Everything They Didn't Tell

by Marcaila Edwards

  I've shocked Robynett twice but nothing. She has flat-lined one minute ago but I'm not giving up. Cassie is about to stop me from shocking her again but I resist.

  “Look, I'm not gonna pull the plug on her so you better charge to 300. Clear!”

  Robynett's vitals slowly starts climbing. I breathe relief. Everyone in the room starts applauding.

  My legs become wobbly and tears begin to form around the rim of my eyes. My vision becomes blurred and I run out of the room. I have no clue what I am feeling now. Could it be remorse, accomplishment, joy, sorrow or grief?

  I literally tear the gloves from off my hands and remove my mask. My heart resounds loudly around my rib cage, I'm almost sure everyone around can hear it. I stop and lean against the wall beside the elevator, hoping no one can see me in this state. Now I'm clueless as to why I can't stop crying.

  Is it Robyn that I miss or is it my patient, who I'd almost lost? I begin to wipe the tears from my face and fix my scrubs. On entering the elevator, I see David running towards me with this worrying look.

  I hide my devastated face from him. Who would have wanted their fiancé to see them with tear stains, puffy eyes, a running nose and mascara running down their face. He stands before me, shielding me from my onlookers. I lose myself in his warm embrace, shedding more tears. God, this is embarrassing.

  I pull away to wipe my face. David puts his finger under my chin and tilts my head slowly. I still keep my eyes down, trying not to make contact with those beautiful hazel eyes.

  “Look at me Rachel,” he coos. I turn my gaze to his eyes and keep it there, trying my best not to break it.

  “We all have bad days; we all have days where we feel like we've been shattered into a million pieces. All we need is a little tape and glue. I'm your tape and glue, Rach, and I promise I will make sure your broken pieces are mended,” he assures.

  I shake my head in solace.

  “How do you put up with me?”

  “That's what love is. It makes you do things you didn't picture yourself doing, just to make the person you care about, comfortable.” His lips curves slowly into a smile and I press my lips in a thin line.

  “Feel like a mess, David.”

  “Your eyes are still puffy but you look beautiful as ever,”he hugs.

  “I'm going to run now but I need you to go through your patient's file and try to figure out what had caused her to flat line. If you need a second opinion, call me,” he instructs before waiting for me to consent.

  “I Love you, David Harris.” I gawp his eyes.

  “I Love you, Rachel King, soon to be Harris.” he proudly states.

  “You're still coming to visit Robynett with me, right?”

  “Hmm, just page me when you’re ready.”

  We go our separate ways.

  I head back to the floor Robynett is staying on and then I scan the Patient Database on the computer to find her chart. I take a seat and begin to read.

  After going through her charts, like, a billion times, soliciting the opinions of my colleagues, I think I've found out what went wrong with her.

  *****

  “Hey there, I know your throat is sore but I'm gonna take out the tube that's in your throat to give you some ease, okay?” I try to comfort the woman, lying on the bed. She gives me a slight thumb up as I can imagine how hard it is for her to shake her head.

  After removing the tube, I make it very clear to her how her Cardiomyopathy has worsened and the fact that she'll be needing surgery today instead of tomorrow. She cries uncontrollably, despite my warm consolation. I mean, how do you tell a 30-year-old that her life will change from today?

  “Dr. King, please could you help me through this. I have no one, I have no friends. I have no one,” she sobs. “Could you please be my friend?” she gulps.

  “Sure. As a matter a fact, I've already considered you a friend. Now wipe your tears, have some water and I’ll ask the nurses to get you prepared for your surgery. I promise that I will do my best.” I try to assure, without giving her any sort of false hope. She shakes her head slowly, sipping the water that's on her bedside table.

  “If you’re up for it, after the surgery, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.

  “Okay.”

  I leave the room and head to the nurses’ station, informing them of my plans for Robynett. My eyes feel so heavy, I know I'm tired but I know I can’t put this surgery off. I am afraid Robynett will flat-line again.

  *****

  “Rachel, wake up, you’re going to be late for your surgery,” I hear someone whisper in my ears. Groggily, I open my eyes and rub them, rigorously. Squinting my eyes, a couple times, I see Kristal, a colleague and a friend. I might have referred to her as Dr. Manning before.

  I jump up and run to the bathroom to freshen up. I make my way to Robynett’s room before the surgery. I explain to her every detail of the surgery and all the risks. I watch as the nurses move Robynett in the direction of the elevator.

  I am currently sterilizing my hands and suiting up. I stand in front of the automatic door with my gloved hands, inches away from my chest. I step in once the door is opened. I walk hesitantly to the operating table and utter a few words of comfort.

  Andy, the anesthesiologist puts Robynett under; as soon as she’s out that’s my queue to begin.

  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference,” I whisper.

  “Scalpel.” I take one last deep breath and I stretch my hand forward to the scrub nurse.

  Here We Go, I say in my head, exhaling.

  Chapter 8

  *****

  Hearing shuffling in the room, I lift my head from my lap. My heart races a bit from anxiety.

  “She's waking up. Robynett is waking up!”

