CHAPTER 22
The pungent smell of drugs and antiseptics came wafting into my nostrils. I grimaced in irritation at the sickening smell, shaking my head to ward it off.
My eyelids slowly lifted to reveal an unfamiliar environment flooded with bright, almost blinding lights. It took some time before my eyes could accommodate the light.
Looking around, I could see the walls of the room were painted white too. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was in a hospital. The only sounds heard in the room were the beeping of the heart monitor and other medical machines I was one way or the other hooked to. I could hear some voices around too.
Groaning, I twisted around on the bed and tried to sit up on the bed. My body felt so weak and sore like I had fallen off a cliff but somehow, miraculously managed to make it alive. But then, I couldn’t because my left wrist was cuffed to the bedframe.
“Fuck…” I muttered in frustration before falling back on the bed. A wince escaped my mouth as my muscles screamed from the impact.
I can’t believe these people had me cuffed even while in the hospital. It’s not like I can run away in this condition. My wrists were hurting too much already from all the cuffing and uncuffing since I was arrested to the extent that I could feel them bruising.
I palmed my forehead with my right hand only to feel a strip of plaster over a small cotton wool on the side of my head. I must have sustained a cut after I fell because, on landing, the side of my head slammed against the hard concrete floor of the cell. I checked other parts of my body, grateful no other plasters or bandages were covering them.
Turning my head to the side, I could see that two policemen flanked in military style on either side of the door, keeping watch. I wasn’t so surprised. Just before the entrance of the room, I saw Detective Carter talking to a doctor in a hushed tone as if it were something urgent. I knew it was about me and it made me feel anxious. I just hoped I hadn’t sustained any life threatening injuries.
The doctor had on a pair of clear, thin-framed glasses and a white lab coat that gave him a professional look. Our gazes involuntarily met and he flashed me a small smile, concluding his conversation with Detective Carter.
“You’re awake,” he said with a weak smile as he approached. A stethoscope which was hidden from view when he was talking with Detective Carter appeared around his neck and a clipboard with a pen connected to it with a short rope in his hands.
“I just need to run a few more tests and check your vitals before we can let you go,” he said, leaning in to touch the side of my neck to check my pulse, glancing at the monitor and scribbling something down on the clipboard. “You blacked out and suffered a fall that left a cut on the side of your head. Aside from that, you sustained no other injuries, both external and internal.”
I breathed out in relief, my initial fear and anxiety subsiding on knowing that.
Detective Carter came closer to where I lay on the bed and unexpectedly, uncuffed my wrist from the bed frame.
“Just for the time being. It’s on me,” he said with a reassuringly small smile.
“Thank you, detective,” I said, filled with gratitude. Honestly, I didn’t know how I could repay him for being so kind to me. But on the other side, I hope he doesn’t get into trouble or worse, lose his job like Robert had threatened for always helping me out and treating me this nice.
“Your attorney has arrived,” he informed me. “She is ready and waiting for you at the station. Once the doctor is done, we will be leaving immediately as we have a deadline for staying here. We have spent more than enough time already. We have just a little more left. I hope you understand.”
I nodded in response and heaved an inward sigh, feeling sad. Since the doctor said I sustained no serious injury, that meant we won’t be spending much time here. Any delay will be risking Detective Carter’s job and they might think I was planning on escaping thereby adding to my list of offences and having more than enough reason to believe I was responsible for the murder.
Briefly, I messaged my wrist to ease the pain and allow blood flow. After I finished, I sat up on the edge of the bed. That was when I realized I was dressed in a hospital gown. The fabric was so light it made me feel like I had nothing on.
“The reason you blacked out is due to stress so you must learn to manage it or better still, avoid it at all costs for your well-being,” the doctor advised, grabbing my attention. “Tell me, are you aware that you’re pregnant?” He asked as his brows drew in curiously.
“Yes, doctor…I’m fully aware,” I nodded, trying but unsuccessfully to hide the worry building up inside me.
My heart began to pound in my chest, believing something bad might have happened to my baby. I didn’t think of that at all. I had fallen badly on my stomach and have heard stories of some women losing their pregnancies from something as minor as a fall.
“Doctor, my baby?…” My voice quivered as I asked. “What about my baby?… Is it okay?”
“Nothing is wrong with your baby, madam,” he said reassuringly. “I’m only asking because the ultrasound showed you’re pregnant with twins and I thought you might not know.”
“What?…” My eyes popped out in shock.