????ABIGAIL
INOCENCIO????
(The Murderer….)
By, Precious Pinky
Copyright ©️(Don’t copy this story if you don’t want to see madness!)
Chapter 25????26
•••••
{ *LET HER IN, DR. MARSHALL* }
“I’m coming with you,” Emma said, putting her hair up in a messy bun.
“No, you are not.”
“I can’t let you go by yourself to the hospital by this time, Abby. We are going over there together.” She insisted.
“But… You should be in bed right now.” Abigail reasoned.
“Well, now I’m not. Let’s go.” Emma grabbed Abby’s car key from the bowl at the center of the table. “You are not in the right state of mind so I’m going to drive us.”
“You can’t drive,” Abigail noted as they stepped out of the house and locked the door.
“Yes, I can. I just hate driving. Those are two different things.”
“Whatever. Let’s just go. I am very worried and scared.”
They got into the car and drove out of the compound.
•••••
“Are you sure you don’t have feelings for this girl?” Robert’s best friend, Richa-rd asked for the hundredth time.
“Are you seriously asking me that stupid question?” He retorted.
“It is not a stupid question, man.” Richa-rd sighed. “I mean, why should you even care that she gave out her number to a boy?”
“I am her friend.”
“So?”
“What do you mean by so? Isn’t it normal for friends to care about each other?” He asked.
“You don’t care about me as much as you care about her. And guess what, I am your best friend.”
Robert rolled his eyes, taking a swig of beer. “What you do with your life has nothing to do with me, bruh.”
“Exactly!”
“Huh?”
“We are friends and yet you don’t care about what I do with my life or who I give out my number to. So why should you care about her business?”
Robert did not say anything.
“Have you suddenly lost your voice?” Richa-rd raised a questioning brow.
Robert let out a muffled gro-an as he ran his fingers throu-ghhis hair.
“I have known Emma for over four years. I sometimes get worried and concerned about her. That doesn’t mean I have feelings for her.”
“Keep denying it all you want. But nothing changes the fact that I can see the love visible in your pretty goddamn eyes.” Richa-rd winked.
“I hate you.”
“Aw, is that you saying I love you to me?”
Robert dropped the can of beer he was drinking from on the table and stood up to his feet.
“I’m done with your crazy remarks. I’m off to bed.” He announced, snatching his phone from the couch.
“You can’t run away from your feelings, man.”
“Can you stop this whole bullshit already? It’s beginning to piss me off.”
Richa-rd threw his hands in the air as if in surrender, smirking.
“Sorry. Good night.”
“Good night. And please be gone before I wake up in the morning. I am only letting you crash here because it is late to be driving back home.” Robert said, heading to the stairs.
“I thought it is normal for friends to care about each other or am I not included?”
“Ugh, say one more word and I swear I will kick you out of my house.” Robert threatened.
Richa-rd pressed his li-ps in a flat line, dramatically zipping them up.
“Good boy.” Robert ascended the stairs and disappeared into his spacious bedroom.
“He definitely has a crush on her,” Richa-rd muttered, taking a sip of beer as he leaned back against the couch.
•••••
Abby jumped out of the car and sprinted into the hospital building, breathing heavily from fear and worry.
≤!≥Ward 302… she’s dying≤!≥
Thelma’s words kept repeating themselves over and over again in Abby’s head.
All she could think of was that very one line that scares the shit out of her.
The last time Thelma told her something, she had announced the death of Mr. Gilbert.
Come to think of it, Thelma was like a carrier of bad news.
Abigail ran throu-ghevery path and hallway, ignoring the look of those nurses/doctors doing night shifts.
Her heart hammered in her chest to the point of aching. She was as scared as fuc-k !
It doesn’t make any sense why Tara should be dying. The girl was getting better. Yes, she was still very ill and needed all the care, support, and love in the world but she has been getting just that in the hospital. So what was going on now? Did Marshall do something to her again? He wouldn’t hurt Tara physically, right? Maybe emotionally but not physically or mentally, right?
She didn’t know what else to think at that point. The world appeared like a blur in her eyes. She wished it was because they were glossy from unshed tears but no, that wasn’t the case. She was just scared.
Abby finally reached ward 302, the door was slightly open as she got there.
Her heartbeat became louder and more painful as she slowly opened the door.
Why was all this happening? First, it was Mr. Gilbert, and now Tara? She don’t know what she was going to do if anything ever happens to the thirteen years old girl.
Thelma and three other nurses stood beside the hospital bed, watching Tara like she was some kind of entertainment. Obviously, they didn’t know what to do but staring at her like that won’t help matter as well.
Abby pushed them out of her way and stood in front, glancing down at the thirteen years old girl who was vomiting out blood, tears rolling down her face.
“Hey, Tara.” She called out in a mutter but the response she got was the sound of gagging. “What is happening? Why is she vomiting blood?”
“We walked in here to see how she was doing only to find her like this. Thelma called Dr. Marshall but he isn’t picking up.” One of the three nurses answered.
“Keep trying then. Why are you all here watching her like that? Keep calling Dr. Marshall until he picks up.” She told them.
