The Dream Bumper

Chapter 2

Afternoon of Monday, the emergency waiting room of Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital filled to brim with many visitors, going up and down, barely able to keep still or clear up their heads.

The place was chaotic, precarious, disturbing and a completely new experience for me. I kept my knees up in a waiting chair by the dispenser, cuffed them with my hands and buried my head. My heart hammered in my chest at fear of losing my Papa. He had been sick for a while now: combination of high blood pressure and cardiac arrest. Papa had been a sturdy man at his youthful ages, hardworking and dedicated his life to caring for his family. As old age began to take its toll on him, his health deteriorated and since then Ma wouldn't take chances with him, but to call for an ambulance and get him admitted to a hospital.

Here we were-mahmoud, Aziz, Ma and I-waiting for the doctors in the emergency room for two hours, fear gripped the nerves of everyone concern, each making silent prayers for Papa's safety.

Pulling my legs down, I willed myself up and walked over to the dispenser to get a cup of water to quench my thirst. My throat went dry and my tears dried up on my cheeks, my eyes felt sore and heavy. Constant throbbing of my head did nothing to assuage the inner turmoil of my heart. My fear of losing Papa paralysed my body, even the sound of any movement around the ER licked up chills down my spine. An agonizing feeling I dreaded would be the last time I'd have a deep conversation with my Champ.

"Mrs. Huma," the female doctor called out. We all rushed to her, each leaning on their ears to have an insight of Papa's condition. The the filing cabinet by the door came in handy as I hoisted my arm up to lean on it for support because my legs barely stood firm on the floor. Ma answered and the doctor continued, "you have to be strong at this moment for your children because your husband has slim chance of making out of this one alive."

Ma's reaction was one of a sinking ship in the ocean with no object to anchor, she almost collapsed violently but Aziz was quick to tuck a hand to keep her from hitting her head on the tiled floor. The information from the doctor hit hard, to the very core of my being, mentally drained my capacity to reason with the reality and I so much wanted to rubbish off the doctor's prediction. No! Papa can't leave us. Please Papa fight one more time. I fell on my knees, tears fell freely from eyes, blinding my vision and my hopes drained down with the tears.

"Can we see him now doctor?" asked my elder brother Mahmoud. Aziz had Ma transported to a room next to Papa's for immediate medical attention, as she was unresponsive and unconscious. My legs sprang into action and I wiped both eyes with the back of my palms. Heaving deep sigh and blowing my nose with a handkerchief, I walked to stand beside Mahmoud and the doctor's eyes darted to me.

She looked as though she might turn down my brother's request but I added, "please doctor," and that melted whatever resistance she had. We got a pass to see Papa and I jumped at the chance, trailing behind Mahmoud.

White wall paints dominated every other colour in the room,a bit spacious, covered in white tiles, heart-monitoring machine mounted beside a bed, oxygen tank with tubes attached to Papa's nose, a dropping bottle with a needle pricked to his left wrist. My eyes moved to his fragile body, draped in a loose-fitting white hospital shirt, rendering my heart to sink deep as my eyes tore into tear once more.

His face looked pale, and a closer look at his knuckles and legs, it was obvious his time was fast approaching. Mahmoud sat by his side on a stool and held unto Papa's hand, stroking it gently, murmuring something to him and Papa's head slightly nodded in response.

Papa heaved his hand and pointed at me and my brother beckoned. Taking the same sitting position as Mahmoud, Papa whispered in my ears, "be brave my dear daughter. Your Champ has little time left now." He coughed and I struck his knuckles soothingly. "Promise me one thing?" His eyes watered and my soul shrank.