The time was 5:45P.M that evening when Mark rushed into the hospital. He headed straight to Doctor Dublin's office. As soon as he got to the stairs that led to the second floor where his office was, he spotted the doctor making his way down the stairs with his briefcase in his right hand.
"Are you leaving?" Mark asked as they both halted and moved to the side of the stairs to allow others to pass.
" Yes, I have closed for the day. You have to return tomorrow. You were supposed to be here earlier." The doctor said,
"But I told you i was going to gather the money and would return before the day closes I didn't know
You would be taking off so early." Mark said with a beseeching tone.
" You should have called earlier or told me you were coming. There is nothing I can do again today. You have to return with the money tomorrow then we can begin her treatment." The doctor declared in an unsympathetic tone.
"Please can't you begin the treatment now? Please doctor. I had to go sell the only house my dad left behind after his death so I could raise the money for her hospital bill. Please doctor. Don't let my mum remain like that please" Mark let out with a teary tone and knelt on his right knee.
"Boy get up,It's no use. We can't commence her treatment now even though you pay the bills now ok? Besides I have a wife and kids expecting my return at home." He declared aesthetically as he made ready to continue walking.
" Is there no doctor on duty who can commence her treatments now?" Mark asked."
"There is, but his line of profession is not the type of treatment your mum needs. We need to carry out a surgery on your mum so as to address the spinal cord damaged from her blood clots and damaged tissues." The doctor said and kept walking down the stairs. Mark followed, dragging his feet and trying to meet up with the doctor's pace.
" So nothing can be done today?"
"Exactly what I mean. Till i resume duty tomorrow."
They got to the entrance of the hospital and the doctor handed over his office keys to one of the nurses. He then turned to Mark and said.
" You can stay with her until tomorrow when I resume. There is nothing I can do this night any longer. I have to spend the remaining hours of the day with my wife and kids at home, ok?" The doctor said as he pushed open the Fiberglass door at the entrance of the hospital.He walked out and headed to his car
Mark stood looking at the doctor as he walked out helpless and amazed at the heart heartedness of the doctor. He stood there downcasted till the doctor drove off then he turned and walked upstairs to the ward where Grace, his mum, was. He went and sat beside her, at the same position he had sat that morning when he came. Grace was laying upward in the same position she had been all day. To Mark, it looked as though she had not moved her body an inch since he left and this made him more dreading that he would lose her. He wasn't even sure if she was actually unconscious like the doctor had said. She was not showing any sign of life at all.
After looking at her for some seconds he articulated his frustrations audible to no one in particular." This is absolutely unfair. This is unfair." Mark said and broke down In tears. As there was no one to soothe him, he let the tears flow freely from his eyes.
His father was one of the affluent men on Transavia street there in Chicago where they lived. On countless occasions, he could recall when his father would dole out money to people. He would tell the less privileged and the homeless people. But he was murdered coldbloodedly without any traces to who his killers were. The police had abandoned the case and they had already ended the days of his mourning. They had moved on with their lives and he had returned to school to complete his degree program when this occurred.
His mum was the only close relative he had left. Losing her was no option for him. Mark stood up from the bedside where he sat beside his mum. He pulled one of the leather chairs in the ward close to himself and sat down, resting his head on the bed.
He was almost dozing off when one of the nurses on duty in the hospital that night opened the door and walked into the room. He lifted up his head as he watched the nurse do a quick check on his mum. Before she left she asked him.
"How are you related to her?
"She's my mum."
"Oh. Ok. Are you staying with her?" The nurse asked.
"Yes I am." Mark said In a meager tone.
"Till?"
"When they begin her treatment."
" You don't know that doctor Dublin is not around? He's scheduled to resume tomorrow. You have to go and return ." The nurse said.
"I cannot leave her here alone, someone will have to stay with her. I am the only one she has." Mark responded in a frustrated tone.
"Am sorry sir, for security reasons and for her safety, you are not allowed to sleepover here in this ward. If you want to sleep over you can do that in the guest room down stairs." She reiterated.
" What's the point? Is anything wrong with staying over with my mum? Why is everyone so harsh and hard-hearted?" Mark questioned irritability.
"I understand what you are going through sir but that's the hospital's policy. You have to comply or the securities would be called upon. The nurse said and moved towards the door.
Mark Exhaled in resentment and got up from the chair.
The Nurse walked out and he followed her from behind after looking at his mum again on the bed. The nurse waited for him outside the door and as soon as he walked out, she closed the door.
Mark went downstairs to the end of the passage that led to the stair. He was led to the guest room where he could sleep over till the next morning. When he entered he met two grown guys and a young kid on separate beds sleeping. He looked for a perfect spot by the side of the wall and stretched himself on the bed.