The Coma (Part 32)

Lydia stood up and stretched her legs, ready for another long day. The sun shone in through the blinds in small specks, she could tell already that it was going to be hot today, even though the room felt like an icebox. Shivering, she shoved the hard door open and walked out to the kitchen.

Sam was already sitting at the table, munching at a bowl of cereal with a newspaper in his hand. He looked up unconsciously and jumped as he saw Lydia standing there. She laughed at him as milk dripped down his day old clothes and cereal plopped to the floor from his spoon.

“Oh God! You should give warning when you’re going to come into a room! Especially when I’m eating!” He laughed and grabbed a handful of napkins from the counter to the side of him, wiping himself off. Lydia stayed smiling at him as he did.

“Good morning.” She finally said when Sam was all dried off and the floor was clean.

“Good morning sweetheart.” He smiled and walked towards her, giving her a small kiss and staring down at her. She kissed him back and her heart sank as he continued. “I have to go to work today. Nine to five. You’re okay with watching Emily right? I mean, it won’t put you off or anything?” He asked in a worried tone. Lydia gave him a warm smile and shook her head as she hugged him tightly, then remembering the time began to talk.

“If you’re supposed to be there at nine you better get going. When I looked at the clock it was already quarter to nine.” Sam laughed.

“The clock in my bedroom?” Lydia nodded as he continued. “That clock is always twenty minutes fast. I have a little bit longer. I’m going to show you Emily’s stuff, when I finish eating what’s left of my cereal anyways.” He gave her the evil eye before beginning to laugh again and sat down at the table.

“Alright. Good. I’m glad you’ll show me the stuff, I would have gotten lost.” She sat down next to him and stared at the newspaper.

“Someone’s going to die today.” Sam said threw a mouthful of cereal.

“What?” Lydia replied before remembering their conversation from the night before. “Oh yeah. Who is it?”

“Some guy. I think his name is Lauren. Lauren Michelson.” Sam finished and stared down at his cereal, taking another bite, as if this were normal table talk.

“What?” Lydia shouted, suddenly anxious. “You mean Doctor Michelson from the Hope’s Roses?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Why, do you know him?” He asked, now concerned.

“Yeah, well, sort of. He’s my therapist, the one that came in the day before yesterday asking to talk to me. It’s not that I like him or anything or even really know him. It’s just weird you know?” Sam nodded.

“I know.” He stared at the floor, looking more upset than Lydia had ever seen him.

“Sam, it’s okay.”

“No it’s not! You don’t know what it’s like to know people are going to die and not be able to help.” He paused and tears filled his eyes as he glanced up at her, “Even your own father.” The tears began to slip out and gently roll down his cheeks, the day old eyeliner mixing with them.

Lydia stood up, unsure of what she should do. All she could think of doing was hugging him. She walked towards him slowly as he stared at the ground, not even noticing her approach. Leaning down, she embraced him tightly, trying to pull all the tension from his body. She didn’t want him to be sad anymore, she knew how it felt. Sam hugged her back, holding onto her tightly, and burying his face in her chest.

They stayed there for almost ten minutes before Sam finally lifted his head, sniffing and wiping his eyes.

“I’m sorry.” He said quietly, obviously embarrassed.

“Sam, it’s alright.” She smiled warmly down at him and patted his shoulder, “you should probably go get cleaned up. You have to get going here in a few minutes.” He smiled back up at her and nodded, standing up and leaving the room.

When he came back they walked into Emily’s bedroom where she lay wide awake, playing with her stuffed animals. Sam showed her where all the formula was, the bottles, the diapers, the wipes, baby powder. Lydia was supposed to feed her once when he left, at lunch, and around four. Sam told her she could give her a bath if she wanted, which he said was a lot of fun with her. He gave her numbers to call if things went wrong. Finally he had finished with five minutes to go. He raced out the door and down the block where the bus was waiting.

“Hey Emily.” Lydia said in the cutest voice she could muster. She picked Emily up out of her crib and carried her into the living room.

“I have to go see Doctor M-“ She stopped in her reminder to herself, wondering if it was even worth it. Wondering when he was going to die and if she would get there too late. She was supposed to talk to him today, but what if when she got there he was already gone? What would she do?

Emily cooed to her and she smiled, setting her on the floor and sitting on the floor herself so they could play together. She spent a good twenty minutes playing on the floor before deciding on feeding her. When she had finished that Lydia decided she had better get going to Hope’s Roses. If there were a best chance of catching Doctor Michelson it would be as early as possible. She packed a diaper bag with a few bottles and diapers and wipes before getting Emily set in the car.

She sat in the front seat of the car deliberating about whether she could do this or not. It’ll be okay, Lydia, She thought to herself, knowing she would sound crazy if anyone could hear her thoughts. Its okay Lydia, you can do it. You’ve ridden in this car loads of times and haven’t gotten hurt what’s the difference if you drive? If I drive then it’s my fault, if I get scared, I get killed. It’s my fault if Emily gets killed too. She replied to herself. But we need to go. A man’s life is in danger. Maybe if we get there quick enough we can save him. Yes, I know that, but is it worth it to risk two people’s lives against one? Yes. Because Emily and I will be okay. It will all be fine.

She decided on risking it and put the key into the ignition, starting the car. The gentle hum overcame her. Slowly she put it into Drive and pulled out of the driveway, riding down the street towards the way she knew was the hospital.

When she finally made it there her hands were shaking worse than they ever had. She tried to reach in and pull the keys from the ignition but kept missing. Instead she jumped out of the car and leaned against it momentarily, staring out at the view, which really couldn’t be considered much of a view.

The sun was high in the sky facing straight at her, the heat beaming off of it and to her was almost visible. Three rows of houses cornered her in and the only side that didn’t have houses was the hospital itself. There was a busy road to herself and a more calm road leading to nowhere to her right. A dog barked loudly across from her and she could see the tiny dot that it was. A long parking lot, over a block wide, was placed underneath her. Hundreds of cars parked around her and pavement surrounding her view. Barely any grass or trees could be found anywhere within sight, even the houses seemed to have tiny yards filled with nothing but dirt.

Lydia took a deep breath and turned back around. Her hands had stopped shaking and she tore the keys out of the ignition before pulling Emily out and her diaper bag as well. They made their way up to the eighth floor, which was where she guessed Doctor Michelson’s office was, though she had never been there. She went straight to the front nurse’s desk where a group of about thirty nurses and doctors were having what looked like a serious conversation.

“Is Doctor Michelson here?” She asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt but knowing she would be waiting forever if she didn’t. The doctors and nurses all stared at her with an odd look on their faces as if she had been eaves dropping and they were angry.

“Doctor Michelson died.” A doctor in the middle said. He was old looking with light grey hair and a long beard. His spectacles were perched against his nose and his blue eyes looked out at her over them. “About ten minutes ago.” He finished.

“Oh.” Lydia stepped backwards, scared at what he had just said. “Wow.” She moved farther back and felt herself hit the wall, Emily laughed as she did. “Well, I guess I’ll be going then. I mean why should I stay…” She trailed off and the doctors and nurses nodded as she walked quickly to the elevator and out of the hospital.