They pulled into the hospital parking lot and found a parking spot about 200 feet from the entrance. To Iris, it made no sense to have handicapped parking spaces at a hospital, or anywhere for that matter. One would think that if the person driving was 'handicapped', they're not, since they're driving and all? The irony of life. Iris and Officer Meadly got out of the car. Standing next to the officer, Iris guessed that he was about 5'11 and around 25 years old. He was good looking but possessed too much of a fatherly look for her to have any interest.
As they were walking up to the sliding double doors, Iris was both scared and hopeful thinking about what she'd find in room 217. Her main fear was that her mother had died when they were on their way to the hospital. "But Officer Catter didn't call," she thought, "What would happen to me if she did die though? Would they try to track down my father? Maybe they'd send me to live with an aunt or something. I'm responsible though. Perhaps I could file for emancipation." As Officer Meadly and Iris walked into the hospital, Iris wanted to break down and cry. Being in the same building as her mother made it all too real. All she could smell was the over-sanitized smell that only a hospital could have. All she could see was the warm colored walls and patterned carpet. The interior designers' must've wanted this room to have a comforting feel. A lot of good that did. Iris felt in no was comforted.
Officer Meadly must've sensed what Iris was feeling. "It's going to be all right, Iris. Your mother is in great care." He said to her with deep sympathy and concern in his eyes. Iris didn't even look up from her feet, which were involuntarily going towards the main desk. Iris wished that the rest of her body would comply with what her brain wanted to do; run home and slash her arms in a way that they've never been cut before. Sure, Iris's mother has pissed her off and made her cry before, but she's never not been there. Not been living. The thought of being alone scared Iris more than anything.
"Can you direct us to room 217 please?" Officer Meadly asked the person at the desk. "Go down the hall and turn right. The door will be on your left." She replied. Iris
noticed that her teeth were slightly crooked and her roots needed to be redone. "Thanks." said Officer Meadly. They both turned to walk to the room, but Iris hesitated long enough for Officer Meadly to notice. "I'll wait until you're ready. Unless you want to go in by yourself, then I'll wait here." He said to her. Iris wasn't sure what to say to this. She wanted company, but she didn't want him to see her if she broke down. But, she desperately needed someone with her, so she said, "Sorry. I'm ready. Let's go," but her voice trailed off at the end.
As they walked down the corridor, Iris's fear reached an all time high. Half of her wanted to run in and wrap her arms around her mother and never let go. The other half wanted to fall down in the hallway, grab the nearest teddy bear and cry. She was so confused. The closer to room 217 they got, the dizzier Iris became. She grabbed on to the hand rail so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She felt nauseous as well. Then there it was. Room 217. It looked as if it had a dark aura around it. As if it contained something so horrid that whoever laid eyes on it would fall dead instantly.
