“You seem to be responding to treatments well”the doctor commented as he picked Christian’s hand to check for his pulse.
“In a day or two you will should be out of here, up and running like nothing ever happened”
While Christian managed to force a smile in response to the doctor’s compliments, Antonia’s heart was palpitating with anxiety. At long last, she would have what she’d always desired, Christian would be hers.
The longer the doctor tarried in his check up, the more she grew impatient, wishing she could grab him by the collar and push him out of the room.
“Has your appetite returned or shall I send a nurse in to check you”
“Christian is fine sir,”Antonia cut in impatiently, “he only needs to take a nap or don’t you?”
“Yes doctor,”Christian answered slowly, smiling as a feeling of warmth engulfed him. He’d never imagined how happy he could actually be with Antonia in his life.
“Very well then Mr Christian,”the doctor said, heading for the door, “you should relax your nerves”
Antonia didn’t realise she’d been holding her breath until the door slammed shut and her heart felt suddenly relieved. If her calculations weren’t wrong, Laura should be on her way to the hospital now.
Quickly, she turned to Christian and started removing the intravenous injection.
“We have to leave now. It’s getting late”
“But I think we should…”
“Are you rejecting me Christian?,”she said in a tone, blinking to reveal the tears in her brown eyeballs.
“I thought you changed your mind towards me”
“Of course,”Christian answe, “I have changed my mind…”
“Why don’t you want to come with me then?”She cut in, “why are you giving room for second thoughts and guesses”
“It’s not…”He looked up and caught a streak of tears rolling down her eyes. He strong resolve faltered and he heaved a deep sigh in resignation.”Okay, let’s go”
He had actually been contemplating how Laura would react to the new development and had decided to wait until she arrived so he could present the situation to her modestly.
“How far is the hospital you’re taking me from here?”
“Far enough to keep everyone clueless as to our whereabouts,”she answered.
“Do you think I should sign a discharge document at the reception!”Christian asked, “you know… tell them I’ll be back”
“There are no nurses on duty as we speak,”
she replied sharply, pulling him off the bed and picking up his folded shirt from the dresser.
“let’s get out as soon as we can”
“What about the guards?”He asked.
“We’ll find our way around them”
Antonia sensed suspicion in Christian’s demeanour so she pulled him close and wrapped her arms around him.
“I just want for us to be happy,”she sobbed gently, “I have never wanted anything more”
“It’s okay dear, I understand”
“It’s okay.”
He pulled her away gently and went to pick his shoes in corner. Less than thirty minutes afterwards, the two of them were in the car, heading for an unpopular hospital in the next city.
Not long after they had left, Laura arrived at the hospital.
The instant she walked parked her car into the hospital’s parking lot, one of the guards signalled her.
“Is something wrong?”
“Not exactly,”the bald guard replied, “your husband has left the hospital with a slim lady”
“What are you talking about?”
She asked, irritated with the guard for intruding on her.
“I said your husband is no longer in the hospital.”He repeated, “He left with a lady not quite long ago”
Laura’s scanned the guard all over with contempt. Then she shook her head and forced a dollar bill into his hand.
“Thank you ma’am,”the man uttered, pocketing the money but Laura only walked away, ignoring him. The man was either mistaken about the patient or trying to beg for money.
Meanwhile, Antonia and Christian were already in the city and had almost gotten to the hospital, when Antonia’s phone began to ring.
She shifted her gaze from the steering wheel but when she saw Laura’s number in the caller Id, she hung up and put the phone on do not disturb.
“Your keeps ringing Tonia,”Christian said as he noticed, “why aren’t you answering your call”
“I am driving,”she replied, “I can’t engage in conversations”
“Well tell the person to call back later or should I help!”
“No!”She screamed loudly, unplugging the phone before he could reach it. But she hurriedly masked the fear in her eyes with a small smile.”don’t worry Chris, I’ll just switch the phone off or send a call back later text”
She was grateful that they’d been able to leave the city before Laura found out. But the suspicious look on Christina’s face had returned. Damn!
“Your phone hasn’t stopped ringing Antonia. I think you should pick up”
“You worry too much Christian,”she said dismissively.”Look,”she pointed ahead, “we’re already at the hospital. You can rest while I buy you lunch”
Christian opened his mouth to say something, but the thoughts his mind were contradicting themselves, so he dismissed them and leaned his on the headrest and closed his eyes.
The new hospital was bigger and fancier than the former one but the aura in the atmosphere was somewhat foreboding and unwelcoming. Christian felt like fish out of water.
Laura stood in front of the hospital, pacing back and forth. Antonia refused to answer her and had finally barred her two numbes. As much as she felt angry at her audacious attitude, she couldn’t help but feel worried about Christian and the state of his health.
“Do you have an idea where Christian and the lady went,”she asked the guard, running towards him at his post.
“Did they say anything?”
“No they didn’t,”he answered, shaking his head.”I am sorry”
“I don’t have anyone to turn to, Christian’s phone has been switched off ever since he went into coma”
“Take it easy Ma’am,”the guard placated softly, “nothing untoward has happened. You should call the police and report the case. You have a description of the lady’s car don’t you”
“Yes I do…”