Identified: The Maya Price Story

Part Two: Chapter Five (2)

Staring up at the mundane, brown brick building in front of her, Maya clutched her backpack tightly to her chest. She had always thought she would have a hard time bringing a loved one to this facility for medical care: there were no other structures as its neighbors and most of the fading brown bricks were hidden by trees. The stained beige façade was only just visible in front of several large branches attempting to hide it. It proclaimed "HOSPITAL" in large, block letters. Pete often joked that if it had to advertise that it was, in fact, a "HOSPITAL" in such an obnoxious manner, then it was probably a good idea to go to a hospital with some lower case letters. Maya sighed as she stepped up the automatic doors to enter, hating the smell of antiseptic, cafeteria food, and infection before she even passed over the threshold.

At the entry, there was a single desk and a single redheaded nurse, glancing furtively around the lobby. Maya guessed, from the sounds coming from her computer, that she was watching a video on YouTube. Maya also guessed, from the way she was twitching and craning her neck to look at the door behind her, that the nurse had been instructed not to do so during work.

"Hello?" Maya said tentatively, since the nurse had not acknowledged her presence.

The nurse jumped and furiously clicked the computer's mouse, probably closing the video. "How can I help you?" she asked, in an overly cheery voice, shuffling some papers in front of her and attempting to look busy.

"I'm looking for Peter Santos. Could you tell me what room he's in?"

The nurse looked back at the computer. "Sure, give me just a sec." She stared fixedly at the screen, clicking the mouse furiously and, most likely, opening the program that contained the information Maya needed. "Yes, he's in Room 167." She glanced quickly at the black and white clock on the dingy wall behind her. "But visiting hours are over at eight. You've only got, like, ten minutes."

"Yeah, I know," Maya said, sighing again. She turned her back to the nurse and walked in the direction of the sign that led the way to rooms 130-175. She had refused to allow Victoria and Selima to accompany her on this particular trip. Selima was complacent and had left soon after Maya's farewells to her family, Summer's especially tearful. However, before her departure, Selima had hesitated. "There's something strange..." she had said, trailing off as she scrutinized the white screen door. Victoria narrowed her eyes. "What's strange?" she had asked, her voice full of apprehension. "Nothing," Selima said quickly, "I think I'm just tired from traveling. I'll see you soon." Before Victoria could question her further, Selima had turned, walked to the other side of the farmhouse, and disappeared.

Victoria and Maya had taken a rental car to the hospital. Maya was confused about the arrival of the rental car, but was too shaken by the encounter with her family and the abuse of their memories to ask questions. Victoria had anticipated Maya's next request and, before she could even open her mouth to ask, Maya noticed that they were heading in the direction of the hospital. Victoria had dropped her off in front of the dreadful entrance, not saying much except that Maya must meet her in the same spot by eight o' clock.

This HOSPITAL always made her feel like she was trapped in a strange horror movie rather than a place of healing. She passed an ancient woman in a wheelchair in front of room 135. The woman had twin tubes snaking from the protruding veins in her right arm and she was talking to the portrait of a doctor, describing her dinner. A few doors down, to the side of room 142, a couple was arguing. They were both wearing stained, white cotton t-shirts, the kind Maya's dad bought in packages, and torn cutoff jeans. "Dadgumit!" the man was shouting, "I told ya, I told ya, that it was a bad idea to put those mushrooms in the stew." Maya did not see any doctors or nurses visiting patients, or even walking through the corridor.