As Angela returned back to her room to clean up, she wondered exactly what had transpired.And she knew exactly what has happened, Joseph had commanded her and she had obeyed. Strictly obeyed. Like a child would. She didn't even put up a fight. She said nothing. She turned the shower and took a cold bath. Clad in fresh clothes, she made her way to the kitchen. Joseph was working something on the stove, as soon as she saw him, she turned to leave but he was quicker. He turned as if on clue and saw her. “Angela”, he said softly.“Hi, she responded awkwardly. The fact that she was caught red-handed would only leave things sour. After the little fiasco at the doorway, she didn't know how to face him all of sudden. With his eyes fixed on her, he closed the short distance between them and held her hands in his. Her hands were already shaking and she wished he wouldn't notice. “I'm so sorry for getting angry. I shouldn't have. Please forgive me”. He kissed her hands in his and looked at
Angela found the hospital so easily. She thought it'd have taken her time to find it but it turned out that there was only one hospital close to Ser Criston's. If there were other hospitals close, they were definitely not in sight.Angela thought to call Sophia to be sure of the directions but with Sophia's state of mind, she decided against it. She pushed the entrance large doors open and was about heading to the reception when the thought oocured to her. What would she say? She didn't even know who was admitted?So Angela looked around instead and was relived to see Omar. Omar sat crestfallen beside the vending machine, he held a bottle of cola but it seemed unattended. Like someone only ushered him to take one. Angela had never seen him so sad, she rushed towards him and tapped his knee desperately. What had happened to Fyodor? Or had something happened to Joseph? What had the fool done?The fact that Omar too was here didn't help at all. Angela couldn't help the tears that fell
Joseph watched the ceiling intently. It seemed like he hadn't seen it before. He still couldn't believe it, his father was dying and here he lay, so full of life. He still couldn't wrap his head around it. Now that he was sober, his problems had returned.As he lay, he thought of yesterday. Yesterday. This time yesterday, he was busying having sex, so busy under sheets, pleasing someone's else's “kin” while his only family was dying. The time he ought to have spent with his father, he was busy doing only irrelevant things. He had no clue the news the afternoon would bring but who ever knew what the next five minutes would turn out? A psychic?Joseph sighed in defeat and close his eyes and fresh tears threatened to spill. A soft knock on the door reminded him that he was not alone. Joseph wiped his tears and rose to his feet. He scoffed when he checked the time. It was exactly 8:00. Angela definitely enjoyed her rest. No doubt.Another soft knock followed. Then another, a bit more he
Joseph claimed the seat Angela sat a while ago. His hands clasped and comfortable between his legs, he looked around the room, anything but his father. Now that Angela had left, it felt awkward all of a sudden. He couldn't bring himself to look at his father all of a sudden. Because he wasn't acting anymore.The exact reason why no one could ever complete him like his father did. He was always honest around his father, there was nothing to hide so he hid nothing. He was angry, so angry at his father and sad too. Too sad that his father was sick and it felt so unfair. No more acting.His father looked frail, that he could tell from the few glances he stole. Joseph saw that the clinical ensemble didn't look good on his father, with one part slanting sideways. The clothes looked too baggy and ugly. And everywhere his skin showed was dry, rough and pale. His father was not doing good at all, Joseph could gather. He didn't need to be a doctor to know. Joseph closed his eyes, his father a
And there he sat. Like the dutiful son that he will always be. After the little episode at the garage, under the pretense of getting some air, Joseph returned to his only reason for both his unshed and shed tears of agony. Joseph adjusted the duvet that covered his father's body a few times. Afterwards, he'd stand and walk around a few times, he'd grit his teeth a few times, sometimes, torturing his poor nails as well. Only to look outside the window again, rake his hair frustratingly and then sit again. Joseph messed up the routine a few times, willing to do everything to while away time, he only wondered when his father would wake up again. He had to try again.He had to try to convince his father again. He just had to do something. His hands raked his hair again before a sob broke out. A second followed.“Son”, though hoarse, his father’s voice called out. Joseph jerked up immediately and covered the little distance between them.“Big man! Big man!!” His voice was hoarse too. May
Joy. Ultimum joy. Not the kind you feel after bagging a million dollar deal or getting a scholarship but the kind you feel when a ray of sunshine graces your head and suffices your skin with vitamin D, the kind of happiness you feel when the calm breeze grazes the short hairs on your skin. That kind of joy that bubbles from within, that shows itself even when you have a straight face. And that was all the duo felt as they watched intently.Fits of laughter, though weak, rumbled from Mr James chest as he watched closely. Upon his request, his son had transformed his hospital room into a cinema room. The lights turned off, except the lights sourced from the machines attached to him, Mr James relaxed into his bed folded halfway to allow him see the screen comfortably. Joseph was surprised when his father told him where he'd kept all the video clips in his house. He had thought naturally, that clips as such would have been lost. His parents hadn't parted in good times and his mother clea
Morning came, even though Joseph was sore, his whole muscles ached and he had barely even slept, he was glad that an hopeful day had come. A day, he was allowed to dream. That morning Joseph prayed. He hadn't prayed for a long time but he found himself kneeling on the floor as he prayed for a successful procedure.Omar and Fyodor, Angela and Sophia had spent the night at the hospital but Omar had to leave because he had a meeting that couldn't be postponed, he had to be there. But he promised to return as soon as he could.Joseph watched Angela quietly from his side view, he hadn't said anything to her after crying at the garage, now, they were no different from two strangers. Or that was what he thought. She was saying something to Sophia before Sophia left to take a phone call.He watched her as she rubbed her eyes sleepily and sank deeper to the seat, she raised her legs from the ground and folded them to cross one another. These past few days, he had been rough. Very rough with he
Accuracy. That was definitely Dr Murphy's best word. He was always accurate. He knew the human anatomy like the palm of his hand. As a career man, he was never wrong, and has never lost a single patient during his thirty six years of treating patients. Dr Murphy was literally known as an aldonis in the surgery room.As he scrubbed in and entered the operation room, he said a little prayer to God that he’s kept his nickname this long. Inside the OR, he shook his head vehemently like a boxer ready for battle and whispered “Let's do this” to himself after washing his hands and went in where a nurse came forward to help him wear his sterile gown.A nurse eyed his scrub cap knowingly and turned to share smiles between her colleagues. They all knew Professor Murphy to be present for only very important surgeries and whenever he wore the specific cap on his head, it meant real business. That means the patient on the table would survive no matter the cost. The patient's lucky, she concluded