I checked my mail the next day and was again greeted with the same burst of advertisements for things I could never have. The amount of spam that could generate in just one day was astounding. I journeyed to the hospital line, rubbing my aching knees as I waited. People didn't try to claw in line for the hospital as they did for the main office. After all, no one gets deported for not making it to the hospital in time.
I also noticed that no one in line for the hospital seemed critically ill. People would cough, complain of a sore throat, or wipe their noses. Some had an infection or a limp. It always seemed to be some low-grade illness - not strong enough to seriously endanger them but strong enough to be uncomfortable.
After one nightfall, I reached the front of the line - only to be told to return once I had a visa hold. It had been for nothing, but it's not as if I had anything else to do. On the second day, I found a golden piece of paper in my mailbox. It was my visa hold.
For now, I was safe from deportation. My spirit felt lighter. I waited in line for nearly two days to see the doctor. Upon reaching the front, I was sent away. The doctor was on vacation. I resented my loss of nearly three days in a failed attempt to get my sore throat and rash looked at. They told us that medical care was free. Anyone who called the medical care "free" had obviously never tried to get it.
I spent the following day attempting to exchange my visa hold for my final visa. The lines no longer shocked me; they had become routine, like a daily commute to work. The young clerk took me to the front after I'd completed the paperwork.
"I'm here to exchange my visa hold for a visa."
"Alright, Mr. Fisher. It will be delivered to your mailbox in 5-10 days."
I frowned, my voice becoming urgent.
"But my visa hold expires in 8 days. What if it doesn't come in time?"
He knit his brows.
"That's why it's incumbent upon you to submit your forms promptly."
I started to defend myself, but he interrupted, "You can always renew your visa hold."
I sighed.
"By the way, have you gotten your face looked at? You really should. We offer free medical care."