The Heart of Wonderland

Chapter 14

Alison and Mrs. Kim made their way to the closest nurse's station and alerted a nurse to the fact that she was the subject of the code yellow that had just been broadcast over the PA system.

The nurse frowned down at Alison. "You should know better than to wander away from your floor like that."

"I'm sorry. I—"

He didn't wait to hear Alison's explanation. "Just wait here. Another nurse from your floor will be up to get you. Are you parents here with you? I'm sure they're worried sick."

She blinked hard and stared down at the floor. "They're dead," she said flatly.

The nurse's mouth snapped shut, but Alison didn't care that she'd made him feel uncomfortable. It served him right for talking down to her that way.

"I will accompany her," Mrs. Kim promised the nurse, breaking the awkward silence. "I would like to meet your aunt again," she told Alison. "Although we spoke briefly at the funeral, we should get to know each other better if I'm going to be" –she glanced at the nurse— "tutoring you."

Alison smiled at her. "I'd like that."

Then she heard the smack of rubber-soled shoes approaching and turned to see a nurse she recognized from the psychiatric floor get off the elevator. A security guard followed close behind her.

"Alison, there you are! Why don't we get you back to your room and get you settled in?" The nurse's features were arranged in a calm, pleasant smile, but the firmness in her voice and the security guard at her elbow made it clear that it wasn't really a request.

Alison drew in a shaky, uncertain breath. "Am I in trouble?"

"No, but we were concerned about you. Now, let's go back to the unit where you can be comfortable. Dr. Gupta will come talk to you about how you're feeling and why you felt you needed to leave." The nurse spoke to Alison as if addressing a pre-schooler.

Alison rolled her eyes. What was up with these people? She'd wandered away from her room, not started a riot. But she forced herself not to spit out the sarcastic retort that was on the tip of her tongue and followed the nurse onto the elevator. At least she was finally getting a chance to speak with Dr. Gupta. And maybe having Mrs. Kim to back her up would provide the support she needed to be discharged from the hospital

"Don't worry," Mrs. Kim murmured as they rode up to the psychiatric floor. "I will help you sort this out."

Alison nodded, as much to calm herself as to acknowledge Mrs. Kim's words. Everything would be OK, she told herself. It had to be.

When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, Aunt Caroline was waiting.

"Alison! Where were you?" Caroline drew her into a hug. "I was so worried about you when the staff said they couldn't find you."

"I went for a walk," Alison said, her voice muffled against her aunt's shoulder. She pulled away to get some air. "I ran into Mrs. Kim and went to visit her grandson with her. He's staying here too."

Mrs. Kim stepped forward. "I'm so sorry to have caused such concern. As you can see, this was all a misunderstanding. I know Alison didn't mean to worry anyone."

Aunt Caroline looked from Mrs. Kim to Alison, then studied her niece with narrowed eyes. "You know you aren't supposed to leave the unit without letting someone know."

Alison sighed and scuffed the toe of one sneaker against the floor. "I know. But I remembered Mrs. Kim from Mom and Dad's funeral, and I thought maybe..." She looked up at her aunt. "Sometimes I just want to talk to someone else who knew them."