Thirty-eight

 I enter the hospital along with the stretcher carrying Stella. Noise and smell oozes every corner, I cling to the jacket the policewoman gave me to cover myself. I ain't feeling cold exactly, but lots of eyes are giving questioning look. The hospital seems a little bit crowded, mostly filled with people in white uniforms and police. I glance around the place feeling nostalgic already due to the smell.

Someone pats my back, I peep through my shoulder to see the person, it's the policewoman who gave me her jacket immediately they brought Stella and me out of the water, she told me her name was Alice.

Alice smiles at me while she leads me to a waiting seat close to the front desk, a corner in the hall. She guides me to settle on the steel bench as she also sits. I huff, balancing.

Unconsciously I connect my eyes with an old lady sitting on the waiting seat opposite us. Her face grimaces with sympathy.