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Untitled Part 3

DANELLE DROVE ME STRAIGHT TO THE ER. I WAS IN HER car, she was driving, so I pretty much didn't have a say on the matter. When I told the ER Doc what happened to me, he commended Danelle for doing the right thing. I think the doc liked her and he seemed such a nice fellow.

He gave me tests:

Neurological for my sensory function, reflexes and balance. He made me stand with my eyes closed. He tapped my knees with a small hammer...those sorts of things.

He also tested my cognitive function. He asked when's my birthday, who's the sitting president...things like that. He also made me count from one hundred backwards. By seven. Which was too much for me, with or without brain damage. I told him that. He laughed and made me count by five instead, but still backwards from 100. Then he showed me a small list of words to remember and recite back to him.

A nurse took a blood sample.

I was asked to stay because the doc scheduled me for an EEG exam the next day. Since I was physically-able , my cognitive and neurological functions looked okay, he said I could go to ADMISSIONS myself. I went with Danelle.

ADMISSIONS was an office encased in opaque greenish glass. There was a huge granite counter inside, some chairs. The only person there was the woman behind the counter. She looked so young, like she just graduated from college. She handed me a form to fill out.

"Let's just hope this covers everything." I said as I copied infos from my AdvanSure Gold Plus. It was only the second time I would use it. First was three years ago when I got a nasty stomach bug from a bad sushi.

I was worried about the health card because my financial situation these days was far from ideal and I haven't thought about paying my health insurance until this moment. I was still trying to adjust...to get used to...ahhmmm, paying my own bills.

My father died over a year ago and I, being an illegitimate daughter didn't get as much inheritance as my half-brother Kyle and he's been on a quest eversince to turn me from posh into pauper. So far he'd been successful.

Because I didn't know shit.

While Kyle was not particularly smart himself, next to a dimwit like me, he was brilliant.

I handed the form to the woman. She entered the infos on her computer and searched for available suites. Then an orderly came with a wheelchair.

"For me?" I was appalled.

"Hospital protocol, Ma'am." The woman behind the counter said.

"But Dr. Uychenco doesn't think I need to--"

"Oh, just sit down." Itinulak ako ni Danelle paupo sa wheelchair.

Minutes later, we emerged from an elevator into the suite.

"Well, it's not a presidential suite--" said Danelle.

The room has all the trappings of a small hotel suite save for the bed which was obviously 'medical'. It was separated from the living and dining areas by a frosted glass panel.

"Ma'am?" The orderly said. I honestly forgotten about him. Hindi rin ako nakatayo agad. Sitting on a wheelchair tricked my brain into thinking that I was indeed unable to walk.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I said. I wobbled a bit when I stood up. The orderly left with the chair, I joined Danelle on the dull yellow couch, "Kyle shouldn't know this." I said. "What if they find something wrong in my brain tomorrow? Kyle will declare me incompetent for sure."

"Don't worry about a thing. You'll be fine. You're here simply because we want to make sure nothing's wrong." Danelle lied on the couch, her feet on my lap. She'd taken off her Valentino Garavani camouflage sneakers which I coveted. Knowing I could no longer afford to spend 700$ on a pair of shoes was terribly depressing.

I pinched Danelle's sock encased toe, "There's something I didn't tell Dr. Uychenco--he likes you by the way."

She was instantly dismissive, "Shut up. Just go on." She meant the toe massage. "And what didn't you tell him? Did you lie to me? Are you really feeling better?"

"I didn't lie. It's true. I feel okay. I am okay. It's just one episode and I didn't know how to explain it."

"What?" Danelle sat up.

"I think....i....hallucinated."

"You think?!"

I told her about the 'vision' I saw while seated at the Lucianos' table, "They said it was like I was in a trance or something. The old man they called over said I might have ESP."

"ESP my ass! Kiki, that's crucial information. You hit your head, you weren't given medical attention 'til tonight...now, you're telling me you've been hallucinating?"

"What if it's true? It's not unheard of. There are people who developed psychic abilities after a head injury." I have read that somewhere...or maybe saw about it in Netflix.

"Kasi nga, they have brain damage. Oh, jeez, please don't go around telling people you're a psychic."

"I'm not saying I believe the old man. I'm just saying it's really a possibility."

"So what does it mean? Your vision?"

"Mang Benny said it will just come to me. Whatever it is, it's not Jollibee."

"Jollibee?"

I told her about what Adam thought, "Can't blame him though. I saw a huge bee and an explosion of orange color."

"That's supposed to be blood. Hindi mo ba naisip na may mali na kaagad? Your brain can't distinguish red from orange anymore--" she looked around then searched thru her tote, "Ah!" She showed me a red packet of feminine wipes, "What color is this?"

I dismissed her hand, "I went through that with Dr. Uychenco. I was able to identify all the colors in his color wheel. I know red from orange. The blood from my vision is orange because it means something."

"Your husband's blood is orange?"

"Don't call him that. He's not my husband."

"You married him in his church."

"It's a cult."

"What if he comes after you? He had your things, he knows where you live. He'd know where to find you, Ki."

"I don't think he'd bother. Mali sila, eh. They know I can sue them...their church..cult."

"You need to tell the neurologist about your hallucination." Danelle put on her shoes, "I'll be back tomorrow. I'll get you clothes."