Love and Fate - Evelyn's Story

Chapter 5

The morning hustle and bustle at the retirement home is in full swing. Bingo tables are being set up in the dining room, Tai Chi space is being reserved in the garden, and the aqua-aerobics instructor is making her way to the swimming pool. Family is coming and going with their elderly loved ones for a day out and I say hello to all of them. I love my job. Throughout the day, many residents will stop by my desk and have a chat. They gossip about their children, or other residents! They talk about the days gone by when they were young and wild, and some of them were pretty wild! Like Edward when he was 14 and ran away with the circus. I love hearing their stories, and the residents love to be heard. Too many of them are brought here and abandoned, with no family or friends who care to visit and no one to talk to. I'm more than happy to fill that void for them.

Lillian Burr, our newest resident wanders into the lobby of the building. She looks lost, and disoriented among the crowd. I can tell right away that something is wrong. "Good morning Lillian." I say, hurrying over to her. She looks in my direction, but doesn't see me, and the left side of her face is drooping severely. I know immediately that she's having a stroke, and I gently guide her to the floor. I roll her onto her side and pull out my phone to call an ambulance. Other residents have taken notice and are forming a tight circle around us, curious and unnerved about the emergency.

"Step back please! I need space for the paramedics!" I shout, probably louder than I needed to, but it works and everyone moves away from the immediate area. They are however, still watching from afar. I ignore them and keep my focus on Lillian.

"Hi Lillian, an ambulance is on its way right now and they're going to take care of you. You're going to be just fine, stay relaxed here with me and everything is going to be ok." I stroke her arm and continue talking to her in a soft and calm voice until the ambulance arrives a few minutes later. They put her on the stretcher and take her away, alone.

The residents are rattled from the event, and I make sure that the regular activities go on as scheduled. The bingo, aerobics and tai chi resume as if nothing happened, but I'm left with a vibrating anxiety that stays with me.

News of what happened spreads quickly throughout the retirement home and everyone is buzzing about the new resident who had a stroke. We get word from the doctor that the incident was most likely caused by the stress of the move, and that the weight of the impending change raised her blood pressure. He also told us that they would keep her in the hospital for a few days, but that she would make a full recovery thanks to the quick thinking of one young girl.

My boss praises me for keeping a level head and pats me on the back. He's not a touchy, warm kind of guy, so I take this rare opportunity to joke with him and ask if this warrants a raise, he says no.

"Oh, and by the way." He adds. "Lillian requested to see "the girl who saved her life" today." My boss actually air quotes the words. "You can go visit her tonight, if you want."

I don't know why I feel nervous walking into the hospital. It wasn't my fault that Lillian had a stroke, but I still feel responsible for it somehow. I'm just happy she's ok and that I have this opportunity to see her. I find out her room number from reception and make my way to room 501. I can hear soft laughter drifting down the hallway and I realize that Lillian must have her whole family visiting right now. I hesitate. I don't want to interrupt their intimate visit, but I also know, judging from the short time left, that they will be staying until visiting hours are over. Lillian specifically asked for me, and I don't want to disappoint her, so I take a deep breath and enter her room.

All eyes turn on me and I freeze, my deep breath catching in my throat.

"Dagna?" Jason frowns. "What are you doing here?"

I'm stunned into silence as everyone looks from me to Jason and back again.

"There she is!" Lillian slurs heavily. "My guardian angel girl."

Jason is still staring at me, only now his frown has softened into a look of surprise. "You're the one who helped my grandmother?"

Lillian holds her arms up and gestures for me to come over to her. I shrug at Jason and move to Lillian's bedside and we hug. The family is anxious to hear the whole story from my perspective and I tell them from start to finish, exactly what happened. I see Jason looking at me in awe from the corner of the room and my heart skips a happy beat.

Everyone is thanking me for helping Lillian; hugs and tears of gratitude flow around the room, but Jason is quiet, studying me. I'm suddenly self-conscious of my heavy frame and I pull on my too tight clothing. Visiting hours are over and Lillian's family members are filtering out of the room, promising to be back tomorrow. I'm about to leave too when Jason touches my arm.

"I just realized, I don't even know your real name."

"Evelyn Jacobs is my real name, but everyone calls me Evie."

Jason pulls me closer to make room for the remaining family members to scoot past us with a smile and a nod. He clears his throat and looks at the floor, then at his grandma, then out the window, and then his watch. It dawns on me then, that all this looking around has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with him. He's shy! And he's clearly nervous about something.

"I, uh, was wondering, if you're not busy on Saturday, umm..."

"Yes, I will go out with you on Saturday." I say, smiling so wide, it's hurting my cheeks.

Jason lifts his eyes to meet mine, and I see what I couldn't before, he likes me, even though I'm not German, or thin.

"Ok, great! That's great. Do you want to meet at Camila Tequila? Or somewhere else, or I could pick you up, or..."

Jason is stumbling over his words, and my crush on him grows a bit stronger. He runs his fingers through his hair then stuffs his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

"We can meet at the bar for say, 7 pm?" I say, hoping to calm his nerves before his blood pressure gets too high. I look over at Lillian then, who's struggling to get comfortable in the bed.

A nurse knits her brows at Jason and I when she sees us still loitering in the room. "Visiting hours are over for tonight. You need to leave immediately." she huffs as she hurries on down the hall. I salute the nurse and Jason regards me with renewed interest and a smile. I give Lillian a hug goodbye and cover her with a pretty yellow blanket that someone brought from home. I wish her good night and walk out of the room with Jason. Together we navigate the huge hospital in silence.