A World Apart Read Online Free PDF Page B

to take a seat the doctor will be able to direct you shortly’ replied the receptionist/nurse who was weirdly tearful.
    ‘Mrs Straw?’ announced a tall Swedish doctor. ‘Come this way’ he added as he walked through multiple double doors, corridors, turning occasionally. Finally, we arrived at ward 13 bed four where her mother lay in front of her behind the glass window. Cindy marched right past the man and began opening the door, only to be restrained by the doctor.
    ‘I’m terribly sorry but until the police arrive to get underway with their investigation, we are strictly unable to allow anyone in the room, as she has been marked’ said the Swedish man restraining Cindy and placing her in a corridor seat whilst talking down to her as she cried into her sleeves.
    ‘What do you mean marked?’ asked Cindy remembering what the doctor had said previously. The doctor indicated on a hand drawn diagram of a human body the area of where she had been marked, he pointed to the lower neck region at the back, close to her right clavicle. Cindy eyed the diagram and looked back in haste at her mother; all she wanted to do is see if she was ok. The doctor placed his hand on her arm, she looked at him, quite tearful, ‘Sleep on it and you should be able to see her tomorrow. The police are doing their usual work and it should be all finished for visits tomorrow at noon’ instructed the doctor. Cindy walked away quietly to her car and started the engine. If only she had enough energy to drive, she felt so rundown with all this and her not seeing or talking to her mother made it seem ten times worse. The moonlight blue Vauxhall disappeared in the distance, the rear lights dimly visible through the fog.
     
    The next morning Cindy stormed out of bed rushing to the wardrobe and placing any clothes that she could find on herself. She was half dressed and entered the bathroom where George was shaving, she acted as if he wasn’t there as he smiled to greet her she ignored and reached for the toothbrush, to many things running through her mind, she need to get to the hospital to see her mother.
     
    On arriving to the hospital Cindy noticed an unusual sight, a man on a drip wondering across the zebra crossings, he looked directly at her. Cindy felt so intimidated she locked the doors and reversed down into the previous turn in for the car park. She entered the hospital, to see sheets off the beds and on the floor, the lights tinkering as if they have had a power cut in the night along with no staff at all to be found only a few patients making wild noises. Luckily she knew where she was located, so she rushed down the hall, spotting a map on the wall. As she looked for ward 13, bed four using her finger as navigation, she then proceeded to the elevators, where she waited and then finally took the stairs.
     
    On approaching the ward, she cried out her mother’s name, only there was no reply and a sound as if a window had just been closed. She entered the ward with caution, looking through the window. Everything looked ok. She tried the door handle, it was locked so she then looked for something to smash the window with. There was a fire extinguisher on the wall down the corridor a bit from her. She ran to it, and threw it behind her back before launching it at the windowpane. After the fifth attempt she then began knocking the rest of the glass away to prevent injury. Cindy looked inside and clambered inside.
     
    She ran over to her mother’s bed, and hugged her. Mavis was slightly awake although she looked a plaster pale and uniquely undernourished. Cindy tripped slightly and fell leaning into her mother’s arm, causing more pain by accidentally leaning on her wounds. Mavis rose inhumanly to the horror of Cindy. ’I found this…. g…o!’ Mavis said in a decaying groan handing Cindy a torn piece of paper, as she slumbered onto the hospital bed. Her head drifting to one side, leaving Cindy alone in the room making her saddened and