NORTON

Without Aayan

CHAPTER 12

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The paramedics had just slid Kim inside the ambulance when she came to and panicked. "Relax ma'am, you're in safe hands." The two ladies attending to her said comfortingly. They wouldn't tell her what had happened to her when she asked but she figured she must've passed out. Desperately, she wanted to get out of the ambulance and continue her journey home but she was grateful to be off her feet. When they reached the hospital, she told the paramedics that she was feeling better and could go home. The blond one with a boy-cut told her they can't let her go because they've called the police. "Why?!" she asked in a panicking but low voice. "Ma'am just relax, the doctor is almost here." The paramedic with an afro encouraged.

The doctor walked in then and greeted Kim addressing her as Ms. Kim apologised for passing out and told him she really feels better but the medical practitioner kept reading a piece of paper one of the paramedic ladies handed to him when he walked in. He then closed in on her and touched her on her side and squeezed. Kim winced and the doctor stopped. Kim realised then that her face veil was missing and that she was wearing a hospital gown. "Where are my clothes?" she asked and the doctor responded with a question. "Your bruises look fresh. Who did this to you?" Trying hard to sound casual and relaxed, Kim told him her rib is sore because she fell after getting out of a bathtub earlier that day. The doctor asked if the tub was also responsible for her bruised face and shoulder. She looked away from the doctor's burning stare and her eyes landed on two officers coming into her room. They greeted the doctor then said hello to Kim. The doctor excused himself and promised to return for Kim when the police were done taking a statement. As soon as they were left with Kim, one of the officers recognised Kim from earlier and asked if her husband hit her again after being released. She couldn't tell them how she and Norton separated after leaving the station. She felt ashamed of her situation. She also felt sad for herself and how mistreated she was. Throughout the time she was married to Aayan, she had never felt bad for herself. She always chose to stay strong for her children and marriage but her current situation was forcing her to look at herself in a way everybody else did. Realising there was nothing she could say that wouldn't make her look like an abused woman that she was, she opted to stay mum up until the officers lost hope and left. She stayed alone for almost an hour and when the nurse came in to check up on her, she again asked to be released. The friendly nurse whose name tag read Stella, told her they'll release her to a relative a little later. Stella asked if she had called a loved one and Kim felt lying would make her situation look better. Telling her she doesn't have a cell phone might add to her already tarnished image. "I don't know where my phone is." Ten minutes later, Stella returned with her hand set and told Kim to call someone she could be released to.

Winnie was shocked and scared to hear her sister was in a hospital and promised she was on her way. Kim could've called Mercy but him seeing her bruises would be more embarrassing that admitting to her sister that Aayan hit her. She also decided she was going to leave out the bit about Pumla and Zam being present during the assault. When the doctor returned Kim thought he was going to continue with the humiliating questions but he simply told her that either than the obvious bruises and side pain, she was okay. He recommended rest and minimal movement to give her side rib time to heal. Fortunately for her, it wasn't broken or cracked. The doctor then instructed her to collect pain killers from the hospital pharmacy before leaving. She reached for Stella's phone on the side table and dialed her home. She knew Aayan was most probably going to answer but she needed to know how her children were doing. When the call rang unanswered after the third attempt, she called Winnie again and her phone rang at the door. Kim looked up and tears reached her eyes as soon as Winnie looked back at her. Winnie looked mad and her first sentence confirmed her appearance. "How long has he been hitting you, Kim?" Kim said nothing but cry after which she asked to be taken home. "I haven't seen or spoken to the girls in hours, Winnie. Just take me home please."