Street Stones

An Unexpected Event - part 2

All he wanted that night was to be able to get home, take a relaxing bath and sleep, but that night was far from over. Reluctantly, he opened the car door, while Eve and Deborah helped Julia in. He drove as fast as he could to the hospital, he wanted to get out of that mess as soon as possible.

When they arrived at the hospital, Julia went in to be checked while Daniel stayed with Eve and Deborah in the waiting room. As they waited, Daniel managed to calm the anxiety of the last moments, with the strong flavor of a coffee. He took out a newspaper from a machine, wondering why those two girls were leading the life they lead. They must have been about the same age as his daughter, Barbara. He had already seen that Eve was older. At the thought of Barbara, he remembered that he had to pick her up early in the morning. As he flipped through the paper, Deborah approached Daniel, who looked up from the newspaper. She barely acknowledged his presence.

"Do not think you're going to weasel away from responsibility! If Julia gets sick, I do not even know what I'm going to do to you", she said in a menacing tone.

"I'm not thinking about avoiding responsibility, or I would not be here", he answered peremptorily.

"Very well.... or else..."

Deborah almost jumped on Daniel, and he became aware of her unkept appearance, the lack of a front tooth, damaged skin, a skinny child-like body. Eve, once more, became aware of Deborah's fury and came closer.

"Deborah, come on", she said, pulling her by the arm. "Let's have a cigarette! Come on out, walk with me!"

Daniel watched the two from the window, smoking their cigarette. Eve gestured wildly with her arms as she blew smoke from her lips. That hot, turbulent night was definitely far from over. He looked at the clock several times, and every time a door opened, he would look up hoping for good news. Finally at two o'clock in the morning, as Deborah slept on Eve's lap and Daniel checked the clock once again, Julia arrived in a wheelchair, accompanied by a nurse. Eve jumped up from the chair and woke Deborah up.

"Julia?! How's it going?" Eve asked.

"At least I'm not in pain now", Julia replied with a half-smile.

"Julia's going to need some rest" the nurse said.

"What you mean?! Rest for how long?" Eve asked worriedly.

"Julia has sprained her ankle. She needs to rest, with her leg raised, some physical therapy and in two to three weeks she will be right as rain!" The nurse explained.

"Two to three weeks?! That's a long time", Julia said anxiously.

"That's the way it is, Julia. You have already spoken to the doctor inside. Here's the prescription for the medication", she said, holding out her hand, "and do not forget to place ice on your foot", the nurse reminded her. "Well, good luck and get better soon." She said, walking out of the waiting room.

Eve looked at Julia who was discouraged, realizing that she had to stay put for two or three weeks.

"Well, I'll obviously pay for the hospital expenses. And I do not know how much the medication costs, but you have some money here", Daniel held out a wad of money towards Julia who looked at him in disbelief.

"I do not want any money!" She replied furiously, brushing aside the wad of notes, which fell to the floor.

"But how so?!" Daniel asked a little dumbfounded.

"I told you, you bastard, you're not going to get away that easily. Julia has to stay put for two to three weeks, didn't you hear what missy nurse said?! Are you deaf?" Shouted Deborah.