CHAPTER 2

An ambulance came and took Camilla to Crest city's central hospital where she happened to work and her colleagues at the OPD took over immediately, getting her a room and giving her sedatives so she could sleep for the night.

She had just resumed at CCCH four months ago and didn't know most of the people in the OPD but she was lucky to run into a friend of one of her colleagues in IP, who agreed to let her use his phone. She called her mother but it was Norman who picked the call and he had insisted that everything was fine despite all her pleading to be told the truth. Her gut told her otherwise because there was this emptiness she felt the moment she heard her mother's voice on the phone. That hollow feeling was very familiar and she could only pray that Norman was telling the truth. She wasn't sure she could have her heart wrenched out of her chest for the third time in her life. It would be too much. Too much.

Despite the sedatives, Camilla's sleep was plagued with nightmares. When she finally woke up, it was bright and sunny.

She took a taxi home, dressed, packed up properly and went to the airport where she took a flight down to Fresno, from where she took a thirty minutes ride to Riverbed county hospital.

By the time Camille got to the small but well-equipped hospital, it was almost two in the afternoon and she was worn out more from anxiety than travel stress.

When she got out of the rental In front of the hospital, her courage failed her. She was too scared to enter not knowing what she would find. Fortunately, she had called Norman the moment she touched down and he was looking out for her at the main cafeteria which was a glass dome close to the hospital's entrance.

The moment he saw her, he hurried to the gate and called out to her.

"Camie!..Over here!"

"Norman."

She was grateful to see someone familiar and hurried over to him. They met halfway and Norman quickly collected her bag.

"How is he Norman? How is my husband?"

"Why don't we take a seat first Camie. Have you had anything today? You look tired. Come on, let's go eat then we will talk."

" Norman, I am a nurse. I can take it. Just tell me how bad it is. Better still, just stay here, I will go and find out for myself."

She turned around and made for the reception area but Norman quickly grabbed her hand. He held her shoulders and looked her in the eye.

"Camie. Listen to me. Once you get in there, you will have no time to eat till maybe nightfall. And you look so tired. Trust me, everything is fine. Just take a bite and then we will go in together. You will need the strength. Plus he is sleeping right now so.." He shrugged, trying to be casual.

She knew he was just trying to help her so she nodded and headed for the cafeteria with him, deciding to trust him since he looked so calm and collected. If things were really serious, he wouldn't be like that right?

After two pancakes in honey syrup and a large cup of coffee, Camille felt like she could take on the world.

"Done. Let's go." She said to Norman as she stood up.

"Camie, please sit down. Rest a little. Daniel is sleeping as it is."

"Why are you stalling me Norman?" Camille half screamed as her purse fell from her hands, drawing the attention of other people in the cafeteria.

"I am not trying to stall you...i...just…" Norman teared up.

The sight shocked Camille. Norman is crying. Why is he crying? She grabbed his jacket and shook him violently.

"Norman, talk to me! What happened? Is Daniel….dead?" Her voice quivered. Afraid to say the words that were dancing around in her head.

"...and Ellen.."

" Nooooooooooooo!" Camille screamed as she felt her stomach squeeze into a knot and her lunch came tumbling out. It was as if she was expunging every energy stored in her body. As soon as she finished vomiting, strength left her and she fainted.

Camille didn't wake up till late in the night and her mother was seated beside her watching TV. She wanted to remain quiet as she didn't feel like talking to anybody but she had to see for herself before she can believe it. How can her husband and daughter be dead? What about Alfred? Where is Alfred? How is he doing? It was overwhelming.

Camille sat up, startling her mum.

"Oh, you are awake. You scared Camie dear.'

Grandma was close to tears again. She had been crying on and off and her eyes looked red. There are also dark bags where there was none before. It suddenly occurred to Camille that her hourglass-shaped, slightly plum, petite, fashion-conscious mum had started ageing. I will probably soon lose her too. Cammie broke down, letting her grief take over. Grandma quickly hurried over to her.

