Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 3

Emily slowly opened her eyes to a light from the bright bulb reflecting into her eyes. Her vision was blurry but slowly got clearer as she blinked them continuously. She wondered where she was, their bedroom lighting was not this bright and Mark disliked so much light so there was no way. She turned her face left to see an IV stand by her bed. It slowly dawned on her, she struggled to sit up but felt a sharp pain like she was trying to pull out of a connection. She looked at her left hand and saw the drip connection. She was in the hospital, why was she in the hospital? She couldn't recall what had just happened. She placed her right hand on her forehead, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Mrs. Smith, I'm glad you're awake" She heard and her eyes flew open in shock. She opened her eyes to see a female doctor dressed in a white coat and a stethoscope hanging around her neck. In her right hand was a brown notepad.

"I'm in the hospital," Emily said in disbelief looking around the room.

The doctor smiled at her. "Yes, you are," she said.

"How did I get here?"

"Your husband brought you in," Dr. Anne said looking at her patient's curious face. Immediately, Emily's heartbeat hastened. She looked around hastily hoping he wasn't there. She remembered. Yes, she remembered. The last thing she felt was a lamp hitting her chest. She could remember his face, his words, his hands on her skin...

"Uh, Mrs. Smith" She heard Dr. Anne's voice and shook with fear letting out a small gasp. Dr. Anne was shocked by her actions but it didn't shock her more than the state she saw this woman come into the hospital.

"I'm... sorry" Emily apologized placing her right palm on her forehead.

"Mrs. Smith, do you remember anything that happened the night you arrived here?"Emily was silent and blankly stared into Dr. Anne's eyes.

"It's okay," Dr. Anne said after the unending silence, she flashed a kind smile at her. "Mrs. Smith, if there is anything you need, even if it's just to talk, I'm here" she whispered to Emily. Emily wept in her heart. The doctor's kind eyes and concern melted her heart. "The nurses will bring in your medications soon, please take them fully, so you can get well and be discharged," she watched the doctor walk out and shut the door. Immediately the door was shut, Emily broke down in tears.

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A nurse walked into Emily's ward and said to her "Mrs. Smith, Mr. Mark Smith, identified as your husband wants to see you" she said to her. Emily, who had been looking through the window lost in thought snapped out of it upon hearing the name and title. She couldn't say a word, she just stared blankly at the nurse. Why was she doing this again? Was she losing her mind?

"I..I..." She struggled to speak. If she said NO, people would suspect that something was wrong between them and it will taint the image of their marriage and will affect the church too. And Mark...

"Please let him in, But I'm not awake," she said using her blanket to cover herself.

"Alright, Mrs. Smith," the nurse said and walked out of the ward.

Emily covered herself from her head to toe and turned to face the wall of the room backing the chair. She heard footsteps and shut her eyes tightly, she could recognize them, they belonged to the man she called her husband. His scent slowly began to fill the room as he was led closer to her bed and sat down. There was silence for a while. She heard the other foot steps leaving the ward.

Mark stared at Emily's figure through the blanket.

"You've been here for a while, you have to come home. There are lots of things to do," he started "you have to clean the house, cook the meals, do the laundry, make the bed... so many things to do but you just decided to go unconscious because of a lamp on the chest" He paused and sighed. "I've laid on the bed alone for a long time, I need your warmth beside me, and most of all...I need someone to let out how I feel to, do you understand?" There was no response from Emily all she did was pray silently that he goes away.