They nodded, taking out their phones, and left the ward.
Abby knew better than to do anything. She wasn’t the doctor in charge of Tara so any slight mistake could make her lose her job and license. She has no right to be here. The one with the right to perform anything on Tara was Marshall. Why the fuc-k wasn’t he answering his call?
She brou-ght out her phone and dialed his number, it went straight to voicemail.
She doesn’t want to do this but she has no choice right now. She went throu-ghher contact list and found Sandra’s number. She hesitantly tapped on call and brou-ght the phone up to her ear.
The line was ringing however, during the third ring, it was answered.
“Dr. Abby? Why the hell are you calling me by this_”
“Where is Dr. Marshall?” Abby cut her off.
She heard shuffling from the other line and then the sound of a door closing.
“Did you call me by this time because of Marshall? Are you kidding me?”
“Listen, I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important and you fuc-k ing know it. We have been trying to reach Marshall but he is not answering.”
“Why are you calling him? What business do you have with him? And who are the ‘we’?”
Abby felt like screaming her lungs out at Sandra. Why was she asking all these stupid questions?
“His patient is at the beck of dying. He has to come over as soon as possible. Or better still, give me his permission to check out what’s wrong.”
“Wait, are you in the hospital?”
“ARGH! STOP ASKING QUESTIONS AND TELL ME HOW I CAN CONTACT MARSHALL!” She angrily yelled.
There was a loud dropped from behind, Abigail turned around to find Tara on the floor, still vomiting blood while hyperventilating.
Sandra must have heard the commotion from the background because her voice changed from bit-ch y to professional.
“I will call Marshall right now. You should whatever need to be done, I don’t think he will mind. This is a matter of life and death. We can’t risk any chances.” With that said, she hung up the call.
Thelma and the nurse who had spoken earlier entered the ward.
“We finally reached him. He said he is on his way. Good thing he is around the neighborhood.” Thelma informed.
“Okay.” Abby knelt down beside Tara. “Thelma, come and help me lift her to the bed.”
Thelma rushed to the other side of Tara and they both lifted the girl and lay her back on the bed.
“Get me the endoscope.” Abby instructed, checking the pulse of Tara.
“What? You can’t do anything, Dr. Abby.” Thelma said.
“Why not?”
“Dr. Marshall is the one in charge of her and not you. If anything goes wrong…”
“Nothing will go wrong, Thelma. We can’t just stand still and watch this without doing anything. You called me because you wanted me to do something, right?”
Thelma stayed quiet.
“Please go and get the endoscope. I need to see what is causing the bleeding. Hurry.”
Thelma hesitated before stepping out of the ward.
“Nurse Cora,” Abby called out to the other nurse.
“Yes, doc?”
“Get more pillows so we can put them under her head.”
“Okay, doc.” She left and then a few seconds later she returned with two pillows.
They placed it under Tara’s head. The girl was still hyperventilating, blood streaming down from her mouth and hitting the pillow, turning the white sheet to red color.
Thelma arrived with the endoscope.
“Here it is.”
“Oh, good. Connect it to the socket. Please hurry. The bleeding won’t stop.” She stated.
After Thelma has done as she said. Abby grabbed the tube and put it inside Tara’s mouth, driving the tube down to her throat, watching the movement from the tiny camera at the end of the endoscope. She moved the tube into the esophagus and then down to the abdomen. Her mind was telling her one thing and she hope it was wrong.
Thelma and Cora watched from behind.
Abby moved the flexible tube to the upper part of the abdomen on the right side, where the human liver was located.
Everyone’s eyes went wide in the room when they saw what was causing the bleeding from the tiny camera. Just then the door opened and Dr. Marshall walked in.
“What is going on?” He approached them and collected the endoscope from Abby’s grasp. “You can leave, I will take it from here.”
Abby didn’t argue or object, she quietly left the ward, her hands and feet trembling at the same time.
She could barely breathe or process what she had just seen in the ward.
Tara’s liver was swollen. And that could only mean one thing; the hepatitis was getting worse.
“Abby,” Emma rushed towards her friend who was seated on the awaiting bench beside ward 302, looking as pale as a ghost. “Babe, what is it?”
“I want to cry, Emma. I…” She bites her quivering bottom li-p, staring at the ground. “Tara… she… her condition is getting worse. If I’m not mistaken, she might have liver cancer.”
“Oh, my God.” Emma breathed out. “I’m so sorry, Abby.”
“No.” Abigail shook her head. “Don’t tell me sorry. Tara will be fine. She is a strong and fierce young lady, she will definitely make it throu-gh. I’m sure of it.”
“Oh, come here, honey.” Emma wrapped her arms around Abby and bring her close to herself. “You are right. Tara will be fine.”
•••••
The door to the ward opened.
Thelma and Cora stepped out and walked away with the endoscope without saying a word to Abby.
The next person to step out was Marshall.
Abigail and Emma quickly stood up and went up to him.
“How is she?” Abigail asked immediately.
He glanced over at them and let out a de-ep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I can’t believe you, Dr. Abby. What gave you the right to attend to my patient?”
“Are you serious with that question?”
