Chapter 42: Chapter 42
The sun announces its disappearance and it does so little by little until it forms a dark and melancholic atmosphere, reminding me how much I hate cloudy days. The first drops begin to descend like ash dust, wetting the asphalt and, with a single blink of an eye, that beautiful morning of sun and white clouds is transformed into its contradiction, where the rain that falls from the gray sky plays the main role. and it demonstrates it wonderfully by flooding the streets of the city.
By then, Samuel had packed the luggage into the trunk and they both got into the car.
May: Follow him.
I exclaim looking through the window through which I can barely see anything thanks to the weather outside.
- If I do that… you will lose his day of class.
I turn my face and look at him with great irony, noticing how he regrets having opened his mouth as soon as he sees my expression.
May: If you keep talking so much you're going to lose your job with a single call I make to your boss.
The man who must have doubled my age several years ago gulps and does what he is told to do without raising further objections that are always raised against him.
Despite the rain and the poor visibility of the streets, we managed not to lose track of the Audi embroidered until it parked again, this time in an address that I do know: Samuel's house. The two go down and enter with the briefcases dragged by him. In less than five minutes they leave and resume their places in the vehicle, whose wheels begin to turn at a speed that increases vertiginously. This time I no longer need to repeat to the driver what to do and I am beginning to feel like I am in the shoes of a professional spy.
The next stop turns out to be in front of the doors of a huge white building. A hospital. Again they go down, close everything and head towards the entrance.
May: Wait for me here.
I open the door and leave the car.
May: If someone calls, say that you dropped me off at the university and waited for me because I asked.
I close the door and turn to the street, which is not as wide and long as the previous ones, but rather a kind of boulevard with traffic lights. I cross it awkwardly and almost to the runs, they could easily run me over if I were less lucky than the little one I already have. I watch them disappear through the automatic glass doors and increase the speed of my steps, afraid of losing sight of them. Once inside, everything is in complete chaos. People rushing from one side to the other, endless lines at different service windows, and busy seating in the waiting room make for anything but 'peaceful'. I look around looking for Samuel and I can't see anything, beginning to remember those times in my childhood when going shopping with my mother and losing her for seconds in the supermarket was the worst suffering that could exist at that age. Relief runs through my body when I finally distinguish him among so many people, walking backwards through one of the corridors, accompanied by her, whose height does not even exceed his shoulder. I head in that direction saying "permission" more than three times and receiving several shoves along the way until I achieve my goal. I'm just a few meters away, maybe too many, but I don't care about that now, I just hope he doesn't look back and to my luck ... he doesn't. Continue a little more until you reach the reception, a detail that makes me understand that the door through which I entered was the one for registered visitors or requesting medical appointments. He waves to the girl sitting there, who's on the phone, but responds kindly anyway. He stops at the first white door above which it reads Reanimation: Room 7 and opens it, sneaking inside. I follow him, stopping at the closed door and looking in through a small window at the top.
There is a gurney on which a woman is resting. It must be his mother, I guess. He is next to the lady and takes her hand, sitting on a metal chair.
- Has he been like this for a long time?
The unknown girl asks and I am surprised by the fact that I can listen even with the glass in the middle.
Samuel: Almost three weeks.
The young woman walks over to the chair, leans over and puts her arms around him from behind.
- Everything will be fine, you'll see.
He says rubbing her shoulders so gently that I think I'm holding myself back from breaking something. Sigh.
Samuel: I wait (takes a breath and lets it out). The first days I came thinking that I would see her awake, waiting for me. Now I'm used to finding her in this state, as if that were ... normal.
He comments in an anguished tone and the anger he felt up to that point turns into compassion.
- Oh don't say that (he taps him on the shoulder).
He smiles and turns his head to her, looking at her.
Samuel: I missed you a lot, you know?
The fury returns to my senses and I am surprised that my lip has not started to bleed from the extreme force with which I am biting it.
Samuel: Seriously. Hey (she says after seeing her laugh at her last comment), I am very happy that you are here.
I keep watching them for several minutes and I could do it for many more, even if it wasn't the most pleasant thing in the world for me after all. Suddenly, Samuel rises from the chair with a quick movement and goes to the door. I quickly lower my head and turn away, running toward the reception line a few feet away.
- Go home ...
I recognize his voice and point my eyes to the area where I just escaped.
Samuel: ... surely you are tired with so much travel.
They speak right in front of that door, leaning their shoulders against the wall.
- Will you stay?
Samuel: No, I have to go too. I carry you?
- No need, I'm going by taxi.
- Hello. How do I help her?
I look away, meeting the receptionist who is looking at me with a wide smile on her lips.
May: Ehh yeah, I ...
Samuel: See you at night then.
I look at him, seeing how he brings his face closer to that of the strange girl and ...
- Miss?
And again the secretary, who definitely earns my hatred when I turn around and see that that young woman has already left and Samuel walks towards the same row in which I am standing.