Finding Your Way Back. Chapter three (standard:drama, 5696 words) [3/6] show all parts
Author: Cyrano	Added: May 25 2009	Views/Reads: 2257/1772	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
James is confronted with Eileen's illness, it seems serious. He follows the ambulance to the hospital.

He drove impatiently behind the ambulance, remembering he hadn't given
Eileen the flowers for her birthday. They were still in the boot of the 
car and he would remember to take them to her bedside. She would be 
impressed by his thoughtfulness.  In the distance the city lights 
glowed as the vehicles snaked down the hill. 

His mind was on Eileen. God, I hope she's alright. There can't be that
much wrong with her, she was behaving normally only a couple of hours 
ago. Surely she would have said something if anything had been wrong. 
He racked his brain and trawled over the events of the last few hours. 
I can't even recall when she last ailed with anything. She was the 
strong one. She mocked at me when I had time off work. ‘You can afford 
to take time off,' she would say. ‘I'm on my own; there's nobody to 
cover for me. I can't afford to be sick. There's nobody here to run 
after me if I go down.' 

It can only be exhaustion; she's ready for the holiday. We're not going
to America for a few weeks, maybe I could bring it forward. She'll like 
that and it'll be a nice surprise for her. Give her something to look 
forward to. 

He continued in thought as the ambulance entered into the emergency
entrance, signed for ambulances only.  He had to swerve violently in 
order to drive round to the outpatient department before he could get 
through to see her. I hope she's come round. She'll be sitting up in 
bed with a cup of tea in her hand wondering what all the fuss is about. 
James smiled to himself. She does like a bit of attention and she'll 
milk it for all she's worth. Well, I suppose she's entitled to after 
what she has gone through. 

He parked and hurriedly made his way to the entrance. It didn't look
like a hospital; it appeared bleak and foreboding, a Victorian edifice 
so typical of anything built at the time. The car park was dimly 
illuminated, trees casting black shadows across the empty spaces. It 
felt eerie, unwelcoming and quiet.  James strode quickly towards the 
entrance. The door was locked. He placed his hands flat against the 
glass and moved his head from side to side as he peered inside. He 
could see the unattended reception counter directly ahead, but the 
building appeared to be empty. He spoke into the door entry console, 
there was no response. He tried again, this time with more urgency. 
‘Hello, is anyone there?'  And still no reply. ‘Hello, hello, hello' he 
repeated and banged on the glass door until it shook. Suddenly, a 
female voice crackled out. 

‘Hello, can you speak into the grille please. Please speak slowly into
the grille.' James did as he was instructed. 

‘My name is Parr, James Parr, I've come to see my wife, Eileen. She was
admitted a few minutes ago. She came in an ambulance, it was an 
emergency.' 

After a short pause he heard a continuous buzzing noise and a voice
issued instructions. 

‘Just push the door now.' 

He pushed on the glass door, it was stiff and he tentatively entered
into the quiet of the building, moving forward a few paces before he 
heard another door open to his left, and as he turned around he saw a 
uniformed nurse moving towards him. 

‘We can't be too careful these days, all sorts of people would walk in
if we didn't keep the door locked.' 

She gave him a courteous smile as she held the door open to indicate to
him that she wanted him to follow her. 

‘This way Mister Parr, the theatre sister would like a word with you
right away.' She told him. 

They walked side by side along a long darkened corridor. As he walked
along he asked about Eileen. 

‘How is she? Have you found anything yet?' 



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