London Changed My Life

Eighteen - Sydney Hospital

I walked in and the overpowering smell of disinfectant and bleach washed over me. I walked up to the front desk, my shoes making a soft thud on the linoleum floor. I rung the bell on the counter and crossed my arms.

"Hi, how can I help you today?" The woman asked in a bored tone, reluctantly looking away from the computer screen.

"I'm looking for Nathan Watson." I said in a taut voice.

Her fingers tapped the keyboard lightly. "Mr Watson is in the coma ward. Do you have any I.D. to prove that you're a family member?"

"Yeah, I'm his daughter." I handed over my driver's license. She checked it and passed it back to me.

"Alright, you just need to take a left down that corridor, go up the lift to level three, walk down the corridor, turn right and it's the first door on the right."

"Thank you." I hefted my bag higher and followed her instructions. I stopped outside the big double doors and took a deep breath, placing my headphones from my neck and into my bag. I fixed my clothes, feeling nervous already. I had always hated hospitals and seeing my dad in there, comatose, heightened my nervousness.

I pushed open the doors and walked in. There were around ten beds, five on each side, eight of them filled with people. There were blue curtains around some of the beds. I saw my mum in the corner, reading a book. She looked up, saw me and stood up with open arms. I quickly walked towards her and her hug engulfed me. Her perfume reminded me of home and I clung onto her.

"I missed you." I said, my words muffled by her shoulder.

"I missed you too." She  stroked my hair, hugging me tighter. I let go and looked at her. Her eyes had dark rings underneath and her hair was graying.

I looked at my dad and my eyes flitted over all the tubes connected to him. Soft beeping continued.

"Do the doctors' know if he's going to make it?"

"They've got no idea. They don't know what they're doing but they're trying."
I grunted and took a seat next to his bed.

"You changed your hair."

"Mm, it was for Halloween. It's supposed to come out by Christmas, though." She nodded.

"And what did you do to your wrist?" She took my hand in hers and held it up to get a good view.

"I fell over and sprained my wrist. It comes off by the end of this year."

"Okay, at least it's not serious." She let go of my wrist and sat back down. "And how's your leg?"

"It's good. I've been exercising a little to build up the strength again but it's getting there."

I took my dad's hand, rubbing my fingers over his calloused palm.

"I miss you, daddy." I sniffed and wiped at my eyes. "Please wake up." I whispered.

...

"We put some of your stuff into storage. I hope you don't mind."

"No, it's fine." I threw my suitcase next to the bed and fell back on the sheets.

"I've been staying at the hospital during the night on a small bed next to your dad. Do you mind if you're alone tonight?"

"Not at all. I'll be okay."

"Okay honey. I'll see you tomorrow. Do you still have your license?"

"Yeah."

"So you can drive to the hospital tomorrow, then. There's twenty dollars on the bench so you can buy yourself a pizza. And your brother is coming home tomorrow to see dad."