" Camie dear. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. Please stop crying." But she was also crying and seeking solace in the arms of her daughter.

When Norman arrived, he found them in each other's arms, folded together and heaving. Camille was the first person to notice that Norman had arrived.

."Thank you Norman."

"It's nothing. Camille. I brought dinner." He raised a shopping sack with a gentle smile on his face. Camilla nodded and he started bringing out lunch packs from inside it and placing them on the small table in the room. By then grandma had also stopped crying but was still resting in Camille's arms. She was reluctant to let go.

"Dorcas, come sit here so she can eat properly." No suggested.

Grandma stood up and went back to her chair without any protest. When she sank onto the couch, she started crying again.

Seeing the food, Camille remembered what had happened in the afternoon and started feeling repulsed.

"I don't think I can eat anything."

"Just a little Camie."

He said exactly that in the afternoon.

Suddenly, Camille became angry.

"My family is dead and all you keep shining in my face is food. Norman, what's wrong with you?!"

Norman was shocked and lost. He didn't know what to do.

Not appreciating her daughter's tone with her friend, grandma scolded Camille in between sobs. "You will not talk to him like Camille. If not for Norman, how would I have coped when you were not here? You will not talk to him like that. Be grateful!."

"Camille felt like someone slapped her face but what her mother said was true. She shouldn't be ungrateful. She swallowed her anger. " I am sorry Norman but I want to see them."

"I know, Camie. But not now."

"Why? Why not now? I should eat before seeing dead bodies? Do you like being vomited on that much?!" Camille screamed at him not knowing where the rage came from.

"CAMILLIA!" Her mother screamed at her.

"Yes!" She replied, facing her mom. Unfazed. Dorcas shrunk back into her couch. The look in Camillia's eyes scared her. She had never seen her daughter like that before.

Norman quickly threw his hands up and surrendered.

"It's okay. Don't eat if you don't want to. It's okay. I am sorry.

Camille hissed and stood up but Norman quickly stood in her way, preventing her from taking another step.

" What are you doing?" Camille asked, her eyes red with rage. She started hitting him.

"Get out of my way. Get out of my way!!"

Unflinching, Norman grabbed her floppy hands and dragged her into an embrace. She broke down in his arms and he let her cry.

"Was it that bad?"

"I am sorry Camie."

"Tell me. I want to know."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded into his chest.

" The car skipped off the road and rolled down a very deep valley. Seemed like Ellen was thrown out of the car while it was still moving. She was found hanging on a tree. I don't think she suffered."

Camellia wished she never asked. Her body started shivering. Ellen. Her baby. She stood no chance. She must have been so scared. Oh Gawd! Oh Gawd. Oh Gawd! Camille's grip on Norman's jacket became very tight. She became stiff and just stared at nothing as she stepped into her daughter's shoes in her last moment.

"Camie! Camie, breathe!"

Norman patted her cheeks gently until she blinked.

"Are you okay?"

Camille nodded as she gulped in the air. She had forgotten to breathe.

"And Alfred and Daniel?" Her voice quivered, scared of what she would hear

But she had to know. The least they could do is tell her what happened.

' Alfred was found some feet away from the car but Daniel was still trapped when it went up in flames.'

"WHAT?! MY HUSBAND WAS BURNT ALIVE?! NOOOO! NO NO NO!"

Camille's scream attracted a nurse and she popped in her head.

"What is...oh Camie. She Is awake. I will go get the doctor now." She said to Norman and left.

"This is why I didn't want to tell you anything. Camie you have to be strong. Alfred is out of surgery and will be needing you once he wakes up. You can't be like this. You have to pull yourself together. Camie, please.

" Why?! Why?! Why?! He didn't deserve such a horrible death. Why did he have to die like that?! Why?!"

Camille couldn't stop crying no matter what Norman said. All she could see was Daniel burning and Ellen hanging on a tree. The pictures were so real in her head and they were driving her crazy.

When the doctor came in and saw mother and daughter crying, he gave Camille a mild sedative and advised that Dorcas should take a break by going home for the night.