Happy Mother's Day, Mummy

Hospital

Sunday, 6 March 2016

It was Red's first Mother's Day out of Litchfield and subsequently her first Mother's Day without Nicky for five years. Her sons had moved to Russia the year previous so she was going to spend the day alone in bed with a bottle of wine. She had visited Nicky the day before. Her girl was under the weather but Nicky assured her she would be fine. They planned to talk on the phone at noon.

It was 4:30 in the afternoon and Nicky hadn't called Red. She began to worry as she knew her girl would never miss an opportunity to talk to her mother. She tried not to worry too much, but she found it almost impossible. She switched on the television and began to watch some mindless game show.

She must've fallen asleep because she startled awake when she heard her phone ringing. She checked the time before she answered. 6:43. Could it be Nicky?

"Hello?" She answered confused.

"Galina" Said Sam Healy.

"Sam?" She questioned.

"You need to go to the hospital. It's Nicky." Red stood up immediately and ran to her front door.

"Why what happened?"

"I'm not sure but she has been taken ill" Without saying anything else Red hung up the phone and ran out her front door and into her old car.

Upon arriving at the hospital Red rushed to the front desk and slammed her hands down on the counter.

"Nicole Nichols please?" The receptionist nodded and began to check the system. The receptionist looked back up.

"The Inmate?" She asked skeptically. Red hated people judging her daughter for being a felon.

"Just tell me where my baby is." She pleaded, deciding not to cause a scene by challenging the receptionist for her previous comment.

"She's just down that corridor." She said pointing to a corridor behind her. Red nodded in thanks and followed her finger.

She walked for a little while until she came across a room with two guards standing either side of the door. She guessed this was where her Nicky was. Getting closer she noticed Healy sitting on a chair opposite. He stood up as soon as he saw her.

"I'm so glad you made it Galina."

"What happened?"

"Her appendix ruptured. She's just out of surgery."

"My poor baby" She sighed quietly.

"Can I see her?" Healy nodded in response.

"She's still asleep at the moment though."

"Thank you."

Red's heart broke as she saw her girl laying on the hospital bed. She could see her left arm chained to the bed and she guessed her leg was as well.  Red noticed an IV running through her other hand. She walked over to a chair in the corner and pulled it closer. She held Nicky's unchained hand and stroked it gently, being careful to avoid the IV. She kissed Nicky's forehead and with her other hand played with her wild hair.

Several hours had passed when Nicky's closed eyes fluttered open.

"Mum?" She croaked.

"Yes baby. I'm here." Nicky smiled in satisfaction and closed her eyes again.

It was almost midnight when Nicky became more awake.

"What time is it?"

"11:56" Replied Red temporarily removing her hand from Nicky's to look at her watch.

"Well in that case" Began Nicky.

"Happy Mother's Day, Mummy."