Chapter 14

The Hospital

Lucy had threatened Rachael that if she went anywhere near the hospital she would never speak to her again. She had rung her sister Kate who had said the same thing. They both advised her to start divorce proceedings.

'Alright, alright I will but I have to go to the hospital. I have to see him and tell him face to face. Anything else would be cruel and cowardly,' Rachael had said. But secretly she held, deep down, a thought, a hope that also eased her guilt and fears. She prayed that this man who had tormented her, abused her and made her life a living hell would have changed. He would waken from his coma a new man. The guilt and fear would be swept away. He was her husband, the future would be a happy one in which the married couple of forty years, Frank and Rachael Wright would live happily ever after.

She considered for a whole day before making what turned out to be a momentous decision. So with a packed a suitcase which obviously meant that she would be staying some time, Rachael went back to her home town. Her lifelong friend Val would always make her welcome but would probably have the same opinion as her daughters. However she told herself that she had to make her own decisions. The first thing she wanted to do was to visit the hospital.

Leaving her cases in the car and filled with apprehension she walked timidly and slowly into the hospital. Filled with memories of all the years of abuse she saw a chair just inside the entrance and sat down. Her heart was racing. She felt dizzy.

I am going to faint she thought.

Am I doing the right thing she asked herself. Perhaps I'm wrong. Everybody had said so. Kate and Lucy had been adamant but deep down she knew that this was something that she had to do. She had to say goodbye. Leaving without seeing him one last time would be too cruel.

'I knew it wouldn't be easy, but it is the right thing to do,' she was talking audibly but in a whisper.

'Is that you Mrs Wright?' said a nurse who was just sneaking outside for a smoke.

'Are you alright? I haven't seen you for weeks. You know your husband has come out of his coma?'

Rachael tried to stand up but fell back down onto the chair.

'I'm OK,' she muttered. 'Just a bit dizzy.'

The nurse bent down and felt Rachael's pulse. Then she felt her forehead.

'I think we should go to the cafe and have a coffee and a chat Mrs Wright.'

The nurse seated Rachael at a table in a far corner.

'I'll get you a coffee or would you prefer tea?'

'Coffee is fine thank you, but I really ought to go and see my husband. I believe he has been asking for me.'

'He has Mrs Wright, but it wouldn't do if you fainted by his bedside now would it?'

Nurse Young returned with the coffees then said, ‘To be absolutely frank with you Mrs Wright I was hoping to speak to you before you saw your husband. I do know a little about your past-- I mean your marriage. I believe – well let's say Mr. Wright wasn't exactly the ideal husband, was he?'

Rachael was about to say, 'What has it got to do with you', but she felt dizzy again and almost dropped her cup of coffee.

'Look Mrs Wright, might I suggest that you do not go into the ward on your own. I am afraid I can't go with you, but wouldn't it be better if one of your daughters or perhaps a friend would come with you.'

'Neither of my daughters would come. They are both very angry with me and said that they never want to see me again even though I pleaded with them. I mean he is their father.'

'I am sorry to hear that. I will walk with you to the ward, and I will explain the situation to the nurse and doctor on duty. I am sure someone will accompany you. Now I don't want to hurry you, but I have already over stayed my break.'

When they reached the ward the same doctor who had admitted Frank was there and in fact he had visited him practically every day.

'Hello, Mrs Wright, would you like to come into my office. I do need to talk to you before you see your husband.'

They went into the office, and he sat behind his desk, took out some notes then looked up and said, 'Good grief Mrs Wright you look as though you are going to faint. Sit down.'

He left his chair and walked round his desk, felt her pulse and took her temperature.

'Do your feel dizzy Mrs Wright.'

'I-I-I don't know what I feel,' she stuttered.

'Look, I know this has been an ordeal for you, but you really seem unwell '.

'Please tell me about Fra-- I mean my husband.'

'First of all, I must ask some questions about you.'

'I am OK I just want to see my husband.'

'I know, I know but it is important that before you do I ask these questions. You see I have been looking through the hospital records and it seems that you have been hospitalised a few times with unexplained injuries. Do you remember these injuries? Can you tell me what happened to you?’

Rachael began to shake then she burst into tears. The doctor leapt up and gave her a box of tissues.

