Chapter Eighteen
"Bye Nikki," Jack told her "I'll be in for your review the day after tomorrow,"
"Thanks Jack,"
"For what?"
"Everything," she said and reached up to peck him on the cheek.
"Hi Nikki," Anna greeted her at the door "Did you have a nice time? Where did you go?"
"Just for coffee," Jack lied
"That's nice," Anna said, and Nikki gave Jack a small smile. They were conspirators in arms now.
Jack waved goodbye as the door shut and Nikki made her way back down the corridor into her dormitory. Nikki shrugged off her coat and sat down on the end of her bed. A moment later Emily came in, clutching one of her books. Nikki tilted her head to one side and read the spine: Anna Karenina was Emily's choice of book at present
"You're back," she said
"I'm back," Nikki nodded
"But you don't want to be," Emily said
"Very astute," Nikki told her
"That's a good scrabble word. Can we play scrabble later, as long as no one's nicked the tiles again?"
Nikki nodded and smiled as she saw Emily brighten up at the thought of the board game
"What was it like out there?" Emily asked
"What do you mean?" Nikki said
"Did you see traffic? I've not been out of the hospital grounds since I got here. You can't even hear the traffic from inside the hospital grounds. All I can see is the carpark. What about libraries? Did you pass any? I've read all my books,"
"You have quite the eclectic choice in reading," Nikki smiled
"You changed the subject," Emily said, "What was it like out there?"
Nikki paused before answering "Normal," she said
It was true. Despite having been confined to the hospital for almost four weeks, the world outside had not changed. She had passed the local supermarket which still had its deals on. She had passed the clothes shop which was still selling the same season of clothes as it had before, she had come into hospital. The world had not changed. Life had gone on. Normal had felt strange but it was just like that: normal.
"Dinner time ladies," a nurse called to Nikki and Emily
"What did you and Jack do?" Emily asked as they queued up in the dinner line
"We just had coffee,"
Emily frowned "But something else?" she said "Did you snog him?"
"Emily!"
"Well it's clear he likes you," Emily shrugged "He's always visiting you,"
"That doesn't mean I kissed him,"
"Hermione visits Ron when he's in the hospital wing and they end up snogging later on,"
"I'm not Hermione,"
"You're as clever as her," Emily smiled "You're a doctor of dead people,"
"I don't think I've heard it referred to that before,"
"You're still a doctor,"
"So you said,"
"No," Emily said "I mean despite all this, you're still Dr Nikki. You might be a bit unwell but you're still Doctor Alexander,"
"And you're still Emily Hooper,"
"But that doesn't sound as cool. And what does Emily Hooper do? Nothing,"
"Emily, I know I've only known you a few weeks, but you're clever and funny,"
"In the head?"
"No, your humour. That despite everything you've been through you can still make a joke,"
"That's still not something I can put on my CV,"
"What do you want to do?"
"Go to Hogwarts, duh…" Emily said rolling her eyes
"Apart from that?"
"I'd like to work with books,"
"So why don't you?"
"Cos I'm stuck in here,"
"That won't be forever"
"Says you; you'll be getting out soon. I know your section runs out at the end of the week,"
"That still depends on what Doctor Redford thinks,"
"You're going home. They wouldn't have let you go on pass if they didn't think you were okay. Look at me, I've been here three months and the furthest I've been allowed is into the carpark,"
"Emily, you will be going home at the point, they can't keep you here forever,"
"But at least you've got a home to go to,"
"What happened to yours?" Nikki asked
"I was living with these two girls," Emily explained "They didn't like it when I went a bit mental,"
"You're unwell, not mental," Nikki corrected
Emily shrugged, "Whatever you want to call it, they didn't like it, so they kicked me out when I got sectioned,"
"Oh Emily…"
"It is what it is," Emily said "What's your flat like? I bet its full of books,"
"Correct,"
"Do you get lonely on your own?"
Nikki paused before answering, "Sometimes," she said, "But I have Jack and Clarissa. Even Thomas. And my friend Harry,"
"The one that lives in the USA?" she asked, and Nikki nodded
"That's quadruple that friends that I have,"
"I'm your friend, aren't I?"
Emily nodded "But you'll leave and then I'll be by myself. No one else talks to me like you do. You've read books, you know how to play Scrabble and you…you…you're just nice," Emily said
"There are other nice people in here Emily,"
"Not like you though…" Emily said glumly
"Why don't we go and have that game of Scrabble, Emily," she said, "See if you can beat me this time,"
Emily's face brightened up almost immediately. Nikki found herself thinking how when you are trapped in a place, it is the little things you come to appreciate more. Whether that be a game of Scrabble, macaroni cheese not being on the menu or a visit from those who understand you the most.