Mikaal

36: Mikaal

Hey Meagan

Just thought I'd drop you an email in case you're wondering why I've disappeared off Facebook and Instagram etc.

I've decided to remove all distractions this last semester so I can finish my degree, giving one hundred percent. Especially after my exam results that were so-so...

Man, I wished you'd download WhatsApp! But I know what you're going to say, so I won't force you. But email me anytime.

Love you,

Dalia

Dalia hit 'send' before she changed her mind then tossed her phone beside the pillow where her head lay. She bit her lip; guilt pooled in the pit of her empty stomach. 'It's not a complete lie...' she told herself.

A message from Mikaal - that she didn't read - had triggered her decision to deactivate all her social media accounts, and a call from Simon had forced her to block his number.

'This is temporary,' she reminded herself although her stomach churned, the guilty feeling persistent. But she just needed some space to think - and time to learn the truth.

'Why am I keeping Meagan in the dark again?' She knew the answer was interwoven between her own uncertainty about how to feel about Mikaal and Meagan's open dislike for him.

Dalia pulled her quilt covers above her head. It was already noon but for the last couple of days, her routine had been sleeping in until lunch then binging on Netflix all afternoon. She continued to have dinner with her family out of obligation but she didn't participate in their conversations.

She wondered when someone, her father at least, would ask her why she was sulking, but they all acted as if everything was normal. She even wondered why she was acting this way...

She supposed she hoped her passive-aggressive behaviour would instigate some kind of a reaction.

Dalia reached for and hugged a pillow to squash the loneliness and her hands fought the urge to email Meagan again. But what could Meagan do except tire her with questions she didn't know the answer to?

"I need to do something!" she said aloud as if hearing the words might conjure an answer.

Dalia's eye's lit up as a thought took form in her mind. Spurred into action, she sat up and rummaged under her pillows for her phone, then she dialled the local general practice.

"Hello - "

"Hi, I was wondering if Dr Wright was free?" Dalia asked, skipping the pleasantries.

"I'm sorry, he's with patients all day. Would you like to make an appointment?"

Dalia hesitated. "No, uh, I just have a general question actually. You might be able to help me?"

"Sure, go on," the girl said, her voice sounding young and chirpy.

"Dr Wright asked me to find out which hospital I was in last year but none of us remember. Is there another way I can find that information?"

"What were you in the hospital for?"

"I'd hit my head really badly."

"Well, if it was a head injury, depending on how serious it was, they usually do a scan."

Dalia scratched her head. "Uh, Dr Wright did mention CT scans, I think..."

"Do you remember getting any documents from the hospital? The patient usually gets a copy of the scan results."

Dalia's tone brightened. "No, but that gives me a place to start." Her mind moved into overdrive at the possibilities. It could be a chance to learn both how severe her accident was and the hospital she had been in! "Thanks so so much," Dalia said, her tone exuding earnestness.