'Take your time Mrs Wright. There is no hurry.'

He went to the door and asked a nurse who was passing to bring a glass of water for Rachael. When the nurse came back with the drink the doctor asked her if she could spare the time to sit with her while he continued.

The nurse sat by Rachael and held her hand.

'You see, the thing is we are concerned because of what happened in the past might continue in the future if ---'

Rachael sobbed even louder. The nurse put her arm around her.

'Don't worry Mrs Wright. I think we know what happened in the past and we want you to know that you are safe here.'

The doctor began to explain by saying that Frank was now out of his coma and would be discharged in a few days and that he would still need some care. '

'How do feel about that Mrs Wright?'

Rachael fainted.

Chapter 15

 

Chapter 15 1697

Rachael opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

'Where am I? ' she thought. Then she said it again out loud. As she sat up she saw a nurse sitting by her bedside who told her that she was in hospital.

'Am I ill? Have I had an accident? Why am I in hospital? I don't feel ill.'

'Can you remember your name?'

'Of course. My name is Rachael'

'And your last name?'

'I'm not sure .'

'I think you are married,' said the nurse. 'You are wearing a wedding ring.

Can you remember your husband's name?'

'I am married? I suppose I must be if I am wearing a wedding ring. So I have a husband? '

'Do you know my husband? ' she asked the nurse.

' I don't want to upset you Mrs Wright but---'

'Is that my name? You know my name. Why do you know my name and I don't? Why am I here. If I am married where is my husband?'

The nurse was out of her depth. She had never dealt with such a complicated problem before. She did know about Mrs Rachael Wright and Mr. Frank Wright. She knew about his accident but also his past violence to his wife. It seemed now that Mrs. Wright was protecting herself from her horrific memories and they were horrific. The nurse knew that she had been hopitalised a number of times.

'I think I have to ask the doctor to come and explain to you about your husband's situation.'

The nurse left the room to find the doctor to explain about Mrs Wright. The doctor told the nurse that Rachael had family and friends so it would be prudent to try to contact someone to come to the hospital to talk to Rachael and perhaps help her to remember.

She quickly returned and began asking Rachael more questions.

'Do you have children Mrs Wright?'

'I am not sure. I think so but I can't remember. Why am I in hospital? Have I had an accident? Why can't I remember anything? Do you know where I live?'

'I am trying to help you remember. I think you have two daughters and we have their phone numbers. Would you like me to ring them for you? The problem is that they don't live locally so I think it would take some time for them to get here.'

While this was happening the doctor was ringing both daughters. Their phone numbers were in Rachael's file because she had given the hospital her daughters' phone numbers when she had stayed with them; firstly with Kate in Chamonix and then Lizzie in London.

Before Rachael could answer the doctor came into the room and said,' I hope you don't mind Mrs Wright but I have phoned both of you daughters. Do you remember you have Kate who has a hotel in Chamonix in France. You stayed there recently. Also I phoned Lizzie who lives in London. Lizzie is unable to come before the weekend but she suggested that your friend Val who lives locally would come to see you. Perhaps she will be able to help you recover your memory. Do I have your permission to phone your friend. Lizzie has given me her number.'

'Well of course if you think it will help but isn't it an imposition asking someone to come to the hospital to help me. I mean what if I don't remember her.'

Doctor Ramanov reassured Rachael that this would be fine and it would certainly be the best way to help her to recover her memory.

So Val was contacted and as soon as she was informed of the situation she hopped into her car and arrived at the hospial in less than an hour.

Val was shown into the room where Rachael was lying and feeling confused and frightened.

'Hey Rach, what's all this about. You know me don't you? We've been friends and colleagues for years.'

Rachael sat up and stared at Val. She was bemused.

'I am really sorry. Val is it? I can't remember anything. I don't know how I got here. I don't know why I lost my memory. Nobody seems to think that I have been in an accident. They tell me that I have two daughters but I can't remember them. Do you know my daughters?'

'Yes I do. You went to stay with Kate in Chamonix and you even went sking...'

' I can ski?'

'Yes then you went to live with Lizzie in London. You got a job teaching.'

'I am a teacher? You seem to know so much about me. Do you think you know why I have lost my memory?'

