Father, Pleaaseee!

CHAPTER 2 DOCTOR STRANGER

One cat, two cats, three cats……..aww they are just too many. I refuse to count them as sheep. Why do people count everything as sheep anyway? One sheep, two sheep……….is it because they are big? I hate sheep. Why not goats, cows, or even mice. Lately, the voices have been awfully louder than on the regular.

People were being brought in thick blood running freely on their bodies screaming in agony the stretcher barely able to contain them. If a drop of blood was worth a coin, not even the world could be able to contain my wealth right now. I guess an accident has happened nearby.

It has been seven-thirty hours, forty-three thousand eight hundred minutes, and about three million seconds since I was admitted here. The Hospital was huge with automatic sliding doors, paramedics wheeling in patients on trollies and some on stretchers several ambulances lined up outside. Doctors ran up and down examining patients and giving them a wrist band while barking orders to the nurses on what first aid to be given and which examinations to be conducted. The trolleys were bumping into the walls scraping them over and over but I guess that was normal around here.

My head was massive with a turban-like bandage wrapped around it. A side of my face was purple; the pains in my body come and go. My legs walk like they really don’t belong to me and each step is a negotiation rather than an order. A wince escapes my lips every now and then but still, I give a smile. Around here I look better and with a higher chance of survival than most. My name is john doe or better yet “THE UNKNOWN”.

Strange. I was just about to head to the canteen when every muscle in me screamed danger. I looked up ahead and saw the back of a man talking to my savior. They seemed to be arguing about something though I couldn’t catch what it was. All I know is my breathing became more rapid and shallow making me feel as if I would blackout at any moment. My heart is hammering inside my chest like a hurricane. I try to think about what this is about but my thoughts are fragmented unable to analyze or assess the risk portrayed. I was neither in control of my body or mind. I was quivering so hard that I even felt the room spin beneath me. At this point, I didn’t care. I scanned the room for anything I could use. Alcohol or drugs or any type of medicine to make everything slow down so that I can cope up.

The fear tumbling out of my brain was unchecked and too much. Nothing could control my primal urge to flee. Only one thing rang on my mind over and over again. I have to get far away from that boogieman no matter what. I have to escape this upcoming invisible prison that everyone around me is so oblivious to. And, if there is anything I trust more in my state is my gut feeling.

I was so focused on running that I accidentally bumped into a hard body in the hallway. I looked up and saw the man staring down at me. For some reason, I froze. He had the kind of face that stopped one in her tracks. People place a lot of importance on the color of the eyes, saying it highlights one's features and yet the man before me would look great in any shade. Although his eyes held some kind of a mystery to them. The kind that if not careful can draw you in and wave you into any direction- good or bad.

I have no time for this. I need to move. To find a place that would make me feel safe. We at least until the boogieman leaves.

In one moment I’m getting ready to run again and the next I’m enveloped in a hug. It was a really strong hug not suffocating but the kind that every ounce of him is pressed onto me. Although at that moment I yearned for a cocoon, I still couldn’t help but try to push him away. His embrace was warm but my fears overrode anything. If the boogieman comes my way would this man protect me or would he step aside and watch? People tend to disassociate themselves with matters that are of no relation to them. Who knows he might just be a pervert and a coward. Capable of nothing but harassment.

I pushed harder but he wouldn’t bulge. What the hell. This is all I needed. ‘Let me go,’ I demanded.

He did just that but then held firmly onto my hands. ‘I finally found you. Are you okay? Did you get hurt?’ he asked turning me around checking for traces of any injury. I didn’t like the way he was touching me. Hell, I didn’t even want to be touched by anyone right now let alone a pervert stranger. His silvery tears though looked genuine from the skin of his heart, couldn’t fool me. He might even be working with the boogieman to put on an act and make me trust him then hand me over. It was all in his mysterious eyes. Since I couldn’t read them I wasn’t assured of my safety. With a man like that any outcome is possible.

‘Get away from me. Who the hell do you think you are to hold me like that?’

‘What?’

‘I don’t know you so stay away from me?’

‘What happened to you? Don’t you remember me?’ he asked in a desperate voice holding onto me again. I have to get this maniac out of my way. I don’t know what he is planning at but I’m not interested.

From afar, I saw my attending doctor. Finally someone I can familiarize myself with. The doctor brought me from the dead. I place my trust in him.

