M For Moscow

41 | waiting alone

I didn't have to tell him. The intern. I didn't have to tell him what I was doing or where I was going or what was threatening to make a huge dent in my world. Yet, as I stuffed what pens I thought were essentials into my purse and as he stood scarred in place, my mouth rambled about the phone call and what could happen in the next twenty-four hours that took place in Colsir Hospital.

I had tipped the taxi driver over triple more than what we were supposed to but after hearing bad news, you'd get strangely generous.

Colsir Hospital was known as the best hospital in Moscow but the cube under a Red Cross sign looked too small for an emergency area. There were three ambulances parked outside, two closed and one opened. I rushed inside to the man in a pink nurse uniform and asked for information.

"Lena Zolotova was brought in fifteen minutes ago after facing a car accident in a taxi. The driver, suspected of drinking prior to the accident, died on the spot while your friend was still breathing and rushed into the ER. She is in surgery now. Do you know of any medicines she could be allergic to? Any personal information we should know about?" The male nurse unloaded in one full breath without gasping for air.

I fumbled with the dots. "I-uh, I..."

"Miss, it is very important right now you tell me everything you know so I can help her and I can help you." he went on, doubling both in size and quantities.

I blabbered out more syllables as the room started spinning at lightning speed. One of his doppelgängers appeared by my side, holding steadily onto my arm and looking deep into my eyes, like he was about to kiss me.

"Are you about to kiss me?"

Then, the world blacked out.

***

I woke up after from the aches. Sat in a really uncomfortable position in a chair meant for a children's butt, I placed my wedges back onto the ground and straightened myself so the handles weren't jabbing at my spine. The same nurse came to hand me a juice box but only one of him came.

"You fainted because you're dehydrated. Drink up." he ordered, sliding into the chair beside me and removing the tucked notebook from his armpit to his lap, "Now, is there anything you can tell me?"

As I sipped my juice, I shook my head, slouching. "I didn't see her text."

His lips disappeared into his mouth before reappearing again. "That's really unfortunate, Miss, but I have to know more information. She only came with a phone and a wallet that said just her name and credit card numbers."

"I didn't see her text."

"I know. It sucks and I know." he gently said, placing a supposedly comforting hand on my shoulder and smiling like he was glad I wasn't his friend.

I stared blankly at his name tag that spelt out the name Vlad until his hand grew weak and he dropped them onto his lap. It was only when he looked up at the ceiling did I notice the circles under his eye.

"Why didn't I see her text?"

To this question, he fumbled and his hand gestures weren't any help, either. "I— you know, uh, you know what, why don't I come back later and ask you
whether you have information then."

As he rose to stand, a sudden instinct of mine made me grab onto his arm, pulling him back to face me. I wasn't sure if they knew. Heck, I wasn't even sure if her bump was visible at twenty weeks.