step for such an old woman.

- Calm down. Yesterday you were taken unconscious to the hospital. Nothing terrible happened to you, the only thing you have is post-traumatic stress disorder. It is caused by traumatic events. - The woman began to speak slowly.

I nodded to her with understanding.

- The police are also here to talk to you. You have to make a statement, the policeman will tell you the rest. Before I let the visitors in, I have to examine you. Do you agree to be examined? - She asked, taking the stethoscope off her neck.

- Yes, but could you tell me who is waiting for me there? - I was genuinely curious.

The woman looked at me with a glint in her eye.

- Some young man and two girls. - She muttered under her breath.

A young man and two girls? As far as how with girls I didn't have a problem, because it was probably Julia and Alessia. The boy could have been Alessia's fiancé, actually it was quite logical.

The woman began her examination. First she shined a special flashlight into my eyes and observed my pupils. Then she tapped my knees with a hammer to check my reflexes. She listened to me.

- You are fine, although you should stay for observation. Some symptoms don't appear until several hours after a traumatic event. Would you like to see a psychologist?

A psychologist? I don't need a psychologist, not yet. I haven't figured out what happened yet.

- Could you tell me what is happening to my sister? - I asked anxiously. I feared the worst.

The doctor adjusted her glasses on her nose and looked at me with sad eyes. God, what could it mean?

- Your sister came to us yesterday in serious condition. She lost a lot of blood, but luckily we have already transfused it. She's already stable and has regained consciousness. For obvious reasons, we have to leave her for the next few days.

I nodded with understanding. The woman said a few sentences to me, but I didn't focus much on their meaning. My sister who I hated so much took a bullet on herself and most likely saved my life. This is such a noble gesture that I can't even think of how I could repay her.