TROUBLES
Sherry Peters
“Big day for you, Melanie, so it is,” Dr. Taylor said, walking into my hospital room.
It was about time. I’d been waiting more than an hour. “You’re late.”
“Yes, well, there have been some troubles,” Dr. Taylor said.
“Troubles?” That could be anything from mundane pickets to the more likely riots, though riots were rare in west Belfast in September. “Who is it? Protestants or Catholics?”
“Protestants, here in the neighbourhood.” He handed me my meds and watched me swallow them before sitting next to me on the edge of my bed.
How many burnt out cars had my parents had to pass on their way here? “Are my parents all right?”
“They’re fine; they’re here and they’re excited to bring you home.”
I was more than ready to get out of here. The acute care unit of Belfas
