Chapter 14
All morning, Max read her mother's diary with great zeal. Finally, she finished and closed the book. Not once did she develop a headache. Laying her head down on the diary and closing her eyes, Max fell asleep.
Unbeknownst to her, a figure stood behind her and placed a hand on her back.
Max found herself standing in a well-lite hallway. A few gurneys line the walls as she walked towards a figure that beckoned to her. As she approached the figure, which placed a hand on her shoulder, she heard a recorded voice announce that visiting hours were over. As Max approached the door to Room 325, a tawny hair teenage boy came out of the room with a nurse. The boy and nurse walked right through Max as she turned to watch them.
"What is the matter with her? Is she dying?" the boy asked sadly.
"Yes, David, Mrs. Collins is very sick. I'm sure your visits help her a great deal."
"Why is her stomach so bloated?" the teen inquired.
"It's a complicated situation that you should not worry about. The doctors are doing everything they can to make her very comfortable."
David looked in the room and called out, "Good night Julia, I'll see you later," and waved. Then he turned to the nurse and said, "I better be going. My dad is coming to pick me up and," just then a hand rested on David's should.
"Hello, son, are you ready to go home?"
"Dad! I was just on my way downstairs." Turning to face his dad, David gave him an unexpected hug. David's father patted him on the back and addressed the nurse.
"How is she, nurse?" He nodded towards Room 325.
"She is resting comfortably, Mr. Collins."
"Good, please tell her I will pay her a visit another day. Come, son, let's go back to Collinwood." David waved to the nurse as he and his father headed towards the elevator. The nurse watched them as they disappeared. When she turned towards Room 325, Max experienced a spinning sensation causing all of the surrounding objects to become blurry.
As her blurry vision cleared, Max found she was standing at the foot of a hospital bed. In bed, a woman was sitting up and writing on a pad of paper. She looked familiar to Max.
"Hello," Max tried to communicate with the woman but got no response. While the patient was writing, a doctor came in and scanned a medical clipboard. Max noticed on the clipboard the name Julia Collins, Room 325.
"Oh doctor, is that necessary?" Julia sighed.
"Of course it is, doctor, you know that," he smiled, walked over to pick up her wrist and monitored her pulse. Already interrupted, Julia laid the pad and pen down on the bed. Looking up into the doctor's handsome face, she smiled but then coughs into her other hand.
"It's getting worse," Julia regretfully observed her hand and saw blood.
"Julia, I really don't understand why you asked your husband not to visit you anymore. It makes not sense. This is the time you need him the most," the doctor chastised her.
"Oh please, don't give me that righteous crap. I have my reasons and my husband understands."
OH, REALLY? Did you know he calls several times a day, every day for the last month. He is worried sick. Before you know it, you will both be sharing the same room."
"Did you come in here to lecture me, doctor?" Julia was showing signs of fatigue and lied back against her propped-up pillows.
"No, I'm sorry. Do you want to see her?"
"Yes, please."
"Have you told him about her?"
"No," Julia signed.
"JULIA! Don't you think he deserves to know?" the doctor chastised her again.
"Please doctor, just bring my daughter and then leave me alone."
After the doctor left, Julia picked up the pad of paper again and finished her notes. After placing the papers in the nightstand next to the bed, the doctor returned with a small bundle. Max felt tears dropping down her cheek and then experienced another spinning sensation. After the blurry vision cleared, she watched a nurse enter the room. Her face was still unrecognizable. Max noticed the clock in the room read 2 a.m.
The nurse checked the monitors and looked at the medical clipboard. She glanced over her shoulder towards the doorway and then looked back at the sleeping patient. As she looked down at the bed, she leaned over and gently touched the patient's cheek affectionately. Max recognized Julia as the patient. As the nurse made Julia comfortable, she woke up.
"Hello," the nurse whispered. Weakly, Julia smiled and held up her hand. The nurse took the hand and they exchanged a warm tender look. Too tired to talk, Julia looked over at the side table and motioned to the nurse to open the drawer. The nurse went to the table and gazed into the drawer. She retrieved several sheets of paper and a small book. Examining the contents of the notes, she nods to her patient in acknowledgement.
"It will be done as you requested," the nurse said to the dying patient. As the nurse turned to face Max, it was finally clear as to the identity of the nurse.
"Max? Max dear, wake up." Max opened her eyes, lifted her head and turned to see Maeve standing next to her with a hand on her back.
"Maeve, it WAS you!"