“Yes, I am. Ward 302 is my patient and shouldn’t be any of your damn business.”
“She was dying!” Abby exasperated. “You don’t expect me to stand back and do nothing.”
“Keep poking your nose in matters that don’t concern you and end your career with your own hands. Tara is my responsibility, you hear me?” He attempted to walk away but Abby stood in front of him.
She wanted to curse him for not picking up his call when Thelma called severally to tell him of Tara’s condition. She wanted to hit him right in the face for saying that shit to her face when he should be glad that she helped ease the situation before it escalated.
What was so important to him that he had to ignore Thelma and everyone else’s call?
However, she knew that if she tries to put him in his place, he won’t tell her anything about Tara’s condition. And she really wants to know how the girl was faring. Is she okay now? Has the bleeding stopped? Is she back to being the strong and beautiful Tara she has always known? She wanted to know so she decided to do the most civilized thing.
“Fine. I was wrong. I should never have attempted to do anything. I’m sorry. But can you tell me about her health? Is she okay? How is she doing?” She questioned.
“Please,” Emma added.
Marshall hesitated for a while before saying, “Luckily, I was able to stop the bleeding. She is receiving fluids right now. I will carry out some tests on her tomorrow.” He explained.
Abby heaved out a breath of relief, running her fingers throu-ghher hair.
“Thank goodness, she is okay. I was worried sick. What is she doing now?”
“Sleeping.” He answered.
“Okay. I saw the swollen liv_”
“I can’t discuss my patient condition with you, Dr. Abby. You are a doctor so you should know what I mean.” He said.
Abigail nodded her head in understanding.
“Can I go in and_”
“No.” He cut her off.
“Please, Dr. Marshall. I just want to see her face. I beg of you.” She pleaded.
“My no is final, Dr. Abby. I am not going to report what you did to the director because your help had helped matters and if we were a little bit late, it would have worsened the situation. But I won’t have you go anywhere close to this ward without permission again.” He said and then walked away.
“That was… rude.” Emma remarked, glaring after Marshall before facing her friend once again. “Let’s go home.”
“But I want to_”
“You can see her tomorrow, okay? She needs rest right now, don’t you think?”
Abby sighed and nodded her head.
“Yeah…”
“You see,” Emma held her best friend’s hand. “let’s go.”
Abby stared at the door one last time before allowing herself to get dragged out by her friend, Emma.
••••
“Good morning,” Emma greeted as she entered the kitchen.
Abby looked up from the cup of coffee she was brewing and smiled.
“Good morning,”
“How was your night?”
“Fine, I guess.”
Emma rolled her eyes as she sat down on the bar stool.
“I know it wasn’t fine. Did you even sleep at all? I would have said you have been crying but…” She shrugged. “You can’t cry which only means you didn’t sleep a wink last night, right?”
It was silent for a moment until Abigail spoke up.
“Am I a monster?”
“What?”
She handed one cup of coffee over to Emma and held unto the other one for herself.
“Why can’t I cry? It is normal for human beings to cry to relieve themselves from every emotion bottled up in their chest. But why can’t I do the same? Why is it so difficult for me to cry?” She whispered.
“First of all, you are not a monster, and don’t ever think that about yourself, Abby. Not everyone cries.”
“You cry,”
“Well…yeah. Occasionally.”
“I hate myself.”
“I love you.” Emma rounded the table and came to stand beside her friend.
“You don’t understand, Ems. There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.” She mumbled.
“Really? Because I do know about the shit you went throu-ghas a child. I know about how your mother died. I know what you went throu-ghto score the highest in high school and college. I know when you got your first pay as a doctor. I know you haven’t dated and just so you know, I’m still wondering whether you are g-ay or not.” Abigail laughed over that. “Ah, I finally got you to laugh.” Emma said, feeling proud of herself. “You are an amazing person, honey. How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Oh, Emma.” Abigail wrapped her arms around and embraced her friend. “You have such a sweet soul. I love you so much.”
“I love you more. Now stop sulking and go to work. Tara must be waiting for you.”
“I hope Marshall will let me see her.”
“Well, I hope so too.”
•••••
Abby had been busy with work and now it was finally lunch break.
She got some food for Tara and headed to the ward, having her fingers crossed on seeing the little angel today.
She arrived at the door and saw Marshall stepping out alongside Sandra.
Why does she keep bumping into him whenever he was stepping out of the ward?
“Dr. Marshall,” She grabbed his and Sandra’s attention.
They stared at her.
“Don’t tell me you were coming in here,” He nodded at the ward.
“Please can I see her?”
“I told you this already I don’t want to see you anywhere close to this ward. What is your problem, Dr. Abby?”
“I brou-ght something for her.” She gestured at the plastic bag she was holding. “I promise I won’t waste time in there.”
“I don’t care. Just don’t go into this ward if you don’t want to_”
“Let her in.” A de-ep voice said, cutting Marshall off.
Everyone turned their gaze in that direction and saw their director standing there with his hands buried in the pocket of the black trousers he was wearing.
“Si… Sir?” Marshall stuttered.
“Let her in, Dr. Marshall.”
TBC