It took a solid 6 hours for the surgery and the sun mists across the horizon when the doctor finally came out. She looks weak herself as she stood in front of Mike and blows empty her lungs.
“We did our best to treat their wound. Surgeries for Jessica is over but Sarah would need another and immediately.” She observed each of the people’s faces in front of her.
“I’m sorry to say, she needs a D&C immediately” the doctor thrust her hands into her coat pocket.
“D&C??? Why?”
The term D&C or Dilation and Curettage is nothing new to him– a procedure used to remove tissue from the uterus but he is baffled of why Sarah would need one.
“Her pregnancy didn’t make it. We lost the baby’s heartbeat and it is already detaching from the mother’s womb” Santha snapped open her m
Robert and Mike came back to the hospital by 11 am. They had recollected themselves, taken a hot shower which helped calm their nerves a lot, and packed some clothes for the girls and themselves as they will not be staying in the house for a while. Investigations will soon take place and they don’t want to mess up with the evidence. Mike took the black box with him, though. He couldn’t leave it behind to the police officers, the only memory of his child. The advancing hour didn’t consulate a thing. “Jessica's heart rate has stabilized but we plan to keep her under anesthesia for at least a week. A patient recovering from rape usually will have traumatic effects when they wake up. We don’t want her to move a lot and risk tearing her stitches. But…” that was the most dreadful ‘BUT’ they had ever heard “Sarah…” the doctor sighed out “Her blood pressure is still unstable…and… she had slipped into a coma…we
The chirping midnight silence of Emerson Residence rumbled with a fast-approaching black BMW. Ballistics of laughter and chatter, together with metallic tunes announces the energetic and sweaty night that awaits. Given the stinging scent in the air, it had already begun. All of it halts abruptly in front of a pair of heavy white gate. The pack of 4 friends steps out of the car, shutting the door in chorus. Brows knit deep. The remnants of laughter die down. They exchange a confused look at the slightly ajar timber door. Shut doors when she is alone is a big no-no for Sarah, including her bedroom door. Sometimes, even her bathroom door. She always masks it well with the excuse of needing fresh air or vitamin D deficiency. But the friends know too well. It makes her uncomfortable-sort of a mild phobia. The door’s hinge squeaks low as they pace into the dark space. Jessica is the first to peek in. A shivering shadow caught her eyes. Sarah, huddled to a corner– on the floor, hugging her
A small army of hairy caterpillars skitters under her skin at the recollection. Her hands twitch and fidget without her concern. In dire need of a distraction, she turns to Mike “Where are we going today?” Her fake smile behind the wry-filled eyes didn’t miss his apprehension. She keeps clenching her hand into a fist, masking her fidgets. As a psychiatrist, Mike couldn’t help but read her. His eyes trail from her face to the floor. 'If something is this much bothersome, why doesn’t she just talk about it?'he slips into his own turmoil. Left hanging in the air, Sarah turns to others and all she gets is the same reaction. Each one pondering on to confront or not. Finally, Jessica spoke, breaking the silence. “I badly need a shower. Then... maybe we can go to the mall. Nothing like a shopping therapy and I could use one now”. Seems rig
LOST The only word booming in her brain. Her feet reluctant to grasp reality. Dress fists into her palm. Deep, dreadful howl of wind swirls around her. A brush of crude blanket, literally, dry straws at her knees, swaying to the sides. Sarah is stranded in the middle of a field. Nothing else but malty brown spread across the horizon. No trees, no houses or huts, no animals, no birds, not even a tiny little insect. Just a vacant grass field with the blaring sun to accompany her. 'How did I get here and how do I escape?' Her brain beaming with questions when suddenly, a crisp clamor from the grass broke her loneliness. About 10 feet in front of her, it starts shuffling. Her eyes grow wide at a particular spot as it ravages to find any clue of what might be rolling underneath. Nothing came in visi
No interruptions. No facial changes. Just occasional clipped questions. And then... 2 whole minutes–120 seconds of dead silence terrorizes the house. By now, Mike manages to conjure Sarah a cup of milk. Her index finger dents and glides around the rim of the cup in infinite circles, staring down into the white liquid; God’s best creation. Her mind is vacant. Not needing any response from Mike. Purging THE NIGHT from her system and not being judged for it is good enough, enlightening even. Instead of the usual response from society such as ‘It’s your fault; You dress is too provocative; You seduced a man; You were too careless’– Mike didn’t rush to any conclusion. He let out a sigh and said “OK” and then pause again, searching for the correct word. “OK! I know this is unusual for you, but a kiss is harmless. Plus, he didn’t take anything from you, did he?” he is an Italian hunk with a car
Mike’s attempts to connect with Sarah have been dreadful ever since ‘the morning’. Avoidance is evident between them. Her constant diversion from him and narrow attention to Jessica and Laura drove Mike up the wall. Confrontation. That's what he needs. But even for that, he needs to pinpoint her alone, without the other 3 and that too, seems impossible since she runs off to work early before Mike. His touch, scent, and warmth send a shudder down her spine every time the memory resurfaces. Sure, they are best friends since 7– they had mud-wrestled– they had jumped over the school compound– she had helped him to get his feelings across to another girl, like a bloody postwoman– he had even helped her unbuckle her bra once. But it is different now. He is a full-grown, tall, masculine man, who reminds her of her attacker. Returning home from work, he caught her sitting on the living room’s sofa. One foot tuck under the other that has rose up, heels on the couch edge, her face next to
Cold, breezy Monday morning, redefining Monday blues when Laura’s red car stops at Sarah’s house. Mike and Sarah were loitering around the front porch, just about to leave for work, with Sarah holding on to Mike’s arm, hopping to pull her heels on. Laura slides out of her car, readily rolling her eyes. The 2 have become practically inseparable now since they are living under one roof. Inseparable, as in no space for another woman, for example, Laura, and that surely is a good source of frustration. They didn’t even notice her arrival, busy talking about one of Sarah’s weird customers, the bubbly mouth Gary. “Hi, you two” Laura hooked their attention towards her. “Laura!!! Haven’t you gone to work?” Sarah queries with a little surprise. “I am, right after this. I must talk to you
The week passed by in a blink and it’s time for them to depart. Even though she had put on a great show, she got to admit– Sarah was already missing them. The thought of staying alone in the house on weekends till they return was revoking and so, she resorts to staying with her mother for 3 days, hence packed accordingly and was ready to leave –not before she sends off the rest of the pack to their retreat. Mike took over the wheels and gave her a cold glance while Laura and Jessica were saying their heart-melting–goodbyes. He then darted to the road and steered the car forward without even a bye and frankly, she didn’t mind. The sure thing is he will be with the others during the weekend and she was definite that the others will find a way to enlighten his mood. Sarah dismissed with a smile and a head shake and carried o