Of course Val knew why Rachael didn't want to confront the truth about the past and she would be terified of Frank emerging from his coma and beginning to abuse her again.

'You are a teacher and perhaps we can – well it might be possible---- I'll ask the doctor if it would be wise for you to come home with me and --'

'I would like to get out of this place but it seems such an imposition when I don't know who you are.'

'I will go and talk to the doctor and see what the situation is.'

Val had a long conversation with the doctor. She told him that she knew the past history of her friend and Frank her husband.

'I hope you don't mind me saying this but I think she is terrified of him coming out of his comma. Her daughters begged her not to come back to the hospital but she said that she wanted to tell him in person that she wants a divorce.'

'Personally, I think that you are correct. Perhaps the best thing would be for her to recall her past slowly but she must not be left alone. Are you able to take care of her until her daughters arrive?'

'Certainly'.

'Will you also let me know if or when she begins to remember. I feel that in my capacity as Mr Wright's doctor I am treading a tight rope. I should keep Mr. Wright informed about his wife and vice versa.'

'You can't tell that --- ' Val wanted to say 'that bastard' but said instead 'that man anything about his wife. He'll stop at nothing to find her and ---'

'I am aware of that but there are certain protocols----'

'Sod protocols doctor. He will kill her if he finds her.'

Val stormed out of the doctor's office.

Val found Rachael and said, 'Get your things. Let's get out of this place. They left the hospital together, found Val's car and drove to Val's house.

When they arrived Val's husband came to the door to meet them. 'This is Dave my husband, ' said Val. 'I expect you remember him.'

Rachael looked and felt embarrassed and said, 'Sorry.'

Dave started to speak, 'Surely--'

But Val quickly stopped him and put her arm around Rachael and lead her to the sitting room.

'Make yourself comfortable Rachael. I'll go and put the kettle on.

Now let's just relax and have a nice cup of tea. Dave, see if you can find some biscuits.'

In the kitchen while they were waiting for the kettle to boil and Dave was looking in the cupboard for biscuits he said, 'I bet if we show her the video she'll soon remember.'

'Don't be stupid we have to be careful. She has obviously erased the violence of that swine of a husband. We have to wait until Lizzie arrives from London. I wonder if she can go back to her job. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she never regained her memory and just carried on teaching and playing music. She might meet someone and ---'

'And what ? Now who's being stupid Val. Perhaps we can help her to recover her memory and--'

'Maybe we can persuade her to divorce the bastard,' said Val. 'Why the hell does she want to see him. The doctor said that he is out of his coma and they are going to send him home.'

Rachael had come to the kitchen and was standing in the doorway and listening. She heard that her husband was out of his coma and that the doctors were going to send him home.

'Are you talking about my husband, was he in a coma? What happened to him? Is that why I can't remember? Were we both in an accident? Send him home? Send him home? Where is my home? Why can't I go home? Do you know where I live? Will you take me to my home maybe I will remember if I go home.'

Val and Dave were dumbstruck. Val felt like crying. She looked at Dave and said,' What shall we do?'

Val and Dave managed to placate Rachael by saying that the doctor had told them that the reason she had lost her memory was because she must have had a very bad shock and or there was something that she wanted to forget.

'What on earth could that be? Do you know what it is Val? Aren't you my best friend? You seem to know everything about me.'

Val was lost for words. She knew. Of course she knew but she didn't want Rachael to find out about Frank. What was the alternative. Could Rachael spend the rest of her life not knowing who she was, not knowing her daughters.

Dave jumped in to try to help the situation.

'Did the doctor tell you that you have two daughters. You remember your daughters don't you? '

Rachael looked puzzled. 'Do they know that I have lost my memory?'

'Well it's hard to say. I haven't spoken to them but I believe the doctor has contacted them and asked them to come to the hospital.'

Then Val butted in, 'I know, why don't we ask them to come here and then perhaps they will take you to your house.'

'So when will they be here? '

'Well Lucy lives in London and Kate lives in Chamonix. I believe the doctor said that Lucy will come this weekend but obviously it will take a little planning for Kate to come from France.'

'What on earth is wrong with me. I can't remember my own daughters and they both sound so interesting. Do they know I've lost my memory? Do you think that they will know why I have lost my memory?'