Chapter Eight

I followed him down the hallway. My feet echoed on the tiles as I spotted the door to the ward.

I took a deep breath. The blood would flow from my arms to hers. This was the choice I made. I felt a cold shiver.

He stopped at the entrance to the doctor's office then turned to me.

“Make sure you do exactly what you are told.” He held my shoulder and squeezed it a little before letting go.

I twisted the handle and pushed the door inward. 

The doctor sat on a chair and brought out a long file from the drawer.

“Excuse me.” I stepped in.

He looked up and scanned my body.  

“Who are you?” He said sharply as he adjusted his glasses.

“Have your seat.” He pointed at the chair opposite the table. I moved it and sat down.

He pushed the file to the drawer, and held his hands together.

“You are…..?” He looked at me.

“Mrs Romano.” I turned to look at my husband, standing outside the office. 

“Mrs Romano, I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting. You are here to donate. You will follow me so I can run some tests on you, to confirm if you are the perfect match.” 

The doctor stood up, grabbed a needle from the drawer and walked toward me. He leaned forward, cleaned my arm with cotton and spirit. 

I looked at the ceiling, the needle gently entered my skin. The doctor headed outside to the lab.

Nikolai stood by the door and kept looking at his wristwatch. 

I watched his reflection from the glass. He let out a long breath he didn't realise he had been holding. 

The doctor walked in, he helped me lie on the bed.

“The results are out, you can donate.” 

He brought out another needle and pressed it against my skin. I didn't flinch.

I watched the red liquid fill the tube. It was dark and thick. It was the only thing connecting me and Lily.

The blood bag filled slowly, I watched the red line travel through the tube. 

My head went light, I had to steady myself against the pillow.

Nikolai didn't look at me, instead he glanced at his watch. He looked at the hallway and turned to look at the doctor.

The doctor gently pulled out the needle from my skin. He picked up the filled bag and stepped out. He bent towards Nikolai, murmured something low and urgent into his ear. 

They stepped into the next room, the door creaking softly behind them. I quickly glanced at a blonde haired woman on the bed. 

My legs felt weak as I tried to stand. I held the wall for support and walked towards the door. I looked through the small glass window.

Nikolai sat beside her. He lowered his back and whispered something that felt like it belonged to me. Lily slowly opened her eyes and smiled. 

Her eyes shifted and caught me watching through the window. She didn't speak, only smiled.

I turned away and walked down the hall. I didn't look back. The antiseptic smell was gone, I only smelled betrayal. 

I reached the exit. The night air hit my face. Everything went blurry and then I hit the floor. 

A bright light suddenly flashed into my eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to make sense of the brightness. 

Slowly, I opened my eyes as my blurred vision cleared little by little.

My eyes landed on the doctor. I realized I was already lying on the bed. 

“How are you feeling?” The doctor kept his eyes on me.

I slowly dragged my legs and used my hands to support my body to lean on the bed rails. 

I looked at the doctor.

“How did you end up here?” I held my forehead.

“The nurse found you on the floor at the entrance. According to the test we did, you won't be able to leave the hospital today. You need to rest, you are experiencing a panic attack so you need proper rest to recover.” 

“What about my husband?” I looked at the doctor then turned to the nurse and glanced at the file in her hand. She didn't speak.

“He is in the next ward.” He cleared his throat.

“Does he know about my situation?” 

“Yes ma.”

“You can go.” I signaled to them.

They bowed and turned.

“Where is she?” A familiar voice echoed in the ward.

I turned to look. Mrs Romano hurried in. Her bag barely hanging on her arm, she handed it to the doctor and rushed to me.

“Oh my Goodness, darling, how did you end up here?” 

I slowly parted my lips but Nikolai's sharp voice cut through before I could speak.

“Mom, you are here.” 

He held a bouquet of colourful flowers, their petals brushing against his hands. 

He looked at me.

“I'm sorry for keeping you waiting.” He smiled and handed the bouquet to me.

I dropped them beside me.

Mrs Romano sat beside me, and held my hands.

“Darling, how are you feeling now? 

The doctor called me. He said, You were sick.” 

She turned to Nikolai. 

“You can't handle your own marriage, it's just a few days after your wedding your wife is in the hospital. Oh, no.”

She touched her forehead as she turned her head left and right. 

She grabbed my wrist and gently patted my back.

“I wished your twin brother was here to witness your wedding.”

She looked at my husband. Her eyes suddenly turned red, tears filled her eyes. 

Nikolai leaned close and hugged her. 

She sniffed and wiped her nose.

“It's okay mama.” I held her hand.

“Can she come with me?” She turned to ask the doctor.

The nurse handed the large file to the doctor, he took a glance at it.

“She can only leave if there is assurance that she will have enough rest.”

“What are you saying? She is coming with me, so she will have enough rest.” 

She stood up and looked at him.

“Or did you think I'm not capable of taking care of her?” 

The doctor quickly slammed the book shut with a smile.

“No, no, that's not what I mean. She is our patient and we need to make sure she receives the necessary treatment. If you insist, then she is all yours. I believe in you Mrs Romano.” 

Her eyes quickly scanned him from head to his toes. 

“Better.” 

She then turned to me.

“Darling, let's go home.”