Sickness in the Family
It was a warm day in London of 2007. I was there to participate in an EMS competition. While there I had forgetton my medication. Now in a Tesco I was getting new supply. Little did I know who I would meet? After requiring my medication I started to trudge out of the store. As I made my way out, I saw something that made me stop. It was a slender mixed woman with brown hair and brown eyes, helping a sickly woman with brown hair and hazel eyes, who was skinny with a 5month pregnant belly with sunken features. She looked weak. Still I felt I recognized them both.
"Mel Mel are you ok? Someone help someone call 999!" The mixed woman screamed
"Mel call tom." The other woman said weakly to her
"I'm an EMT in training." I said rushing over to them. I looked over and noticed that she seemed to be looking around wildly. The cane she had been holding was now on the floor next to her. She reached all around gasping sightlessly for her cane. That's when it hit me. She was blind as well as sick.
"What's her condition?" I asked to the woman.
"She has the Asian Flu. She's also pregnant and blind. Her name is Melanie Chisholm." Mel B replied shakily. As I knelt down beside her my heart sank. She wasn't breathing. Acting quickly, I started doing CPR. Fortunately, she coughed and wheezed out her next breath. Rolling up my jacket, I placed it under her head so that she was able to breathe better. She was saved.
"What happened?" Melanie said groggily but weakly.
"You saved her!" Mel b said nearly sobbing. After moment I helped her to her feet. She was too weak. Shakily attempting to stand she couldn't find her legs. As she couldn't' stand alone we helped her. With that Mel b handed her, her cane. As she swept the cane turning around to face us.
"Mel is this the one who saved my life?" Melanie asked warmly but weakly as she swept her can in front of her.
"Yes, though I don't know her name." Mel B said.
"It's Janie, Janie Mucciolo." I said sheepishly.
"Well thank you so much Janie." She said weakly extending her hand as it trembled.
"I'm just doing my job." I replied taking her hand and shaking it.
"No an EMT only rebders 1st aid. You saved a life today." Mel B said.
"I'm just glad she's safe." I said blushing slightly.
"You mind me of my sister. She was an EMT." Melanie said weakly but warmly.
"I didn't know Emma was an EMT." Mel B said.
"She's not I was referring to Donna." Melanie said weakly slightly saddened by the mention of the name.
"That's odd, that was my mom's name." I said
"Really that's odd." Mel B said.
"Yes especially since she was an EMT." I said.
"Did she have red hair?" Melanie asked weakly. She reached blindly through her pocket and pulled out a small leather wallet. She fumbled though it, pulling out an old picture with yellowing edges. Offering it in my direction, she insistently offered it to me. In the image was her standing beside a woman I immediately recognized as my late mom. In her arms was a bundle whose eyes started youthfully back to me. This smiling face was my own.
"That's my mom and the baby is me. Does this mean you're my aunt?" I asked shocked,
"It's impossible." Mel B said doubtfully.
"No I think she's right Mel. I can't explain it, but I can feel it." Melanie said weakly.
"So what do we do now?" I asked.
"How bout a hug Angel?" Melanie suggested weakly.
"What did you call me?" I asked.
"Its what I called you when you were younger. Is that ok?" She replied weakly.
"I like it." I said hugging her gently.
"I'm glad." She said happily weakly.