Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Blair

" Excuse me, do you speak English? " I tried the third attendant, who just looked at me and shook her head in the negative.

They were understanding me, I knew they were, but for some reason the people of that country refused to communicate with me!

I had landed in St. Petersburg late in the morning and went straight to the address of the hospital that Masha had given me. I had sent a message that I was already there, but it had not yet been viewed.

" Dimitri Yaroslavovich Voitovich, I am here for him," I tried to speak slowly, hoping that they understood me.

She just mumbled something in Russian, not giving me any special attention. I reached for my cell phone, activating the translator.

" Dimitri is my boyfriend, he was in the accident at the airport," I insisted.

They said something to each other, then laughed. I looked at the cell phone screen, rolling my eyes at the translation.

"If you really date a Russian, you should at least learn to speak our language.”

I took a deep breath, all right, I can't mess with them, I need them to help me!

" Maria, his sister, gave me this address, but I couldn't reach her " I tried another approach before looking at the cell phone screen when the Woman from before started humming.

"I'm not falling for that story, these press people think we are fools"

" Press? I am not a journalist, my name is Blair Ozkan and I am his girlfriend!”

This was frustrating! Why is it that suddenly no one believes in our relationship?

The woman took a deep breath, removed her glasses and gave me an exasperated look.

" Listen girl, I'm only going to say this once," she began in a heavy accent that was almost incomprehensible, "leave this family alone, they are already dealing with too much right now. We cannot and will not pass on information about a patient to someone who is not family!

I was about to scream and show her all the pictures of us together, but a voice stopped me.

" Blair," Masha called out, causing relief to wash over me.

I approached my sister-in-law, greeting her with a hug of support, leaving the women at the reception behind.

" I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I was talking to Yuri on the phone," she explained.

" It's okay, I just…”

" Did you get the visitor's pass yet?”

" They didn't want to give me any information, they think I'm press " I pointed to the reception.

" They what? Come with me," Masha took a deep breath.

I walked her back to the reception desk where Masha had a conversation in Russian with the women. I didn't bother to follow the translation, all I cared about was getting access to Dimitri.

The women's expressions slowly changed from disbelief to regret as they watched me. In the end, I received a visitor's pass and a wish that everything would get better soon.

" You managed to convince her," I commented.

" Well, I am his sister, I would have no reason to lie. And I went a little overboard with your story," she offered me a weak smile.

" What do you mean? " I looked at her suspiciously as we walked down the hospital corridors toward an elevator.

" I told her that he proposed to you and that you would make it official today.”

We boarded the elevator that was stationary on the floor, and I could finally face her.

" So we are engaged?”

" I thought that would make it easier for you," she sighed.

For a moment I imagined myself engaged to Dimitri, and to my surprise, I wanted it to be real. I remembered all the times the subject had been the source of jokes between the two of us, how he had mocked me for the ridiculous choice of wedding dress my friends had chosen for me when we went to choose Abby's wedding dress.

That memory brought the gravity of the situation back onto my shoulders. I might never hear him speak of it again.

I closed my eyes, feeling that suffocating sensation take over my chest. I couldn't lose him, not now! Not after having spent so much time away from him!

Masha held my hand, seeming to guess what was going on in my mind.

" How is he? " my voice came out almost in a whisper.

" He suffered a laceration of the intestine and septic shock because of the delay in the rescue," she began to explain, "he spent the night in surgery and is now under observation in the ICU.”

" Is he going to be okay?”

" The doctor who spoke with me said that he will be kept isolated and sedated for some time, but that he is stable. So I guess that's a good sign," she assured me.

A relief went through my body when I heard this. Stable, great, stable is good. I can handle stability!

" I won't be able to see him, will I?”

" Nobody can. But there is an observation window and the nurses let me stay there for a while. I'll talk to them to see if you can too," he promised.

As soon as we got to the floor where Dimitri was, Masha went to the nursing station while waiting in the waiting area. She returned after a few minutes accompanied by a young nurse. I stood up and walked towards them, still dragging my suitcase behind me.

" Blair, I hadn't even paid attention to your bag, I'll take care of it while you go with Nadia, she's taking you to see my brother," she instructed me.

I did as she said, following the young woman into another room, where a window showed a well appointed room. Dimitri was unconscious on top of the bed, hooked up to some appliances. He looked so fragile there, my greatest wish was to go in, lie down next to him, and not leave him for a second. But I knew that this wish was impossible.

" Your sister-in-law told us about the engagement, congratulations," Nádia commented observing me.

" Thank you," I once again experienced that nostalgic feeling.

" You didn't get a ring," she looked at my hand.

Great, what did Masha get me into?

" She was going to give it to me today, I was taking care of my parents in Turkey for the last few weeks. My father had heart surgery," I explained.

That explanation seemed to have convinced the girl, who merely stood silently beside me for a few more minutes before letting me know that we would have to go back to Masha.

I cast one last glance at Dimitri before escorting the woman out of the room.

" Don't worry, he's young and healthy, he'll be fine," Nadia assured me.

I gave a small smile to the woman, feeling a little better after being able to see him.