Midnight Cry

Room 35

"Rease, towel please."

Back to reality at its finest. It’s Monday.

Checked my phone to track the date and time. “It’s still November 5th, 12am”

I was assisting Doctor Galvine for a patient that just got a seizure. The patient will probably be in a coma. After all, the sign says it all. He's not waking up after the operation. I hope he'll not be brain dead. For as far as I know, brain dead person won’t live long. He'll be dead sooner. God please have mercy on him.

I was washing the stains at the sink now and I saw Doctor Galvine heading to where I am.

"Rease, Go home now. Doctors will be in a meeting at 5." He meant ‘in five minutes’

I immediately stop what I am doing.

"Why is it Doc? I thought that we've already discuss this?"

"Please just listen to me and go home early."

Did I just hear that I should go home? I feel disappointed. I prepared myself for tonight. I have bought extra clothing and foods so that'll keep myself warm throughout my shift. I should be staying for about two hours more.

"I insist. I awe you, Doctor Galvine."

He raised his brows.

"I appreciate your Nursing, Rease. You deserve a break, so go home and have some rest."

I couldn't move a muscle. It seems unreal. Him telling that he appreciated my Nursing...

Appreciate...

Appreciate?!

I guess, that was the most cunning thing I've heard from him. He’s always having attitude issues but now that he’s being nice, he’s very much determined to get rid of me during this hour.

“Thank you” A simple thanks won’t hurt my pride. I awe him twice now.

He waved his hand while walking away from me. I wish I could see if he smiled when I told him 'thank you'. What was I thinking? Why would he smile? I never saw him smile. He’s a serious person. He was serious when he told me to go home.

"Don’t overwork yourself." I murmured.

I was packing up my goods as I was about to leave the patient's room. I was in front of the door when the patient began shaking his whole body. “He’s convulsing!” I panicked as I grip his arms.

The shaking stopped.

I jumped when he suddenly stood up from the bed, looking at me blankly then he walks like he's drunk. Step by step, he’s getting closer to me.

Looks like he’s ok but his head was a little bit tilted.

"Are you okay, Sir?"

I only heard silence for an answer as he stopped walking and stood still, with his dextrose attached to his arms, he couldn’t go any further.

"Wait for me, I will tell the Doctors that you're awake already."

I shut the door close and I ran fast. But I didn’t check if it’s shut properly. I see no one at site. Maybe they we’re in the conference room. It came to my mind that Doctor Galvine is still here.

At last. I can hear them inside the conference room. They're in a meeting. I can hear them from here.

"One must take the advantage of having the vaccines. It would be of great help. I'm sure of it." One of the Doctors said.

"I know that it'll take a while with our experiment. But it will be worth it. Soon, there will be a cure for the brain-dead patients." Another one added.

"Doctor Galvine already injected the first container of vaccines to his patients. Let's hear from him."

"As of now, the patients are still on a coma. No one is responding yet." He stood up straight. "I think what's best for us is to stop this experiment."

No.no.no. I saw a brain-dead person stood up! Don't lose hope Doctor Galvine.

I opened the door and bravely speak my mind.

"Doctor's, the patient at room 35… He's already conscious."

We all head to Room 35. I am the most pressured here. This will be a great news for everyone. The brain-dead people may live longer!

We opened the door.

And we saw...

No one?!

"But I saw him! He's here, he's standing. He is quite feeling well and cured!" I explained.

"That's great news! The body is gone! It means the patient's alive!" One of the Doctors said out loud. "But the problem here is that we cannot prove that the patient is alive without his body!"

"Yeah. The patient could have escape. Don’t leave a patient and just call! That's why we have phones!" Another Doctor expounded. “What’s your name?!”

“Rease…”

“Next time, if you did this again, you’re fired!” All of them are staring at me right now.

"Rease got nothing to do with the patient. I was the one to blame here. I’m her senior." Doctor Galvine! " The patient might still be here inside the hospital so we better look for him. I will call the police... And Rease, I told you to go home, so, please... Leave."

Another Doctor opens his mouth to say something but Doctor Galvine stopped him by showing him his right hand.

"Rease, go home." Doctor Galvine told me.

"But I..." He tugs me outside room 35.

"Didn’t you hear me? Don't be stupid! Go home now or else you'll lose this job!"

I... I was speechless...

I ran to the locker room to get my things. I am walking on the sidewalks, peaking at the hospital. I can see the police down below.

I already got home. It's a very long day indeed. I’m sure I won’t be sleeping well tonight that’s why I took a sleeping pill.

Sun rises as it hits my face.

“It’s still November 3rd” I murmured as I sunk in to my pillow, irritated by the sun rise.

I’m trying to wake up on a good mood, I couldn't help but to sunk in deep trauma by the embarrassment I did last night.

"I should've shut up and leave it be." I told myself out loud.

I throw my pillow to the window. I stand up to pick up my pillow. My eyes were blurry so, I put my contacts, leaned and took a quick glance outside the window.

Our Neighbors are packing outside and about to leave. Some are already getting in their car. Some are still getting their things and putting those outside their house.

"Anne? Mom? What's going on?"

I saw them both sitting on the dining table eating breakfast.

"We don't know. We didn't watch the news. We slept early last night. What's the matter Rease?" Anne asked while eating cereal.

"Nothing. I'll go to Shayne’s house."

I opened the door.

"What mayhem?!" I put my hands on my mouth.

Almost everyone in town are leaving. I asked one of our neighbors what's going on but they did not answer and they leave me hanging, drove their car away. Why are they leaving? It's freaking eight o'clock in the morning?!

I ran and I couldn't imagine that I was already at 34th street.