  I hurry over to Robynett’s bedside, placing my hand on her leg, which had been covered with a white woolen blanket.

  “Hey there,” I greet.

  “Hi.” she croaks. It's so obvious, how tired she is, those emerald eyes look all droopy. On the bright side, her skin is no longer looking pale.

  “Good! Your surgery was successful and your stats are– looking good. We have to keep you for a couple of days for observation, but you should recover quickly.”

  She gently nods her head. I can’t stop staring. I still can’t believe that two different persons would look so much alike. My eyes begin to roam her body, looking for any thing to prove that this woman is or isn’t Robyn.

  In grade school, Robyn was the master at the monkey bars. I always told her that one day she would get hurt from it. One day she tried to do a complicated trick and hurt herself; fortunately, it wasn’t that bad. She almost fell but she held on to one of the old, rusty bars. During her ordeal, she cut her palm on the piece of metal. From that day forward, Robyn never climbed those bars again; the pink scar on her left hand became a constant reminder that the monkey bars were totally off limits.

  “Is something growing on me?” Maybe I had been gawping her for too long. Impolite.

  I’m sorry. It’s just that – ”

  “Just that, what?”

  “Well, remember how I told you that you look like my best friend?”

  “Ah,” she nods.

  “This is gonna sound crazy but…”

  I pull this chair toward the side of her bed.

  *****

  “You are such a lucky girl. If your fiancé was not totally in love with you then trust me, sweetheart, he would have been gone as the wind. Most guys wouldn’t put up with this,” she continues. At this point, I’m just sitting and listening since I’ve been doing the talking for quite a while.

  “I know, right?” I simply reply.

  “So I’m guessing you wanted me to meet David, Huh?”

  “You really catch on fast.”

  “I think your story is quite interesting and since I’m gonna be on medical-leave for a while, why don’t I help you
in your quest? I mean, it’s hard to be a Private Investigator and have nothing to investigate,” she chuckles.

  “Really?”

  “Yup,” she delights.

  “Wait a minute– You didn’t tell me you’re a P.I?”

  “I guess I didn’t really get the chance to tell you about myself, neither did you get to tell me anything about yourself.”

  “I see,” I nod, my arms folded.

  “How about us having a friend's night later, after your shift?”

  “Sounds great, Robynett.”

  “Don’t forget to bring David.”

  “Okie doe.”

  Chapter 9

  Today makes two months since Robynett and I have been in the search for any information pertaining to Robyn’s whereabouts. And we've since become official BFF’s. Although my hopes are up and my faith's as high as a mountain, I’m starting to think a whole lot differently about this situation. I feel so lost, it's almost as if I’m chasing a ghost.

  We looked over the police reports, we spoke to the driver who had bumped her off the road but we found nothing. Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada, absolutely nothing.

  Since today is my day off, I have decided to go through social media and the internet, hopefully, I will find something. After that, Robynett and I are going to go to this new spa, a few miles down from my apartment. We didn’t get to do our girls night out last month as she had asked, so we're gonna have a girls’ day. She is much stronger and her recovery has been great.

  I pull the swivel chair closer to the black glossy office desk. I quickly type away on the keypad of my Mac computer, bringing up facebook.com. I log into my page. It’s been like, months since I’ve had time to go on any of my social media accounts.

  I go to the main page feed and after multiple scrolls; I see death wishes and rest in peace signs for Robyn, bringing tears to my eyes.

  Knock -Knock-Knock

  I jolt to an upright position. I move to the door, wiping my tears with a sheet of wipes. My blurry eyes blink a couple of times as I peer through the peephole. It's Robynett. I unlock the door. Seconds after entering the room, she jolts towards me with joy, grabbing me in a hug.

  “Let’s go to the spa!!” she sings.

  “Alrighty.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” I pause, turning around “Babe?”

  “Yeah?” I hear him walking to the kitchen, his hair tousled while he rubs his drowsy red eyes.

  “Oh, I woke you up. I’m sorry.”

  “Nah, its fine.”

  “I’m going out with Robynett, I’ll be back soon.”

  “Be careful, Cupcake.”

  “I will.”

  “Have fun!” he shots, chuckling as Robynett and I practically run out the door like two little girls who had just gotten candy. I unlock the doors to my M3, pointing Robynett in.

  I’m glad David has really caught on to Robynett and I being friends. She, Kristal and I really get along. When David went to visit her he was so shocked, but he is still convinced she can’t be Robyn, his exact words, 'It’s Impossible.' It turns out they both have a love for country music, they rant on hours and hours about country music every time they meet. I love music and appreciate every genre but country just isn’t my cup of tea.

  He has really put a lot of effort in this Robyn search. Not once has he backed out or given up. He has wiped every tear, silence every sob and it never ceases to amaze me how no matter how broken I become, he makes me feel wholesome again; I’m the ripped paper and he is my tape and glue.

  “Quite the couple,” she smirks putting on her safety belt.

  *****

  The ride to the spa has been pretty smooth. Every song that's played on the radio she knew and of course she sang along like a rock star. I pull up to the building that says Spa élite. Robynett leaps from my M3 like a kid with a new heart. Wow, such energy; one could never tell...

