I wonder why a Man like him had saved me though, the more Miranda describes him, the more I feel uneasy.
When she was done, she removed the pillow from under me, and at that moment, I noticed the vibrant red lipstick she used. Ever since I had known her, I've never seen her on one, and even more strangely, she changed her perfume.
"You changed your perfume?" I asked her
"Well, the Head nurse made quite some sales from selling couples of perfume this morning. She had said no Man would be able to resist the smell, and they would look back to see the lady that just passed behind"
"So y'all are putting this on because of Mr…"
"Mr Vanderbilt" she replied looking all blushed up.
I'm looking forward to seeing this man who had turned the whole hospital upside down just with the news of his visit.
Doctor Louis comes in with two other nurses. And the loud smell of these nurse's perfume filled the room. Well, Miranda had said earlier that the whole bunch of them had deodorant sprayed on. To me, the whole idea is so cringe and weird.
"You ladies can get started" he said to them and they all started by removing the white wraps from my skin. Finally, my skin can breathe and I will be able to have a proper bath after this.
The nurses, except Miranda who had always helped me to change my wraps into new pairs, gasped immediately after they were done removing the white fabric from my face which was their final destination.
"She looks so young and pretty!" The first nurse whispered to the other. I ignored their stares and enjoyed the breeze from the window on my skin instead, it was such a nice feeling after a long time.
"You can all leave," Dr Louis said to them, and the three nurses left the room.
"Am sorry for the uncomfortable smell if it's of any inconvenience to you… My friend is quite popular among the ladies, especially the pretty ones" he said and winked at me
He must be close to Mr. Vanderbilt since he referred to him as his friend, that explains why he has been closely monitoring me. He doesn't attend to other patients, he would only come once in a while and his priority was to check on me. He is the son of the owner of the hospital. The hospital has hosted the president of the United States more than once, and to get the son of such a hospital to personally treat me… Miranda also said Doctor Louis rarely attends to patients even if they are VVIP
But for such a Man to have spent his whole time looking after me…
"What does he want with me?" I asked him
"Well, that's between you and Richard. Since he will be here to see you, you can go on and ask him whatever you want to, but I must tell you, he is a man of few words, so just make sure to ask the important ones first."
"Oh! Who do we have here? Miss Grace!!!" Doctor Rosie exclaimed as she made her way into the room with another Male doctor.
"Good lord! She's a beauty!" The Male doctor exclaimed as he meets eyes with mine
"Well, I told you, didn't I?" Dr Rosie replied questioningly with a smile and clicked her fingers before his face repeatedly.
"Bring it out right away," she demanded and the Male doctor gruntled.
"Well, you can just wait till our bank accounts are wired, I will give it out of my monthly due" he replied sadly
"What's going on?" I asked Doctor Rosie
"Well, we made a bet. The moment you come out of those wraps; would you turn out to be pretty or the opposite? and this fool here chose the opposite" Dr Rosie explained and burst into laughter.
"Here.." The male doctor reached out a paper to me ignoring Dr Rosie's aim at mocking him.
"I heard he will be coming here to see you today, can you perhaps get his signature for me?" the male doctor said and placed the paper pad on my lap.
"Please," he said one last time, making a face behind his round eyeglasses which I suppose he has used on many occasions thinking it looked cute and charming, but he looked rather awkward.
"Can you two leave my patient alone? You are being a distraction" Doctor Louis requested but it sounded more like an order. The two doctors threw him a dissatisfied look. Unable to speak back to him, they left the room, and immediately they were out of sight, Doctor Louis dropped some clean patient clothes on the shelf beside my bed.
"I wish you the best of luck.." He smiled at me and turned his back to start going, but he suddenly turned back again.
"Just a friendly reminder, don't give him that. He gets annoyed easily, and that will piss him off" He said, referring to the notepad given to me by the male Doctor to get my savior's signature.
Then he goes out of the door.
*
I wanted to feel the breeze on my body, and there was no other place I could think of except the rooftop of the hospital.
I close my eyes, spread my hands, and let the breeze wash over me. It's such a remarkable feeling, and I wish it's never going to come to an end, and in that great mood while my eyes are closed, scenes of my family burning inside fire suddenly zooms into my mind, and just immediately, I snap my eyes open. Those images bring me fear and make me feel unsettled.
How did all this happen to me? Sometimes, all this feels like a dream, a bad dream that doesn't want to stop, if only I could go back to those times, before I met George…I would do anything to get back my life, I sniff back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes.
Ever since I regained consciousness, I've been having nightmares about that last night with my family. It has become a scar, one that will never fade away. It is part of my punishment for the evil I've done against my family, and I know nothing will ever be enough to atone for my sins. They all burned in that fire because of my foolishness, how can I expect to live a good life after?
Even before I had started dating George, my sister and I had written a list of what we would love to do with our future partner when we saw one, George fulfilled only one out of them all, he took my sanity. One of the wishes on the list was to go on picnic dates and travel around the world, but he was always busy, I guess that's just the excuse of being with Mary. I can't believe I was so dumb, there was so much evidence before me, but I could not see them. I was blind or maybe rather, I chose to.
"Grace.."
I turn back to see Doctor Louis standing right beside me. I must not have noticed him come up because I was lost in thought
"When did you get here?"
I asked
"Just a while ago. Grace, he is here and would like to see you."