Hidden Within

A Traumatic Experience

"Hey dude, when are you guys leaving?" He asked. I was confused cuz I don't remember telling him about this.

"What are you talking about?" 

"Oh I guess the girls didn't tell you, they informed me yesterday about your mom, so obviously I am coming with you, or in fact I'm gonna take you to the hospital in my car." He answered in pure Martin fashion.

"No man, I don't wanna bother you!" I replied.

"Shush, you don't get a say in this." He laughed.

"Fine.. I'm just waiting for the call from the hospital. It should come any minute." I amswered.

"Cool, I'm on my way to your apartment. Tell me as soon as you get the call. Ciao!" And just like that he hung up. It's moments like these that really make me appreciate my friends...

It was now 7:30 and I was practically zooming back and forth in the apartment. The girls were ready but a lot calmer, but they understood the weight of the situation so they decided not to say anything. Until finally, I got the call.

"Hello, is this Zackie That I'm speaking to?" The woman asked.

"Ye-yes that's me!" I answered, my voice almost cracking.

"Great, this is Julia, the head nurse of Unity Hospital. I got a request from one of our patients, Miss Nathalie, that I should call you once all her visitors leave her. She told me that you wanted to visit her after her family has left. You have until 9 to come see her." Julia explained.

"Th-thank you Doctor! I'll be there as soon as possible! Is she okay?!" I motioned to the girls as we headed towards the door while I'm still on the phone.

"Yes, she's stable for now, we can explain once you get here." She calmly answered.

"Thank you." I hung up and immediately called Martin. "Hey man, where are you now?"

"Heey, I was just about to call you, I am about to stop by your building's door." He answered. "Are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah, they just called me, we're currently in the elevator. See you in a sec!" I replied. He gave me a "cool" before hanging up.

..

We jumped into his car and he drove off, already having the hospital on his GPS.

"She'll be fine dude, shes a strong woman." Martin said.

"I... I hope so..." My hands were trembling, I was sitting behind Martin, with Mackie by my side. She put her hands over mine and calmly said:

"We're here with you."

As soon as we reached the hospital, I rushed to the reception and explained what was happening. The woman at the desk barely glanced up before typing something into her computer.

“You’re here for Miss Nathalie, correct?” she asked.

“Yes! Julia, the head nurse, called me,” I blurted out, shifting from foot to foot.

She nodded. “Room 314, third floor. Take the elevator on your right.”

“Thank you.”

I turned back to see Martin, Mackie, and Rama standing a few steps behind me. They didn’t say anything, but their presence was grounding. We moved together, their footsteps falling in sync with mine as we made our way to the elevator. My heart pounded harder with every floor we passed.

Ding.

The doors slid open, and I stepped into the hallway, feeling like I was moving through water. The overhead lights hummed faintly, and the scent of antiseptic clung to the air. Nurses shuffled past, pushing carts, murmuring to each other in hushed voices. Everything around me felt too real and not real enough all at once.