Of Illnesses And Antidotes

Chapter Six

Entering the pharmacy, I head down the closest aisle and straight into the storeroom. Tossing the used surgical mask into the bin, I pull a fresh one over my lips and seize an apron. I tie it around my waist and tuck any loose strands of hair behind my ears. Smiling, I turn around and come face to face with a beaming Doctor Perry. Her honey blonde hair is fixed in a messy bun, revealing every inch of her heart-shaped face. Two sparkling sapphire eyes sit below a pair of arched eyebrows and a thin layer of ruby red gloss glazes her lips, bringing out the colour in her cheeks.

"Good morning, Naomi," she chirps cheerfully. "How are you today?"

"Very well, thank you. And how are you, Doctor Perry?"

"Always happy, Naomi. Always happy."

I smile. "Do you know where Doctor Craig wants me today?"

"Well, I believe you're working with me."

"I thought you worked with Marcia?" I frown, confusion clouding my thoughts.

Doctor Perry's smile freezes and she remains quiet for a moment or two. "Erm, Marcia isn't here today so it's just us two working in the storeroom. Now, we've got quite a large order to divide up into the correct doses and-"

"What do you mean Marcia isn't here?" My voice is slightly harsher than I expected. Her smile vanishes like a puff of smoke. My eyebrows raise, and I soften my voice. "Doctor Perry? Where is Marcia?"

"I'm afraid it's not for me to say."

"Let me guess, it's classified information?" I fold my arms, frowning bitterly. Doctor Perry opens her mouth to reply but I continue nonetheless. "Well, this time I'm not standing for it. I work with Marcia. She's my friend. I have a right to know why she isn't here. It's not like her to not show up for work."

"If you'd like to discuss it, I suggest you talk to Doctor Craig," Doctor Perry says quietly. "Marcia is her daughter after all. I'm not at liberty to reveal family matters."

I raise an eyebrow. "Family matters, eh?"

Doctor Perry's cheeks flush pink, and the tops of her ears burn with embarrassment. "Forget I said anything."

"Oh come on Doctor Perry. Please." I put my hands together and widen my eyes so they're as big and round and innocent as possible. "For me?"

She sighs and bites her lip. "I'm really not supposed to tell you this..."

"But?"

Doctor Perry pauses for a moment, then leans in closer. "Marcia's gone."

"What do you mean gone? As in, gone gone?" I stare at her in disbelief.

"I don't know whether it's for good or for a short while, it's impossible to say. But she's gone. She doesn't work here anymore, at least for the near future."

My face is a picture of bewilderment. "Why? She hasn't done anything wrong, has she?"

Doctor Perry nods her head sadly. "She's with child."

"What?" My eyes are wide with shock, with horror, with bewilderment. "But that can't be. How... why... oh, bloody hell." I run a hand through my hair. My eyes dart around the room, not quite sure what to look at.

"You can't tell anybody I told you this." Doctor Perry grabs my arms and pulls me towards her. My eyes stare straight into hers. "Nobody can know. It's absolutely crucial nobody knows."

"No one can hear of this, understood?"

History seems to be repeating itself.

"But who? How? How did she... " I trail off, not wanting to go into further detail.