The shrill beeping got louder and louder, forcing me awake. "Patient is coding!" A lone nurse sounded the alarm, causing every available doctor to descend upon the room. I stood up, leaning against a wall, in an attempt to stay out of the way.
"Oxygen levels falling! We need to start chest compressions." Each word was like a red-hot bullet searing into my flesh. The crowd of doctors ushered me out of the room.
I wanted to scream, maybe even fight my way back in the room like a stereotypical devoted wife. It would have been worth it to get kicked out by security. Suddenly, a message came over the hospital PA system. "Carolina Minor," the voice screeched. "Mrs. Carolina Minor, you are needed in the maternity ward."
"What?" I looked around for guidance, but no one else seemed to react. It was as if I was hearing the message only in my mind. I took a few steps down the hallway, away from Josh's room. I didn't even know where the maternity ward was. my only hope was to go down to the lobby, and try to find a receptionist or a map (or better yet reunite with Tomas.) Leaning against the white wall, I forced myself to breathe. I didn't even remember walking to the elevator but somehow, the next time I blinked I was there, staring down the glowing red button. "To the lobby, then."
Thankfully, the buttons were clearly labeled. The lobby was deserted, to an almost creepy degree. The lights were dimmed, all computers were shut down. I could see through to the parking lot, tempting me to try to flee. Of course, the doors were locked. "What the-?" I shook the handle anyway, hoping to attract some kind of attention. "Hello?" With everything so dark and abandoned I assumed there would be a security guard somewhere. But after a few seconds of shaking, banging and rattling like a toddler having a tantrum, I admitted defeat.
Fortunately, there was a map on the wall, with a listing of every hospital department. Unfortunately, the maternity ward was in an entirely different building. I would have to go up several floors, cross a sky bridge and find my way to an area at the end of a series of wards. I made mental notes and started on my journey. I could only hope there would be other maps along the way.
Every part of the hospital was dark, lit only by the light of the moon cascading through the large glass panels. Had there been a power outage? No, that was impossible since the elevators were working. Or was it? My mind was cloudy, unfocused. I chuckled to myself. "I'm still dreaming." That would explain everything. "Now I just need to wake up." I pinched the webbing between my thumb and forefinger as I walked in a straight line. I continued to the end of the hall until I spotted a familiar face.
"Fancy a drink?" Tomas was leaning against a vending machine. The red, Cola-branded contraption appeared to be glowing like a beacon in a storm.
"Is the power off?"
"No," Tomas replied, putting in a handful of coins to prove his point. "Why would you say that?" Instead of pressing a selection Tomas bumped his hip against the side, prompting the machine to dispense two bright green cans of Sprite.
I had to be dreaming. "No reason. I'm just a little tired." I took a seat on the floor, sitting cross-legged at Tomas's feet. "Any news?"
"They're going to ask you to pull the plug," Tomas replied in a distant, deadpan tone.
"On Josh," I said calmly. For whatever reason, that felt acceptable.
"And the baby."
I nearly choked on my own spit. "So, the baby is already born?" I asked between gasps of air. Needless to say, I was struggling to maintain composure. "Is my daughter still alive?"
"The baby is in the Neonatal ICU," Tomas said between sips of soda. "As far as I know, Christina is stable, for now anyway."
For now? I couldn't stop the tears. "Oh God, this isn't happening."
Tomas nodded as he nervously tapped on the metal can producing a calm, pleasant melody. "The events of today have been set in motion by forces beyond our control."
Hearing those words, I truly wanted to punch him in the face. "I get it. God and the devil are playing a game of chess," I said with a defeated sigh. "So, tell me, what's Suzanne? Is she a bishop or a rook?"
"Not exactly," he replied with a chuckle.
"Don't tell me she's a queen." That would be the cherry on this shit sundae.
"She wishes," Tomas said as he finished off his drink, punctuating his satisfaction with a comically loud burp. "No, Suzanne is more like a knight; headstrong, powerful but limited. you notice, for all her big talk, she has yet to physically attack us."
"I thought that was because we weren't her primary target." I'd assumed she was haunting Josh due to their past.
"Well, yes," he replied as if this was the most logical statement ever. "That and, it's because she can't attack us directly. Suzanne is only able to move in limited, preset patterns. We need to use that to our advantage."
