Hospital

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The stranger touched my cheeks, my forehead, then checked my pulse. He then sticks a thermometer into my mouth. His white sleeves brushed against my cheeks. I can smell his after-shave, the flavor of vanilla and a touch of green tea.

A smile appeared as he turned to speak to my mother. I can see the concerned look on her face, almost in a panic. Then it lighten and she turned to me with a smile. I heard the word, "flu" falling from the doctor's mouth as he turned to smile at me. I supposed the flu is no big deal these days. He left to attend to the sick girl across the room. My mother went back to her secretarial job. She kissed me on the cheeks before she left.

As I laid in bed with the thermometer in my mouth, I checked out my surrounding. We were in a small space with white curtains dividing the room. There were three other girls - my roommates. Men and women in white were running back and forth between beds. Spending a few moments at each bed.

A moment later, a pale looking woman in all white, a nurse I supposed, came by and took the thermometer from my mouth. She smiled at me pleasantly and then checked the temperature. Normal, she said and walked out of the room. I said nothing.

A coughing fit seem to have captured the girl next to me. It took a while before she stopped. I tried to sleep but the odd noises from all around the room kept me awake. I tossed and turned all night. The bed was uncomfortable and I can hear whispers throughout the night.

When I opened my eyes the next morning, men and women in white coats were rushing around the room. The girl next to me had turned for the worst. She has tubes all over her and they were all surrounding her bed. Soon she was move somewhere else. I don't know where but she is not here.

In the middle of the night, another girl was moved. I was awake when they took her. I did not know what's going on but this other girl also was coughing. I didn't ask the nurses what had happen. They probably would not give me a honest answer.

When I woke up the next day, the third girl was not in her bed. I was the only one left. The pale nurse came by with my medicine. I look suspiciously at her face, checking for some kind of signs but her smile was pleasant, same as yesterday. There were no other nurses or doctors around. The quietness of the room was eerie and frightening. I wonder if I am next as I pulled the cover up to my face, hoping to go unnoticed.

During bed time, I can hear whispers from outside the room. I caught the words, "flu", "goner" and "too bad." I wonder if they were whispering about me. I tried to do what they told me but the nagging, frightening feeling kept me awake at night. Mother hasn't visited me these three days. I'm worry.

Finally the doctor came by to check on me. I was coughing a lot and my temperature had risen during the night. I tried to appear to be in good shape but my sore throat kept me coughing. Soon some more medication was given to me. I hesitated at first but then Mother showed up and told me to listen to the doctor and nurses. I had no choice but to comply.

In the morning I was taken away. I was in bed, too weak to move as two men in white carry me onto another bed and strolled me and the bed out of the room towards a dark hallway. I was panicking but what can I do? Soon I was in a brightly lit room. Too weak and too sleepy, I soon fell asleep to the scent of red roses and chocolate cake. When I woke up the next morning, I was feeling better and stronger. Now I realize I am in a nice hospital room with my original three roommates. Flowers were all around the room and the bed seem oddly comfortable. Mother came by with chocolate candies.

"Sofia, you get to go home tomorrow. Isn't that great?" Mother said as she pinched my cheeks and kissed my forehead. I was glad that my imagination didn't enter into worse scenario. I hugged my mother and was glad everything work out fine.