5| The birthday breakfast

“Stay with me.” 

The stranger’s voice was comforting and warm, unlike the cold, pathetic state of her life. 

His face blurred significantly and the light made her eyes weak. Someone tried to pry her eyes open, but fighting at will was an act she could no longer keep up with. 

What was the meaning of life if it could be so easily discarded?  

~

In a certain hospital’s resting room, Zia stirred in her sleep. 

Her fingers, which had been immobile for a long while, moved for the first time in days. Her eyelids, which were still closed, contracted as she moved her head restlessly from side to side.

“Zia?!”

“Miss Zia?!”

“Are you finally awake?.” 

The voices overlapped, distracting Zia from her unending nightmare. She had a dream. A dream where terrible things had happened. 

She’d had… a miscarriage. She got divorced, and the man who had promised to be there for her through the bad times… had shot her in the foot at her lowest point.

Warm fingers wrapped around her shaky ones, offering a feeling of comfort. 

Zia’s eyelashes fluttered. Her eyelids parted as she slowly fitted her aching eyes to the stark brightness of the room. 

A white ceiling. White walls and two muddled appearances hovered above her face.

“Oh, Zia! Thank goodness.”

It took a few excruciating seconds but Zia finally made out the face of her best friend, and another unfamiliar face wearing light pink scrubs.

“Can you hear me?!” Kate, her best friend cried out. 

Zia squinted at the sharp tone. She tried to nod but her whole body was numb.

Panicking, Kate turned to the nurse. “What the actual fuck is wrong with her?! Look at her. She looks so goddamn lost! Can we get a doctor please?”

“Please calm down ma’am and take a nice step back.” The nurse instructed as she moved around the bed with an instrument in hand. 

Kate nodded reluctantly and stepped away, but her intense eyes remained glued to her friend. 

The last time she had seen Zia was six months ago and their separation had been on bad terms. She’d never imagined she would meet Zia in such a terrible situation in the future. 

“How are you feeling?”

“Do you feel pain anywhere?”

At the nurse’s questions, Zia managed a shake. Then muttered a hoarse, “No.”

The nurse made her sit up and offered her water. She then performed a few checks, before getting the doctor. 

Zia recognized him the moment he entered. He was one of the doctors who had attended to her after her accident. 

“How long have I been here, doc?” She asked in a feeble voice.

“Four days, Mrs. Martenelli.”

At the mention of the title, Zia’s throat formed a hard lump as a cold reality hit her. 

Four days. Recalling the events that had happened four days ago, her heart ached.   

“I’ll see you later in my office, okay?”

Zia nodded absentmindedly at the doctor’s words. At that moment, her eyes had wandered to the woman by the window, who was observing her quietly. 

“How are you here?”

“I’m glad to see you are alright.” Kate returned sarcastically. Her initial enthusiasm was gone and her expression showed a mixture of frustration and disappointment. 

“Zia, you really are something, aren't you? When you abandoned me months ago, choosing your loving family over me, I told you to make sure you were well. Where’s Damien and the rest of your precious family when you are lying in a hospital bed? Tell me. Why is my contact the only emergency number to have answered the hospital’s call?”

Her words were laden with mockery.

But between the lines hung a thread of concern. 

Zia remained silent.

In her heart, she felt a pang of regret. She’d truly pushed away the one person who cared for her the most to please the people who treated her like a vermin!

She should have fought harder six months ago when Charlotte had declared that Kate was a bad influence. She should have stood her ground when Kate had been turned away at her door. 

Seeing her silence, Kate suddenly found it difficult. Zia was usually calm, but why did it feel like something had changed about her?

Unwilling to let go of their years of friendship, she repeatedly attempted to reconnect with Zia as a friend but was ignored each time. 

She’d really thought it was over between them, and had been frightened to receive the call from the hospital. 

But right now, seeing Zia’s pitiful state, her heart softened. She could not stay mad at her for long.

Kate walked over to her side and held on to Zia’s feeble shoulders before engulfing her in a sudden hug.

“Silly girl. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Now, where’s that good-for-nothing husband of yours? I should give him a good beating when ….”

She hadn't even finished speaking when Zia lowered her head and suddenly said, “It's over between us.”

