ROOM 211

PART TWENTY SEVEN

31.

In a time before, two people, both with their own individual problem, have been approached by two other individuals with the promise or at least possible promise of potentially setting things right. This promise ... it is of something experimental, it is something secretive, and it is hiding away, it is a trial of something never tested before, it is locked away with who knows what. Others are to come, for now there are just two so everything seems large, and everything is extremely quiet. This will change.

Is it wise, or unwise, to accept an offer of treatment when you know there will be no other kind of offer to come your way anytime soon. Acceptance may be something stupid, it may be something off the grid, an d probably illegal too, but if it can put things right ...

'So, what has you here?' she asks him.

'As you can probably tell or at least see, I have motor neuron disease. My body is failing me. Our friends tell me they can help but I don't see how. I am a doctor and I know what is coming my way. It is only getting worse and can only get worse. I am married and have two young kids. They are my everything so if anything can be done, I have to at least give it a go, no matter the consequences or to even if I believe that nothing can be done.'

Emotion is getting the better of him and oddly enough it is aiding her to come out of herself. She has locked everything away within herself that it is actually really good to let herself out, her real self out. He in his own moment is not upset for himself, but rather upset for his family. How will they cope without him? Right now, they may have plenty, but the future can last for a certain amount of time.

'You know, there was one thing that always used to settle me, and I haven't thought of it for such a long time' she says. 'I haven't thought of it because I have shut myself off and became someone else, but my grandfather taught me a song when I was a young girl. Whenever I was sad for whatever reason I would sing the song and it would really bring me right back, calm me right down, cheer me up, just about turn all negatives into positives.'

'Really?'

'Yeah, really.'

'What is the song?'

She thinks for a moment, remembering her grandfather and then she begins to sing softly.

My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
My Bonnie lies over the sea.
My Bonnie lies over the ocean.
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me.

How odd this is, the effect the song has, the effect the singing is having on him. It has calmed him; it has definitely improved how he feels. Who is this lady? And why is she so easy to like?

***

The end of a feast has come, and a time has returned for things to once again become a little more serious. Henry and Bonnie share a brief glance, partly out of a possibility that they both remember when they first met each other, not how they had met two days ago but something a little further back, and partly out an inquiry on Bonnie's side as to the fact that Henry is married. They had a connection then, they have a connection now so this marriage thing, she is happy for him but sad for herself.

Mandy has arrived back to this group, feeling almost as much a part of it as what everyone else is despite the fact she herself has no memory loss, at least that she is aware of. She is as eager to get answers as everyone else is and she is also eager to do something for Sander. She may have spent so little time with him though she feels responsible for how he may be treated from here on in for there may be no one coming forward to look after any kind of arrangements for his ... his ... remains.

It is Archer who suggests to Henry that perhaps they both accompany Mandy on a visit to the hospital, once the meal is done of course, in an attempt to see if it is at all possible to view Sander's body and perhaps make inquiries as to what, if anything, they can do for him. This is briefly discussed amongst the table, and everyone is in agreement that this would be the right thing to do in this moment or in the moments to come.

Another thing agreed upon, no matter that it already is out in the open, is that the money Henry had awoke to on day one ... is to see the group as a whole through the upcoming times and that it should be shared and not lavishly spent for if and when it is gone it will indeed be gone. An amount is also shared with Mandy so she can take time off from work and aid in anything she can possibly aid with.

Henry and Archer have a further brief conversation with Mandy, and they do soon make their way to the hospital. Instead of being cooped up in Room 211, everyone else is free to wander around town, not that anything other than a want for truth and understanding was preventing anyone from doing whatever they liked.

With a fair bit of bruising having developed on Sue's feet she will stay in and around the hotel for the time being and Maggie offers to go get anything for Sue that she may like to have. Bonnie briefly ventures out though people out in the open soon have her returning to spend a little time with Sue though Bonnie is feeling a little more confident in herself and a little less afraid of her surroundings.

Henry may be the only one aware of family members away from this group, and no matter all its flaws, the group itself has quickly become as good a thing as family. In many ways they are all each other has. Archer has shown Henry the passport he has been handed and once in the car Henry shows the passport which he had discovered on day one so as is known to a degree if one of these passports are fake then it is Henry's for it would appear that Henry is in actuality Doctor Alexander Archer.

So, there may not be any need for further inquiries at the hotel reception as to a possible discovery of the identity of a Doctor Archer. There is the interesting thought though for maybe such an inquiry may still have some relevance for what if who had paid for Room 211. If it is either Henry or Archer or neither of? Could indeed be an interesting inquiry to make on the return to the hotel.

As the journey is made to the hospital, a discussion continues.

'So, do we simply swap names now?' asks Archer, still at least a little suspicious of Henry.

'There is nothing so simple in any of this. While it does appear likely that I am Doctor Archer it still feels odd to me, I do not feel so much like a doctor and we both had passports with the same identification so at least one of them is definitely lying, mine as it is. For now, maybe some things should stay as they are. I'll remain Henry for now and you can remain Archer, does that sound alright? Makes things easier if any of the others want to discuss anything relative to either of us.'

'Makes sense so yeah ...'

How odd things really are. With any and all of those relevant to any current situation at the hospital knowing Sander's story to a degree and not knowing the story as a whole, allowances continue to be made. Henry, Archer, and Mandy are not to be denied access to Sander. They cannot remove him from the hospital or make any plans relating to a possible funeral, but they indeed are not to be denied access to him. The mystery which surrounds him, surrounds them too.

'So, if we can't make arrangements for him then what will happen to Sander?' inquires Mandy.

'We keep him here for anywhere between three and six months, where in such time if he is identified and claimed by a family member then he will be released to said family member unless they do not wish to make arrangements ...' speaks a coroner.

'Why would family not want to make arrangements?'

'Possible financial reasons, or there may not be a closeness. A falling out with may have occurred, such circumstances have been seen here before.'

'What happens after the three to six months?'

'It is hospital policy, unless there may be an ongoing trial of any sort, to take care of such people in our care.'

'Take care how?'

'We do have our own crematorium here.'

The coroner does try to be tactical as best he can with answering questions though sometimes answers just have to be spit out. The answers are somewhat distressing for Mandy and this is so being no matter the short time she had with Sander. Before she can inquire further and discuss or ask if she could claim the body at the end of any holding period, a further moment of distress comes.

A discovery is made. Sander's body is not in the location it had been left in within the hospital morgue and when a full search of the morgue takes place it becomes clear that Sander is not there at all. Someone has removed him from the hospital morgue and no paper trail has been made to identify who may have done such a thing or as to where the body may have been moved to.