Chapter One: Just One of Those Things
“Irene! Wake up! Do you hear me? Open your eyes! Give me a sign of life! I beg you, Irene! Why did you do it? You couldn’t have been hurt by my wretched affair with Bessie so deeply that you’d have wished to die! You do know Bessie doesn’t count for me, don’t you, Irene?”
The meddling voice stirs me from my slumber. Forcing my heavy lids open, I try to focus my eyes on the intruder.
‘Go away and let me alone!’
A nauseating smell of antiseptics irritates my nostrils.
An impertinent hand shakes me awake.
Hesitantly, I open my eyes.
The world bathes in whiteness.
The room is lit by the crude, merciless light of fluorescent strips.
I lie on a pristine narrow bed.
Moaning, I back away from a weighty hand crushing my brow.
“Thanks God! She’s waking up! The battle is won!”
I shrink away from Leo’s tears, trickling down my face.
“What happened, Leo? Did I have an accident?”
“If you’d like to call it thus, then yes. In addition to being found by your garden gate about to freeze to death, you had a miscarriage and were lying in a puddle of coagulating blood.”
‘Good! So this is the silver lining to my grievance.’
“How did you know where to look for me?”
“Egon told me. I gave him an emergency call when it was dawning and you weren’t still back home.”
“Where’s Egon? Why isn’t he with me?”
“I’m not free to tell you. Sorry.
“Try to calm down, please, Irene! You have been in a coma for three days. Happily, you’re pulling through.”
“When can I get out of the hospital, Leo?”
“Not yet, Irene. You’re on a drip. You have lost a lot of blood. It will take you some time to recover. We all must have patience, my dear.”
“I don’t see why I should stay here. I hate hospitals! You’re a surgeon. You can take care of me at home. I promise to stay in bed as long as necessary. Leo, please!”
“Okay, Irene. I’ll take you home the very moment you won’t need the drip.
“There’s someone who’d like to see you. Do you think you’re strong enough to have company?”
“Of course I am! Don’t be silly! Who is it? Tell me!”
“Wait and see.”
