Page 120 of The Sun Sister

While Mercy was pulled aside by a nurse and disappeared with her through some swing doors, I was corralled by the nurse on reception, who then proceeded to ask me for details of Vanessa’s health insurance, about which I had no clue. In the end, I signed something to say that I’d pick up the bill if she was uninsured (which I had no doubt she was), but then she asked me for my credit card.

‘Listen, I just jumped into the ambulance, I didn’t stop for my purse – my friend was bleeding to death, for Chrissake!’

‘Yes, ma’am, but we need the number of that card. Is there anyone you can call?’

I was about to say no, but then I realised that I still had my cell on me.

‘Yeah, give me a couple of minutes.’ I walked away from the counter, dug in my pocket for the cell and called Mariam.

‘Electra? It is wonderful to hear from you! How are you?’

The sound of Mariam’s warm, rich voice calmed me slightly.

‘I’m good, I’m real good, but, um, a friend of mine isn’t. It’s a long story, but we’re in the emergency room of some hospital in Tucson and they’re demanding my credit card details. Could you speak to them?’

‘Of course I can. Oh Electra! You say this is a friend of yours?’

‘Yeah, I just need to guarantee the payment of her treatment,’ I said, walking back to the counter and handing the cell over to the receptionist. I lurked nearby as they spoke, then the receptionist handed the cell phone back to me.

‘She’d like a word with you, ma’am.’

‘Okay. Hi, Mariam, was it sorted?’

‘Yes, it was no problem. Although I must get the insurance details of your friend, because her treatment may be very costly.’

‘If it is, it is,’ I sighed. ‘I’m paying and that’s that.’

‘I understand. Now, are you sure thatyouare okay?’

‘I am, truly. Gotta go now, but I’ll call you back later. Thanks, Mariam. Bye.’

Seeing the restroom opposite, I ran to it and shut myself in a cubicle, breathing hard as I sat down on the toilet seat. Putting my head between my legs because I felt dizzy, I looked down at my track pants and saw that they were spattered with blood. I groaned, thinking of all those people sitting in reception who may or may not have recognised me. I pulled out my cell, thinking I should text Miles to tell him what had happened, but then realised it was way past cell phone hour and he wouldn’t get it anyway. Instead, I called The Ranch and left a message for him at reception for them to pass on immediately. Then I sat there, staring at the ad about STDs stuck to the back of the door.

‘That could have been me one day,’ I whispered to myself. ‘You can never go back there, Electra,’ I added as I mentally smashed the bottle of Goose that was filling the television screen in my head. I heard the door to the restroom open.

‘Electra? You in here?’

‘Yeah,’ I said, opening the door to the cubicle to see Mercy standing there. ‘How is she?’

‘Why don’t we go and have a chat outside?’

As I followed her out, I glanced around the reception area and saw ten faces staring at me in astonishment. I sighed as Mercy led me away fast around the side of the hospital and into an alley full of smelly trash containers.

‘So?’

‘She’s alive, honey. They’re stabilising her now. They got her in time and she’s gonna be okay.’

I let out a huge breath and I felt Mercy’s arm go around me.

‘You helped saved her life, Electra. If you hadn’t found her...You did good, sweetheart. Now you should get some rest. I’m calling you a cab to take you back to The Ranch, while I stay on here. They can organise a different dorm for you to stay in tonight as well.’

‘No! I need to stay here for Vanessa. She doesn’t have anyone else, she’s all alone,’ I insisted.

‘Electra, you’re still in treatment and this is all too much for you right now. You should head back—’

‘No way! I’m staying here and I’m going to be right by her side when they say I can be. If you need me to sign something so I won’t sue The Ranch, I’ll do that, but you can’t make me leave, okay?!’

‘Okay, Electra, okay,’ Mercy said gently. ‘I’ll let reception know that you’re staying on, and speak to someone inside about getting you somewhere to wait with more privacy. It’s best you stay out of sight here until we do.’