  “Forgive my behaviour; it’s just that I've never known what true friendship is. Thank You Rachel.”

  “You’re Welcome,” I smile, giving her a warm hug.

  I still don’t get it. How she could be alive and never had friends? She says she has no family, but that’s impossible, right? Maybe she's had a bad relationship with them.

  I make long strides to the door of the building, trying to catch up with Robynett. The minty pine eucalyptus scent hits my nostrils. I take a deep breath, taking that soothing aroma in.

  This place is absolutely beautiful. The windows are glass, all showing the view of palm trees, orchids and mini water fountains. The photographs on the walls are breathtakingly beautiful.

  It’s easy to see that they were going for an Earth theme. Moving from behind the glass counter, a blonde woman approaches us both.

  “Hello, Welcome to Spa Élite, I’m Chloé. How can I assist?” she greets, with this warm French accent.

  “Um, we would like to have a full body package,” Robynett tells her.

  “Okay, that includes full body massage, manicure, pedicure and a facial.”

  “That’s exactly what we need, right Rach?”

  “Yup,” I answer.

  “Okay that will be $300.00, each,” Chloé responds, pressing some buttons on the touch screen device behind the desk.

  My eyes meet Robynett’s; our jaws drop. Three hundred dollars. This had better be worth it. Hesitantly, we take out our cards, paying the woman.

  “Alright ladies, go upstairs to room 5; enjoy your day.”

  Chapter 10

  Don't recall feeling so relaxed in my entire life. I'm feeling new, my muscles are relaxed. Though expensive, it's worth every penny and dime.

  We walk to this restaurant, just two buildings away for lunch. Upon entering, we're greeted by this dude who's wearing black.

  “Welcome!”

  “We would like a table for two,” I reply.

  “Okay, right this way,” he points.

  He pulls the chairs from under the table, allowing us to sit.

  “Here are your menus, I will be back shortly to take your order.”

  We peruse the fancy menu as we chit chat and giggle.

  He's back. “What can I get you ladies?”

  “I would like the shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo with a glass of red wine.” He makes a jotting.

  “I will have the Caesar Shrimp Salad and a bottle of water,” Robynett orders.

  “Okay ladies, your order will be ready in the next 45 minutes; we will give you some cinnamon sticks as an appetizer.”

  “Thank you,” we both squeal.

  I really do enjoy Robynett’s company, but I really need to ask her about her family. I’m really curious.

  “Rob.”

  “Yeah?” She raises her head.

  “Could I ask you something?”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  “How is it that you have no family or friends?” I hold her hands.

  “Um… three years ago, I met an accident, or so I was told; I have no recollection of the event. I woke up in this small room, which had only a bed and a window. I started yelling for about an hour. This man finally opened the door.”

  She pauses; obviously she had an awful experience. She uses a napkin to wipe her face. She chokes on her sob and continues.

  “The man told me he was a doctor and that– some stranger had found me and brought me there. Um… at the time I had absolutely no recollection of who I was, couldn’t even remember my name. He then brought me to this woman and insisted I used a new identity, start life afresh. And so I chose the name, Robynett Blake.”

  “I am so sorry.”

  Wow. I’m at a loss for words. I was not expecting to hear this. This girl has been through hell and back.

  They both had an accident. Robyn crashed...three years ago.

  “Do you know where the doctor held you?”

  “No, I can’t even remember his name. He said my brain was badly damaged but somehow, I still remember something. He said when I came in, I uttered a few words, giving him r
easons to think I may have been a detective or something of the sort, so I did courses and a masters in a career in Private Investigating.”

  This is getting even more all-over-the-place, like some jigsaw puzzle. Robyn was a lawyer and it now seems as if Robynett was a detective in the life she's lived before. And in making her new identity, why would she have chosen a first name and a last name close to that of Robyn's? How much of a coincidence is this? Someone's obviously playing a game. I continue tapping my fingertips on the table.

  “Have you told anyone about this?” I press.

  “No– I told only you and my boss. I told her about my new identity and she made it official.”

  “Why didn’t you do a finger print test or something?”

  “My boss did that but no results came back.”

  “Thank you for sharing that with me, Rob,” I hug. I really appreciate her opening up on this, not that it sheds much light.

  “Do you mind if I tell David or do you just want to keep it between us?”

  “You can tell David. I trust you both. You are the only friends and family I have.”

  “I care about your well being, Rob.”

  “Thanks.”

  So far, I have learnt that Robynett’s favourite colour is blue, just like me; her favourite type of music is indie pop, like me; she loves dogs, which I hate, and we both hate frogs. I guess it’s easy to say we have quite a few things in common. Well, she loves jigsaw puzzles. I never had the patience of putting broken pieces together.

  But isn't this what I'm doing, trying to mend broken pieces? Or, maybe I'm wasting time, trying to unite what doesn't even exist.

  *****

  “Thank you for today. It was really fun,” she delights, as the car comes to a halt in front of her city view apartment.