3.
In the early hours of the morning the hospital was buzzing with activity. At first, I had no recollection of where I was or why I was there. When a nurse who brought me a fine cup of coffee hinted at what had happened I remembered it all too well. The tears came and lingered on my face but after the coffee, I felt somewhat better.
'The gentleman who was with me last night…'
The nurse butted in before I was able to finish my sentence,
'Oh, what a lovely fellow, sat here till the wee hours of the morning never taking his eyes off you and never stopped praying all the while he sat there in that chair. Such a lovely man. He be a keeper that one.'
She took her gadgets with a smile and left.
What is she on about? I asked myself bewildered.
The doctor was next to visit me, and when he was satisfied that I was stable albeit traumatised, he said I was able to go home. I looked at the brightly coloured curtains and wondered to which home I would go. A phone was ringing for a few minutes or so before I realised it was my cell phone in the drawer.
'Hello?' I answered.
'Hello Darla, it's Kai. How are you feeling?'
'Kai! Oh, Kai…Hi. Thank you for last night! I am so sorry if I caused any trouble for you and put you in such an awkward position.'
A wave of distress took residence in me, and tears flooded my eyes again.
'No, no really I am pleased you phoned me, and I was able to be with you. Are you okay?'
'I can go home,' I said fighting the desire to hang up and cry.
'Where is home? Rylee's house or the one being renovated?'
'No, not Rylee's house. I can't go back there, not now. I would never be able to sleep there.'
I wondered as I said that if Rylee even knew about what had happened.
'Do you need a ride?'
'Can I call you back if I do? I need to make a few phone calls.'
'Of course. Please Darla, if there is anything I can do, please call me.'
His kindness was so welcoming it warmed my heart. I called Mother first, and she naturally felt shattered when I told her where I was and what had happened. I tried to make it sound as if it was nothing too traumatic but Mother knew me better than I knew myself. I also left out the part of stabbing the attacker in the eye with my key, but I was sure she would find that out from someone. She would not rest until she had all the details.
The word had gotten around the hospital that I was a patient, and so it was that I had a constant flow of phone calls and visits from all the staff. I had to promise my superior that I would visit the children before I left as they were so worried about me. I phoned Rylee between all the phone calls and visits. She sounded really tired when she answered, and I remembered that she had probably only arrived home a few hours ago.
'Hi Rylee, it's me, Darla.'
'Darla hi, what's up? Where are you? What happened here last night? You have a party or something?'
She was dead silent and probably waking up more and more as I relayed the horror of the previous evening. I had waited for a few seconds before she responded when I was finished speaking.
'No Darla, no, I am so sorry, I should have phoned you back. I am so sorry.'
She cried and cried. I cried too, again. Kai sounded disappointed that he did not have to fetch me but was satisfied when I promised to phone him later in the day. When Rylee arrived in the hospital room an hour later she was distraught, flinging her arms around me apologising over and over that she'd remained at the party and then had not returned my call. I, in turn, tried to convince her it was not her fault, I was okay, and it was all over. But the nurse, overhearing us, kindly reminded me that it would take time for me to come to terms with all that had happened.
We left amongst loads of good wishes, hugs and kisses. Mother had arranged a room at the retirement home, and when we arrived, I was inundated with wishes from the sweet elderly residents. Living here for the next few weeks was going to be very interesting, and I was sure, entertaining.
After a few days of being pampered by Mother and the residents, I went back to work. I loved being around the little children; they brought so much joy into my life even if they were ill. They were such a contrast to the elderly, and yet in many ways so similar. They kept my mind free from the reminder of what could have happened and the horror of the whole experience. It was when I was alone in my bed that I struggled to keep myself free from the nightmare. I found myself asking God for help.