Dad had come home with me that night. He’d attended to his patients early, leaving them in Helen’s hands before asking me to give him a ride home. We stopped to get dinner which we’d both enjoyed over long conversations about anything and everything.
After returning home, I walked into my room only to get an incoming video call from no other person but Millie.
I kicked off my shoes and laid supine on the bed before picking the call and running my tired hands through my hair as Millie’s face came into view. She’s lying supine too, her bed and the floor on full display.
“Heyyyy Sexy!!” She screamed.
Chuckling, I replied “did you just mean to say “Lexy?””
“Yeah, it’s my new version of your name for you. Sexy sounds like Lexy, you’re Sexy and all so it matches well. What have you been up to?”
“You know the drill, Mils”I sighed, my hands rummaging through my hair more.
“How’s the hospital treating you? Fuck, you look so messed up”
” You can say that again. Was in surgery for six hours just two hours ago. I’m so tired”
“You need a rest, babygirl. Why don’t you stay home tomorrow so I’d come over? No one would say any fucking thing, your dad fucking owns the damn hospital”
I cringed at her words, laughing hard before replying “I’d really love that, Mils but I’ve got this surgery coming up and I don’t really wanna miss out, sorry”
“That’s okay. Just have some time to yourself. Talking about having time to yourself, tell me what you’ve been up to lately”
“Up to? You mean. . . . . . The hospital?”
She rolls her eyes dramatically and replied “anything but that hospital, Lexy. Seriously?!”
I laughed hard, knowing fully well what she’s about to say. There’s no way Millie would call at a time like this without making my love life a topic. It’s just not possible.
I decided I wasn’t gonna have it her way this time so I quickly asked “where’s your boyfriend?”
The smile that sprang to her face at the mention of her boyfriend gets me all the time.
“Oh he’s great,” she replied “he went out”
“Oh that’s reeeeeaaally great” I added extra stress to the second to last word, causing her to furrow her brows thoughtfully at me.
“What’s that for, Lexy?”
“I don’t know. I just imagined you two would be making out right now, since you two are so inseparably In love with each other!”
“Aww . . . . I’m so sorry for making you uncomfortable yesterday. I just. . . . It’s really impossible to stay off a guy like him, you know?”
“Mmhmmm, stop robbing it all over my face already”
She bursts out laughing “you’re right I just did that you fucker! Go get yourself a man, Lexus!”
“Lexus?”
“Yeah. . . . . It sounds like your name. . . . . Urgh! Stop questioning me, just answer to whatever I call you”
“Yes ma’am. You know what, I’ve got to go babe. Can I call you later? I reek of sweat and lab and all that and I just wanna get into the shower”
“Oh that’s okay. Talk later. I’ve got to shower too before Tony gets back” she winks at me, causing my smile to broaden before she disconnected the call. Throwing away my phone to wherever, I shut my eyes close and let my head settle. The thought of that same sharp pain I keep experiencing came to my mind.
I slowly sat up, looked to my opened window where I could see the bright light seeping out from Adam’s window across the street.
Adam. . . .
I could remember our last conversation. Going out to eat on Sunday and stuff. Then there’s this upcoming VIP surgery.
I just wanna scream. This is the only reason why I’m never dating anyone, or even get to have a long term devoted relationship. I’m always so choked up with classes and practicals and all!
But somewhere behind my mind, an inner voice managed to ask me if that was the reason why I’m still single. Is it really?
I attempted to rise to my feet and get into the bathroom when I heard the quick footsteps coming in from outside, from my father’s office room. Then shuffling of papers and hurried steps all over the room. Strangely enough, I even managed to hear that little sound. Is my hearing getting sharpened or am I just imagining things? I seriously need to tell Dad about these pains I’ve been having. Or get Craig to run a test for me. Yeah, that could work.
Curiously, I reached for the door and pulled it open, stepping out onto the narrow hall that led back into the living room. I strode across and towards my dad’s office room. His door is slightly ajar, and I could see him packing some papers around his desk. Slowly, I pushed the door open, causing him to turn around to see me.
“Lexy,” he called with a small smile “you’re still up? I thought you’d be sleeping by now”
“I can’t . . . . sleep Dad” I lied “is everything alright?”
“Yes. Why can’t you sleep? Having nightmares?”
“No. Are you busy with anything? Was hearing you shuffling things from my room”
“Oh, I. . . .” He turns around to pick a paper from his desk before turning back to me again and adding “I’ve….. actually I have something to tell you”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes,” he nods “just that. . . I’ll be traveling tomorrow morning and you may not see me when you wake up”
Somehow, his statement felt like a blow to my chest. Like a girl who’s only parent was leaving for good. How ridiculous?
“Leaving? Where are you going, Dad?”
“I’ve got some business to attend to at the outskirts of the city, Lexy. Nothing you should bother yourself about, Okay?” He gives me a reassuring smile.