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, leaning against the wall. "Am I supposed to just try to go back to sleep?"
"You sleep, I'll guide."
"In the hallway?" We appeared to be alone, for the moment, but being out in the open seemed to be just asking for trouble."
"You're right, I think the waiting room is unlocked."
I followed Tomas down another hall, to a pink, closet-like door labeled, 'Family waiting room.' The door opened to a small windowless room with pale yellow walls. The four cushioned chairs seemed to be from four different decades (but appeared to be reasonably comfortable for sleep.) On the corner there was a phone attached to the wall, and a television secured to the ceiling.
At least it was quiet and warm enough to not require blankets or other bedding. Tomas took a seat, leaning the chair against a wall so that he could sleep comfortably. "You good?" I asked, taking a seat by his side.
"I'm good." he patted his lap, inviting me to make myself a space.
"You want me to use you as a pillow?"
"I'm a pretty sound sleeper." Tomas took off his shirt, folding it into a pillow on which to rest my head.
"Ok, I'll give it a try." I felt like I had to since he'd already sacrificed his shirt. As I closed my eyes, I could feel Tomas's rough hands stroking my face; softly, gently as I drifted off to sleep.
I awoke in a bed, to the sound of a digital alarm clock. I reached for the button, to stop the annoying beep, but the reach was longer than anticipated. This was someone else's bed. Looking around, I was no longer in the hospital. In fact, I was lying naked in what appeared to be a dorm room. I wrapped the thin blanket around myself and stood up to look for clues. Down the hall, I could see a public restroom next to a communal shower. The shower area looked the same as any public pool, with an open layout; a locker room, soap dispenser and urinals. Was this some kind of men's dormitory?
I could hear a toilet flush, followed by footsteps.
From the doorway emerged a vision of my husband at the beginning of his military career. He was nineteen, maybe twenty with the body of a high school athlete still in his prime. He wore a pair of boxers while smoking a marijuana cigarette that smelled like coconut oil. "Hey, you," he put his arms around me, blowing a thin stream of smoke at my lips. "After all the fun we had last night I was afraid you'd never wake up."
"You thought you killed me?" I giggled. my voice sounded scratchy, older. Looking at my hands it was clear I did not have the body of a young woman (at least not someone his age.) I glanced around until I spotted a mirror. I was attractive, with tasteful makeup, and a conservative haircut; blonde shoulder-length style that was now tossed all over my face. I was clearly in my late thirties, early forties.
The young soldier kissed my neck. "We wouldn't want that. It'd be all over the papers; Lieutenant Colonel Tomas Adele's wife found fucked to death."
I couldn't help but laugh; I was married to Tomas in this dream. But why? The realization hit me; I'd asked him to lead, I'd casted this role for myself.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, Ma'am," Josh said as he put his arm around my waist. "Let's get back to my bed."
"Before your roommate gets back?" That was a stupid question; the entire floor was completely deserted and there was no sign of a roommate.
"Your funny, Mrs. Adele," Josh coughed nervously. "Sorry, I meant Carolina. I'm still getting used to our arrangement.
"Arrangement?"
"That's what I call it," he said with a chuckle. "I mean, it sounds about right, since your husband is my direct supervisor."
As if on cue, Tomas emerged from the showers wearing a towel. "Hey, soldier," he said as he pressed his lips to Josh's neck.
"Good morning, Sir." Josh cupped the older man's face as the two soldiers tenderly kissed. Their open mouths met over and over, punctuated with sexy smiles.
It was then Tomas took notice of Josh's hands, or rather his wrists. "You're not going back to your dealer, right?" He laced his fingers through Josh's while gently holding his hand. "You promised me you were staying clean."
"No, as I recall, I promised you I'd try," Josh said as he pulled away, walking back to his bed. "It's not that easy to stay away from her."
"Suzanne?" I asked, taking a seat beside him.
Josh sighed. "She claims I owe her for my mother's debt."
"You owe her?" I asked. I wanted to comfort him, to hold him, but something seemed off. "Has she ever given you a set amount? Maybe we can pay her off."
Josh shook his head. "No, it's not about money, never was. I owe her my time, my company. Whenever I visit, she pumps me full of drugs, calling them gifts, treats. It all gets added to the debt."
