The Evening saw Angela and Claire at Meflon Referral Hospital. Claire's health had deteriorated over the few hours that she started feeling unwell. Angela could not imagine how her sister had changed so fast like that. The doctor in charge had promised to let Angela know what was wrong before midnight.
Some few minutes after midnight the doctor had not yet appeared. Claire lay motionless on the hospital bed as if she did not have any feeling of the intravenous line from her hand. Angela was fighting back her tears as she looked at her sister's face. She tried to read her emotions but her face showed no hint for one. She was now getting sleepy and wondered how she can get a snap.
Minutes later, the door of the ward screeched as it opened. The tall light skinned doctor emerged with a medium sized book and and a fancy pen. He sat down on the bed near Claire after greeting Angela warmly.
" Have you found out what's ailing her? I mean what.." Angela cried out impatiently. " Easy madam everything is okay. You need to relax fast. Relieve yourself okay?" Assured the doctor before Angela could broke down emotionally.
"Your sister has a serious problem but thanks we are able to contend it." Explained the doctor calmly. "What do you mean ? Serious problem?" Angela wondered while trying to compose herself.
" We have diagnosed her with a kidney failure. Sorry to announce this madam but her condition will be better." He broached it carefully while looking at Angela's eyes politely as if he read her feelings.
Angela shook with fear and worry. She failed to hold back her tears and remained mouth wide open as she held her chin in shock. She did not utter any other word until the doctor broke the silence . "We will need her to undergo a kidney transplant if possible. Meanwhile, we need to conduct a dialysis in a month to come. " Explained the doctor. " You mean ... you mean she is..'' she tried to speak but her energy had been sapped by the news. She leaned to the metallic support of the bed with a sigh and closed her eyes. She only let her tears explain to the doctor what she was to say.
The doctor looked at her sympathetically and decided to keep any addition that he had to himself. He stood up and walked passed the door almost soundlessly. Claire still lay on the bed with her faint eyes of despair. She wasn't sure whatever that scientist had been talking was all about her. Two streams of tears welled freely from each corner of her eye wetting the bedsheet under her head. Her eyes almost tired to blink or close, just glared at the white spotless ceiling of the hospital.
Angela opened her eyes ,bent down to plant a kiss on her younger sister and assured her that all will be okay. It was at this moment that she realized that she had not even changed since she left job. She threw her handbag to the other side of the bed and sat on the same spot the doctor had sat earlier. She took out her phone , did a quick emergency email to her boss stating that she would miss job the following day. She then squeezed herself to the remaining space between her and Claire being careful not to disturb her or distract the IV line. She then slept in hope to refresh herself.
The sleep was just shorter than she expected. It was morning and Claire had now closed her eyes , a feeling of relief evident on her face. Angela woke up to confirm if she was alive and realized that she still did her slow but steady breath. An hour later, a female nurse emerged from the door. She beamed her smile to Angela and Angela almost scolded her for not seeing that it was not time for a smiling competition. The nurse then changed her facial expression almost immediately after reading Angela's thoughts. She cleared her throat, tacked her loose strand of hair backwards and began to speak.
" Your eyes can tell that you need a break my sister. Your patient is under the safe care of the hospital." The nurse began. " You need to go home and have a rest and perhaps eat before coming back okay?" She added as she lowered her palm to pat on Angela's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"But she's my sister and I cannot leave her alone like that. She's in bad state." Angela replied in a steady but low voice suggesting how she felt.
" It's okay . I have to check some few things on her and you can be sure that she's safe with me."
Reluctantly, Angela was half convinced that indeed she needed sleep and food. She also needed to change her attires and organize her house before coming back. She walked passed the hospital gate absent minded.
Along the way she tried figure out how she is going to bay Claire out of the situation. She revisited the options the doctor gave to her . Surgery! She did not want to think of it. Dialysis was not pleasing either. Both were dangerous procedures that barely leave one okay. Upon reaching Golden oak Residency, she felt a vibration from her right side pocket of her trousers. It was her phone ringing. With some feeling of disturbance in her, she picked the call. It was George .
" Hello my Angel Angela!" greeted George happily. "Hello my love. I love that." She replied amused by how George had called her. This was how he used to call her during their first days of their love. She did not remember the last day she smiled since things started going wrong. She smiled slyly. " How is everything? Or you? " Angela asked though she did not understand where she had gotten that courage to ask him.
" I'm having a lot on my plate these days . I must say nothing is amiss. What about you darling?" Inquired George zealously. "I'm not! I mean I'm Okay my George."She denoted subconsciously.
"Not okay . Your first word is always true. I know you Angela. What is wrong?"
Asked George with a sharp tone of concern." I'm tired and I'm going back home. Ooh I mean ..."
"Home? You're not at work today? " he interrupted in surprise.
" George I'm having a serious issue. Claire is admitted at Meflon hospital. She's having a very bad condition." Angela tried to explain while fighting back her tears. She stopped for a moment to breathe and was also shocked that George was equally silent. It seemed like he had gone off from the line
" You mean Claire is . Claire is .." He stammered before giving a sigh. "Yes a kidney problem. She has a kidney failure. I spent the night with her at the hospital. I'm refreshing before I go back."
She elaborated to him. George was silent. It seemed like the news had shocked him. " I'll see you at the hospital in the evening." Remarked George as he hung the phone.
The evening came too fast than George expected. He alighted from the taxi that halted just before the gate of Meflon Referral Hospital. Angela had given him the ward number and every bit of information about the hospital. Minutes later ,he pushed the door handle of the ward room and found Angela supporting her body to the frame of the hospital bed just near the wall. He was momentarily taken aback by the smell and appearance of the room suggesting that for real he was in the hospital. He did not realize it until he felt soft warm hands on his back as Angela placed her head into his bosom in a heart felt embrace. He enveloped her with his massive hands and felt her steady breath at his chest. The embrace protracted longer than it should as the two whispered 'I miss yous ' to each other.
He didn't have to ask how his supposed sister in-law was feeling. Claire's pretty skin had became unusually withered and pale. She was growing thinner , her lips dried and cracked while her face proclaimed the agony she was in. It did not leave him at ease to see her that way. His eyes grew watery and he bit his lower lip in sympathy as he turned to look at Angela. She returned a pity look at him unsure if it was for him or her sister. George reminisced how Claire looked the day he saw her at school and still is not convinced it's her that he is seeing on the hospital bed.
" Will you help me pay her bill ? She needs a dialysis next month." Angela asked with a tone of seriousness in her. George hesitated for a while. He placed his index finger across his lips and pretended to be thinking deeply. " No I may not. I need to invest . I had come up with a business idea ."
"So you won't help even a shilling?" blurted Angela bitterly.
" Yes! Just as I have told you I..."
"So You're putting your personal interests ahead of such a serious matter like this?" She interrupted angrily.
"Nooo! Baby just understand..."
" I cannot understand. You don't love me.You were playing with me from the very start. I knew it." She cried loudly and carelessly.
" Why this Angela? Calm down I will sort it out."
"I can't stand you George. I mean get out of here. I just don't want to see you! "
"How could you do this Angela?"
" How did you wanted me to do it. Get up .Go away George." She cried out more loudly this time that Claire was disturbed from her sleep. She animatedly grabbed his shirt colar and forced him out of the room. She sat beside Claire on the hospital bed and wept bitterly.