Kate’s words were stuck in her throat. Her previous arrogance vanished in an instant and she didn't know where to put her hands and feet. “Over? You…got a divorce?!”

“How? Why? When?”

“Jeez. You know what, forget it. Divorce is great! You are too kindhearted for that scumbag and his family anyway…”

The door opened ruining Kate’s excitement, and both women turned to look at the intruder.

It was a nurse in her late 20’s.  She had a petite face which sported a worrisome frown as she approached Zia. 

“Mrs. Martenelli? The doctor wants to see you right away.” She spoke quickly and when Zia nodded, she turned to leave.

But as soon as she moved to the exit, Kate called after her.  

“What’s the matter? Is something wrong with Zia?” Kate asked with furrowed brows. 

“It’s fine, Kate.” Zia sighed, helping herself from the bed, she managed a tight smile at her best friend. “I’ll be back soon.”

In the wide hallway leading to the doctor’s office, Zia’s frail figure followed after the nurse. The office was the last after a huge trail of open windows and her long hair danced in the breeze as they walked past the windows, into the reception area.

The seats in the reception were completely occupied, with many patients waiting to see the doctor. 

Zia assumed she would have to wait a while, however, she frowned when the nurse pointed out that she could go in immediately. 

Inside the office, the doctor looked up from a file as Zia entered. 

“Mrs. Martenelli. Sorry, Miss Zia.” He corrected awkwardly as he pointed to one of the two seats facing the office desk. “Please. Have a seat.”

Zia did not decline. “Thank you.” She said, “You wanted to see me. Is this about the hospital f*e? I will settle that the instant I get a phone…”

“Oh. No. Not that.” The doctor shook his head. “That has been taken care of by your friend.” 

“Kate?”

“No. The man who brought you in after you collapsed on the streets?”

Zia’s eyes held a confused gaze as she stared at the doctor. She didn’t have the faintest idea as to what man the doctor was talking about. 

But it appeared to have been someone who saved her after she’d collapsed on the streets.  

“I’m sorry. Did he leave a number or a card?”

“Not sure, but you can check in with the receptionist. He left as soon as you were stable. Sorry. I thought you two knew each other…”

“Anyway.” The doctor’s diverted from the topic as his expression turned serious. “I called you in to ask some questions.”

Zia kept a straight face and looked down at a button that had come undone on her hospital wear. “What questions?” 

“On the morning of your accident, five days ago, can you recall what you had for breakfast? A drink perhaps? Or any medication?”

Zia’s hands that were adjusting her buttons froze. Her chest tightened as the doctor’s question registered.

Like a scene replaying over and over again, the birthday breakfast she’d had, before stepping out that day slowly formed as words on her quivering lips.

“Steak. Eggs. A slice of… cake. Fresh orange juice.” Zia listed. 

Then she looked up at the doctor who was scribbling away on a notepad and frowned. “Why do you ask?”

The older man had a grave expression on his face when he finally met Zia’s gaze.  

“After your statement the other night. I asked for a drug test to be conducted using your blood sample. The results came in earlier today.”

“As suspected, there were traces of hallucinogens found in your system. Psilocybin to be exact.”

“Did you say hallucinogens?”

“Yes. A good amount of psilocybin in your system can result in altered thinking and hallucinations, hence the little girl you thought you’d hit, and difficulty in coordination and motor function, leading to the accident…”

“…and the miscarriage.” Zia concluded. A wave of coldness washed over her. 

“This is more serious than we think, Miss Zia. If you’ve been drugged at home, then I’m sorry, I think your life may be in danger…”

Zia stood up from the chair in a daze. Her feet moved on their own towards the door.

“Miss Zia?” The doctor called after her.

“Should I involve the police?” 

At this, Zia turned. Her eyes were sad and bloodshot red, like a maniac’s. A tight smile formed on her lips, creating a scary contrast to her gaze.

“No doctor. Thank you.”

Zia walked gracefully into the corridor. Pulse speeding, heartbeat pounding. 

Her eyes tightened, but there were no traces of a tear. 

For all the tears she had, she’d given to Damien. 

She’d sacrificed all she had for him. For his family. But what had she gotten in return? Her innocent baby had nothing to do with this!

Zia clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into the palms of her hands. 

The law? 

It was nothing compared to a mother’s scorn!