Chapter 2 – Turn a different corner
The biker with the earring was woken again.
´Good evening sir, I'm doctor Dumas. I'm taking over doctor Valera's patients at night.´
Joe mumbled a greeting as he caught a dream by its tail. Something about stamps? A bright light shone in his eyes. He blinked.
´Do you remember your family name?´
Just like that he recalled it: ´Romero.´
´Good!´ the doctor said, adding: ´That must be quite a letter.´
He gestured towards the mould-made paper his patient held.
Joseph Romero looked at it. Stamps! He looked at the envelop on his night stand. It only said Joseph. No stamp.
´That's an elegant hand,´ the doctor commented.
Joseph nodded, feeling pleased that someone who knew him had such beautiful handwriting.
´This letter is written by 'C',´ he told doctor Dumas, ´but I can't remember who C is.´
´It will come,´ the doctor reassured, ´So I heard you're a biker? I'm one as well. What bike do you have?´
´I don't think I have it any more. It was a Yamaha.´
The doctor talked about the BMW he owned and the Yamaha he wanted to buy until the pained expression on Mr Romero's face made him stop. He asked his patient what was wrong.
´Why do I remember what bike I had and can't I remember people?´
´The mind works in ways that make a motor cycle seem like a prehistoric tool compared to it. You shouldn't bother yourself. Have some sleep, and when I come back in an hour's time, you might already remember.´
As it happened Joseph did not. Not that he hadn't given it a thought: he'd been musing about his own name, hoping to recall the full name of C.
He somehow couldn't imagine Charlotte - whoever she was - calling him Joseph. But C did address him by that name. Well, maybe someone out there called him Rapunsel for all he knew. Someone out there...
There was a peeping sound in the corridor. A nurse's car, Joe thought. Or a cleaner's. He heard the doctor greet someone before entering his room. The first thing Joe asked him was whether there had been someone else involved in the accident.
´I haven't heard of other traffic victims being brought in. My guess is that only you and Yamaha got hurt,´ the doctor said while executing his checks.
´I'm glad to hear that.´
´You're still holding that letter. Any memories yet?´
Joe read it again. ´None.´
´No clues? Hold on mate, C or Love and kisses darling from your C?´
Joe grinned. Handing the doctor the letter he said: ´It just says C, see?´
Dumas read it and laughed.
´That's an order!´ he quoted, ´Haha, you're married all right, I'll bet you a hundred.´
Joe showed him his hands. The doctor raised his eyebrows meaningfully and showed his own hands.
´For fourteen years,´ he explained, ´I'm not wearing my ring because of hygiene. She's a surgeon and she doesn't wear hers either. Too much fuss. Maybe you have a reason for not wearing your ring.´
Joe shook his head. ´I think I'm not married.´
´Because you would remember something as important as that?´
Joe nodded.
´It doesn't work that way,´ the doctor kindly told him.
´Let's assume that I have a wife. Which I don't. Why didn't she come to see me?´
OoOoOoO
At six thirty in the morning a cleaning woman's shift ended. She was glad for it for she would make money. Heaps of money. Loads of money. She took her bicycle and left the UH grounds. Instead of going home she cycled towards the city's centre. She knew where she approximately had to be and she didn't mind taking a few wrong turnings. She'd get there. Heaps of money. Loads of money.
The woman's name was Elaine DuBois. The soon to be very rich Elaine DuBois.