“Business? What kind of business?”
“It’s a medical business”
“Medical? How is it medical?”
He sighs, looking away for a moment. I knew I was asking too many questions but I felt he wasn’t telling me anything and there’s more he wasn’t telling. I’ve never doubted him so much before.
“Lexy. . . . . It’s not something you should worry about. I’m just going to this camp of refugees to administer treatments and be back the following day”
“Refugees?”
Oh my God.
“Dad. . . . . I wanna come with you”
“You don’t have to, Lexy. I need you here”
“What? I’m a liability now? What? I can’t go with you to a refugee camp? Dad, I’m not a kid anymore, when are you gonna stop treating me like one and treat me like a doctor?!”
I didn’t know where the anger was coming from but I wanted to pour it all out. He has shut me out for far too long. I couldn’t believe I was completely psyched about coming home, to him, a few weeks ago, only to have him busy all the time and now the one time I get to really be with him, walk with him, he’s asking me to stay here.
“Is there a contagious disease there that you don’t want me to contact? If not then I don’t see a reason why I can’t go with you”
“Lexy . . . . . ”
“Or are you going somewhere else? Pretending it’s a camp full of refugees?”
He heaves a sigh, silently looked at me before speaking “fine. You can come. We leave very early tomorrow morning. At dawn”
I nodded, unfolding my arms from across my chest. “So where’s this camp?” I asked.
His lips went into a thin line, then he lifted a hand to scratch the side of his forehead before replying. “It’s at the back of the city”
“Back? Where exactly?”
“It’s Palma square”
“That far?”
Palma square was a secluded city at the end of the woods in L. A. we used to go to the front of the city to camp back in highschool. Why would there be a refugee camp there?
“Okay, great,” I replied “I’ll get packing then”
That said I turned around and headed towards my room, suddenly feeling a spank of excitement. I didn’t know what the situation of this refugees of Palma was but I felt excited to help them. I couldn’t wait to see them.
A few minutes ago I was too exhausted out of my wits to even think about taking a shower but right now, all I wanted to do was jump into the shower and get my bags ready for tomorrow morning.
After taking the shower, I quickly packed up my bag. I threw in two jeans and two cup tops. I reached for my matching slippers and threw them in too. And just like that I was ready to go.
I sprang up naturally the following morning at 5a. m. I guess the saying that you wake up at a specified time when you’re excited about something is true. I quickly observed the morning rituals of brushing and washing my hair and then showering before drying my hair and coiling it down my back. I dressed up in my faded blue boyfriend jeans with a black t-shirt and grabbed my backpack of clothes and other necessities. I decided a pair of blue loafers is just what I need for the occasion.
After getting dressed, I walked out just in time for my dad to call me.
“I’m here!” I announced my presence as I stepped out to see him grabbing a coat from the coat rack. He’s dressed up too, his greyish black hair stylishly pushed to the back.
“Good morning dad” I greeted.
“Morning baby. I take it that you slept well. . . . Seeing all that excitement on your face”
I smiled uncontrollably and replied “yeah, dad, I am excited for this”
“Okay! Let’s grab breakfast at Emilia’s for the ride”
“Sounds great”
I heard him grab his keys from the key hang as I walked towards the door, reaching to pull it open. I stepped out, into the early morning dawn, the crispy cold feeling. I braced myself as Dad stepped up behind me towards his parked car on the driveway. He opens the backseat door and puts his emergency bag and personal bag inside before I set mine in too and he shut the door.
We both walked over to the front where we sat down. I signed longingly as he pulled out of the drive way and drove into the street. I didn’t know why I felt genuinely excited about this camp thing. I’ve been to many and far more exciting camps even as a student. Maybe I’m just being overly curious.
Dad stopped at Emilia’s where we grabbed some hotdogs and beverages to go with.
We both sat there silently, my eyes glued to the road and turns my dad took as he went towards Palma square. The place was a bit empty and reserved as people didn’t live here. It was right in front of the outskirts of a larger and bushy woods, mostly restricted from trespassing.
“I’ve never been here, Dad” I told him as his car started slowing down just before an ancient looking brick bridge.
“This is actually where our ride ends, Lexy” he said, going into an abrupt stop.
I looked closely with squinted eyes through the semi darkness of the early morning and tried to see any camp set out at a distance but couldn’t see anything.
“Here? Where’s the camp?” I asked curiously.
He gave me a cornered lip smile before opening the door and stepping out. I pushed the door too, stepped out and almost got the biggest heart attacks of my life when I saw a man and a younger woman standing up front, dressed in black leather pants and jackets.
I was gonna scream ‘holy shit’ until the woman waved a hand at me.
Oh, okay, they’re nice people.
The man walks to my Dad and shakes his hand while I watched.
“Drako” my father muttered his name, exchanging a heartwarming smile.