SHADOWS OF KAYLA

FIRST MISSION...101

Kayla.

People either brisk walked or paced or pranced or plodded around the hospital's big white reception. Even Ms Donnie nearly tripped over her own pants while trying to get to the attendants. I followed slowly behind her, wondering if the hospital smelled how I remembered it the last time I visited.

Is it still musty with the omnipresence of antiseptic, body sweat, odours, drugs and perfumes? I asked myself. It probably was. And even if I wasn't sure whether I was right or wrong, I could never be erroneous to the point that I won't notice the melancholic and emotional ambience I always hated whenever I stepped into the hospital. Not many people here were smiling there, you see? Maybe in their wards, but not any that I could see.

Isn't it funny? Ironical?

Who am I to say I was not well fitted into that setting?

I can't believe I actually walked in here because I was following someone...to try and find someone, to find someone else.

“It's on the second floor. Take any of the elevators down the hall,” a breezy voice brought me back to why I was there in the first place. The slight but bright smile of the young woman in a white nurse uniform was somewhat comforting.

"Thanks!” Ms Donnie told her and rushed to the door. I had a feeling she was still going to slip and fall on the slippy floors…if not then, later.

I followed her, staying out the way of any "oncoming" person. Have I mentioned it before? I absolutely hated being walked or passed through.

Gone were the days when I would bump into people, bump into things and get angry. I wanted so badly to bump heads with someone and get hurt, and feel that real pain. I was tired of constantly aching in my absent heart.

I wanted to commit suicide.

It was torture...that I couldn't be given the right to want to die the second time and leave the earth for good.

As we walked into the elevator, two other people walked in with us, probably a couple, 'cause they seemed close. Never in their life would they have imagined they were together with a real ghost in the elevator.

What would happen if I suddenly became visible?

I laughed, thinking how dramatic a scene it would be if that infact happened. Just as I laughed, the woman who had been talking to her 'husband' suddenly stopped talking. I stopped too.

Did she hear me?

Then she took out her phone from her purse and showed him something on it, then he smiled.

Phew!

The doors slid open, and I resumed getting out of people's paths. Ms.Donnie looked around, scanning one door after the other. This she did, until we reached the end of the long hallway. We had to turn back and start checking all over again from the other end. Her child's room was the second to the last.

I could read all the expressions of worry on her brown face as she turned the knob. I was not that worried even if I wanted to.

I went in too.

A man in a white medical jacket—obviously the doctor, turned from the bed, revealing the cute sleeping kid laying on it. She didn't look anything like Ms.Donnie. Not the hair color, face nor the beautiful brown skin her mother had. It meant she resembled her father. Danielle was blonde. And although I wasn't sure, I couldn't help but wonder if Van was her dad.

Ms.Donnie let out a high pitched gasp as she ran to her daughter's side, taking her little palm in hers to examine the bandaged wound. She kissed the Danielle's palms and almost sulked.

I wished I could also slit my wrist with scissors. Then I would really die and disappear from there.

"She's fine Stacey. Don't worry,” the doctor told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Stacy said nothing.

"It's a good thing you called me. All the surgeons are in the theatre right now,” he added.

The doctor stuffed his skinny hands in his jackets' pockets,

“I heard he's coming to see her…” He informed Ms Donnie.

“Who? Van? He better not dare.” I could see the burn in her eyes. It was something near hate.

Wait…Van?

He's coming here?

Good!

I'll get to see the so-called Boss whom everyone seems to be talking about.

My Mission 101 was to meet Van. Although, not mutually face-to-face, I had to know who that man was.

***

Festus.

I held my left hand over my phone's screen, squinting. I could barely see anything on it because that's what happens when you try to use your phone under the wide smiles of the sun. I stopped trying and just walked into a nearby café.

I didn't know what to think of myself, sitting on the cold metallic chair in the café, sniffing in the dry chilly air from the air-cons. I finally left the house, but I still felt kind of bad for doing that. I hated to admit it, but I didn't really think I was going to be able to fend for myself being away from home. I had never worked, and the only work I wanted to do was manage my mom's eatery after college.

$918.43, my e-wallet account read. I could already forsee those digits turning into zeroes in a few days. I swept my hands across my hair and sighed, not knowing what to do. Dad had gotten all my accounts frozen to frustrate me into returning home, but I wasn't ready to give in. I would survive on my own and take over mum's business after college, I assured myself.

A woman in probably her forties, dressed in a uniform—Light pink shirt, chocolate brown bow tie, similarly coloured pants and a waist apron walked up to my table. I knew she was going to ask me what I wanted to have.

“Do you need part timers?" I asked her first, taking her a little aback.

“Huh? Um…no?” She responded, a little flustered. Before any more words could escape either of our mouths, I got a message from my friend. He told me to wait for him at a nearby park.

I was happy, my Mission 101—Getting a new roof over my head, was going to be accomplished soon. With a smile on my face, I walked out of the cafe and headed to the park.