OLIVIA
“Oh look who the cat dragged in,” I said and walked towards him with mixed feelings. I wasn’t sure if he had come to see me or if my mind was playing tricks on me.
I caught a glimpse of the blue hospital walls and white floors, inhaled the smell of disinfectant, and felt the lingering sense of loss that seemed to fill the hallways.
I realized that despite my initial annoyance that he didn’t care to make an appearance, I was happy to see him. Hope flickered within me, but I restrained it, I knew better than to let one unusual appearance make such a huge difference. He stopped talking and turned around with a surprised expression. “Liv?” He said and looked around like he was in the wrong place. “What are you doing here?” He asked as his eyes rested on the bag I was clutching under my arm.
“What am I doing here? What does it look like? What would anyone be doing in a hospital Cyril? At least you had the common sense to turn up,” I replied in an irritated tone and exhaled slowly.
“I don’t understand,” He muttered and ran his hand through his hair. “Aren’t you supposed to be at some work event?” He said aloud and I shook my head.
“Is that all you think I do with my time?” I asked and arched an eyebrow as he shrugged.
“Your routine is quite predictable; you’re either working or cooped up in the house. I don’t know how you do it; that could never be me,” He said, and I frowned.
Kate muttered incomprehensibly behind me and I could tell she was stopping herself from yelling obscenities at him. “You should try something, having a routine I mean. Perhaps a break from the parties and a chance to see how things work in real-time might do you a lot of good,” I answered and looked at the nurse who had lowered her gaze.
She was the same nurse who had been with Kate and me earlier; she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and I could tell my intuition was right the first time. She knew something that she could’ve given me a heads-up about but she didn’t. Somehow, as she tried to keep her eyes away from the exchange, I could tell it had something to do with Cyril and my heart sank.
“It doesn’t seem to be doing you a lot of good,” Cyril said and closed his eyes. “You need to go out sometime. ”
“Someone has to rub the business to keep the money you keep spending on your… trips,” I began and chuckled. “But at least I’m here now, a change of scenery at last…”
“Wait,” He interrupted and took a step closer. “Are you following me around?”
I leaned forward and caught a whiff of alcohol on his breath. “That liquor is doing a number on you,” I retorted and walked past him.
He reached out and held my arm, “what do you expect me to think? First, it’s the restaurant, now the hospital? There’s a pattern here,” He responded with a suspicious look in his eyes and I pulled my arm out of his reach.
“Don’t ever touch me like that again and you’re such a silly man. Why would I follow you around? You said it yourself, all I do is work and stay home. I’d rather do that all my life than follow you around,” I remarked angrily and he raised his hands.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was simply clearing things up,” He replied.
“That’s so silly, why would you ask me something like that? Didn’t you get Kate’s messages? The voicemails? Anything?” I asked and he shook his head slowly.
“What texts?” He asked, and Kate stepped out from behind me, stared at him for a moment, then walked closer to the reception table to talk to the nurse.
“What do mean ‘what… I called you too, and you picked up the phone and spoke to me. Why are you acting like no one told you about this? I called you hours ago,” I stared on in disgust as he fished his phone from his pocket and stared at the screen for a few seconds.
“Oh… I swear Liv, I was barely paying attention to this call. A… um, a lot of things were happening in the background.” He said slowly and put the phone back in his pocket. “Why didn’t you get the driver to pick you up?”
“Because I wanted my husband to do it; what was so important? You couldn’t listen to me calling from the hospital?” I asked and immediately wished I had walked past him when he was talking to the nurse.
“That’s not… It’s not important right now,” He answered with a dismissive wave and looked behind me.
“Oh but it is,” I responded with a cheeky grin. “Whatever it was had you staying away throughout the day and showing up at 3 am. What a stellar husband.”
“Liv, let’s not do this right now and all this talk about me turning up to see you at 3 am. That’s crazy talk, I didn’t even know you were here.”
“I called you, Kate tried to reach you, I told you about the situation and you couldn’t be bothered to show any compassion and at least ask what happened or how I’m feeling since you’re here. You keep denying knowing anything about it, at least there are a few things you do turn up for. Disappointing people is up there,” I said, and he looked taken aback for a moment, then he regained his composure.
“I know you’re hurt… I, um…” He stammered and I chuckled.
“You don’t know anything, Cyril, that’s why you barely know what to say to make me feel better. I hit my head on the bloody table and passed out cold in the office. My dearest husband stands in the reception of the hospital, asking me if I was following him like I couldn’t find a better use for my time,” I started and shifted my weight till I found a comfortable angle to stand in.
“You fainted?” He asked in surprise.
“Practically almost died, stayed unconscious for days. I’m experiencing life after all. Tell me one thing, though: if you aren’t here because I called you, why are you at the hospital at 3 am?” I countered and he sobered up immediately.