‘Help! Heelp! Heelp!’ I shouted audible enough for the doctor to hear but not too loud to alert the boogieman while frantically trying to free myself. As expected, the doctor quickly came to my rescue by his side with two security guards. I don’t know when he alerted them but I’m glad. They quickly grabbed him after the doctor barked an order for them to through that delinquent out. Even when he was being dragged out he kept on shouting that I know him. That I should stop that madness and tell the truth. He had the attention of all the people in the hall. Tears were still falling on his cheeks. I have never seen a grown man shed cry before or maybe I have and don’t remember. All people were looking expectantly at me hoping I could stop the guards but there was nothing I could do. I just don’t trust anyone. Honestly, if I was a bystander like them I would probably be moved too and believe him.

Fear creped its icy fingers inside me again. I looked back and saw the boogieman and savior heading towards me probably to check the scene. I tried my best to put on a poker face. I needed to get out of this scene without causing attention. Swiftly I tiptoed, left the scene, and got into one of the wardrooms. It wasn’t safe here and I could probably be easily seen from outside but there was something about this specific patient that called out to me. Her medical chart read Female, Accident- NAME Aurora. Aurora what a beautiful name I heard myself say softly. I couldn’t see her face clearly as it was covered in bandages. Interesting. A few minutes ago my emotions were all over the place but after meeting the comatose patient I was surprisingly calm.

Footsteps were headed my way and I quickly hid. Two male voices talked about the patient. They seemed like doctors as they discussed her condition in great detail. One of the doctors was suggesting to remove her from the life-supporting machine as the guardian has not made payments of late the hospital can no longer accommodate her. The other doctor rushed to the patient's defense and proclaimed that from then on he would foot all her expenses. It feels so great to know that humanity still exists among mankind. I definitely have to see the man’s face. He must be one of a kind. A heart of Gold. He and I could become friends. I don’t have money on me but I would love to help him by taking care of the patient. Footsteps left then I heard a voice say in barely a whisper, ‘I’m here now Aurora, and won’t ever leave. I made a promise to take care of you and I intend to keep my promise. Just wake up. I need you but she needs you more. Don’t worry I will watch over her too even if it’s from far away. Wake up Aurora please.’

Footsteps walked out. I got out of hiding and followed them. I have to see the man’s face. The angel on earth. Sure enough, he was a doctor dressed in a white jacket and a stethoscope hanging on his neck. That day was full of surprises. The doctor and savior hugged and were laughing together. They seemed like old friends who haven’t seen each other for a long time. I was just about to turn around and leave them to it when savior called me over. Cheerfully I walked to them. The two men who had made an impact in my now blank life.

‘No…..No….no…this can’t be happening.’ I accidentally let my thoughts out loud. Mr. Pervert was the doctor I had been following; savior’s friend and most of all the man I had given the name Angel. I must be mad. Did the earth rotate in the wrong direction or what? Everything is just out of place. The Angel - pervert on the other hand saw the shock register on my face before I could mask it. His response was a playful smile.

‘Aaron, meet my newly found friend,’ savior introduced unaware of the dense air around us, ‘this is Aaron one of my closest friend, my buddy my brother.’

‘Come on Aden. No need for the praises,’ he responded then turned to me and stretched out his hand for a greeting, ‘Hi I’m Aaron. Sorry for the misunderstanding earlier. I confused you with a long-lost friend of mine. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘Not at all but why are you in a doctor’s uniform?’

‘Ohh this,’ he responded showing off his gown, ‘I’m a surgical doctor transferred here effective today. Officially I have just finished an hour here. I’m a resident already. What’s your name?’

Saviour – Aden was about to answer on my behalf and tell my tragic story and most times I let him do that but now I found myself affirming with no doubt, ‘Aurora.’

Both gents looked at me with inquisitive eyes. I could see a million questions running through Aden’s eyes but for some strange reason, I couldn’t share the reason with him. It’s not that I didn’t trust him enough, it’s just that my gut feeling stopped me. Keeping him in the knowhow of that information felt like a breach. I might have just met her but she felt too close like a family member. Till I sorted out my emotions the knowledge was intimate. For now, I will live for her. Her name will not be forgotten. This much I can at least do for her before she wakes up.

‘Aurora is my name.’ I confirmed.