Post by Laura De'Icco on Feb 26, 2008 4:09:46 GMT -5
Date: February 26th 2008
Time: 2: 17 P.M.
Location: Michael Reese Hospital, Downtown Chicago
"Well there's no time like the present Laura. Not like it's gonna get any easier so...*Sigh*...Here goes..."
Taking a few steps towards the sliding doors of the hospital entrance, she could feel those narrowed eyes focusing in on her from a few feet away. An old couple, seemingly seated outside. Enjoying the view? Who knew, but by now they thought Laura was absolutely nuts with how long she had stood in that same spot attempting to talk herself into not proceeding with this visit one moment, and then the precise opposite the next. Still she flashed the couple a bright and as genuine as she could muster smile as she stepped through the doors just as they parted, allowing for her entry into the facility. The anxiety of the visit itself setting in even more so as each second passed by. She knew she should have come sooner. Much sooner. Regardless of how difficult she knew it would be to see him in such a way, she should have.
She wondered precisely what type of condition he was in at this point. It had been months since that awful day. That merciless fiery structure collapsing around the three of them mere moments before she arrived...On that horrifying afternoon...
A flashback to the unmistakable look of fear in his eyes as he called out to her. Longing to realize her safety once again. She could almost hear again, the emotion within the words escaping him as the structure burned like a beacon in the night, the wide eyed, glassy look ever present in her eyes at that very moment as the hurt he faced mirrored that of her own, yet 100 fold...
Fear...Regret...Panic...Guilt?...A barrage of emotions came over her, mirroring the day in question as well as in her thoughts at this very moment in time.
And then...The image of...The one from whom she was shielded from...The one whom had done this to her family? The one whom had waged this meaningless war upon the ones she would give her last breath for?...A moment in time for Laura she wasn't even absolutely positive that truly occurred. Or at least not the way her eyes suggested they did. That mask...Burned into her conscious. There was denying it. No escaping it. He...It...Was with her always since the day in question. A horrific memory, forever burned into her conscious, possibly eternally invading her even most pleasant thoughts, daydreams and dreamscapes...
And the feeling of regret and remorse over that part of it was evident as ever as she found herself standing directly in front of the greeting desk where she'd no doubt have to "check in" first before heading up to Joseph's room. A middle aged woman, the smile on her face radiant as she ushered another visitor on down the corridor with the most pleasant of voices. Perhaps the most welcoming she had encountered on this day of facing once more, the horrible events that occurred back on October 29th of the previous year. Once again, she composes herself, preparing to speak as she could hear the woman's voice chime in perfectly on time.
"Hello darling. Welcome to Michael Reese Hospital. What can I do for you this evening sweetie?"
A most welcoming salutation. One that actually made this ordeal a bit easier for Laura surprisingly. The smile now gracing her face much less difficult to form this time. She made eye contact with the woman, letting out a long breath before speaking, anxiety clearly present in her demeanor...
"Thank you..."
A quick glance downward, reading the woman's name tag before her vision arose once again to re-engage eye contact...
"...Sandra. *Giggles* I'm sorry, I'm just a bit nervous. Um, I'm here to visit a...A family member who was admitted here a few months ago."
The smile on Sandra's face was as wide as could be. It was as if she could read the uneasiness in Laura's eyes as she reached over to her direct left, retrieving the log of any and all visitors, flipping the book open, her focus intently on the names of the patients currently residing here as she responded...
"What's the name sweetie?"
"Um, Joseph Libertine. He's ah...Um...Comatose patient and..."
The woman's voice cuts her off, flipping through the pages at a quick pace, with narrowed vision as Laura's trail off throughout the surrounding lobby area. Then...
"Libertine...Libertine...Think I recall a...Ah, here we go sweetie. He's in room..."
Her facial expression seemed to become frozen in time staring at the page in front of her. It looked to be that of worry or concern from Laura could gage from it herself. The woman was completely silent for a few seconds, reading over the page it seemed, before Laura's curiosity got the best of her and...
"Is...Is there something wrong ma'am?..."
She watched as Sandra slowly returned her vision to lock with hers, the look in her eyes suggesting bad news. Laura instantly thought the worse given the demeanor in Sandra's eyes. No. He can't be...It just can't be. Her mouth hung open, void of words as Sandra's voice could be heard, staggering, stumbling over her words a bit as she responded...
"I, um...Wel...It looks as if...Miss..."
The suspense was killing her by now, she wanted to hear what was to be known of Joey's situation. Needed to know how he was doing. Even if it was the worse possible scenario.
"What is it? Is he...Is he..."
Shaking her head in Laura's direction, a look of disappointment on her face...
"I'm sorry Miss. But...It says here that Mr. Libertine isn't to have ANY visitors whilst here with us. I'm terribly sorry but...I can't allow you to go up sweetie."
What? She wasn't allowed to see her family? Where did this come from? Who would arrange such a thing? It all made no sense to Laura, whose temper was slowly beginning to rise with each word she spoke, or was spoken to with...
"Joey is family to me. He's someone who I'm very close to, now who exactly says that I can't go up to see him? Who? The administration here at the hospital? Who?"
"Well...A Miss Silvia Banks ma'am. I'm only doing my job honey. It's not anything personal, but I have no control over what arrangements are made you know? What relation is Mr. Libertine to you Miss...?"
Silvia? But why? Why would she keep the people who cared for Joey away from him at a time such as this? Wasn't this THE time for them all to be able to be by his side? Laura's mouth once again hung agape, shaking her head back and forth before glancing in each immediate direction, noticing the approaching security personnel before looking back to Sandra again...
"Are...Are you completely...Sure about that? No, no that has to be a mistake. A mix up or something."
"Yes ma'am. Says it right here. Miss Banks wants absolutely no visitors. Even has a list of some people she wishes to not be anywhere near Mr. Libertine."
She couldn't believe it. She stood there motionless. The flowers she had brought for Joey, now barely clasped to with both of her hands in front of her, seeming to lower closer to the floor with each second passing...
"That just...Can't be...Wa...Wait...Well...Can I ask who's on the list ma'am?"
"I, don't think that'd be a good id..."
"Ma'am please! I need to know. He's family to me despite whatever you've been told. Is my name on the list? Laura De'Icco. Please...Just check the list for me?...Please?"
"Ma'am I..."
"Please Sandra? I just have to know. If it is I'll be on my way and I'll let you get back to doing your job. I promise. I just need to know who's on that list. Just...Am I on it?"
The tears had already begun to well, and Sandra noticed immediately. She could tell Laura was becoming emotionally distraught over the situation. Perhaps she was truly family and there was some sort of mix up. Even so she couldn't break hospital rules like that but, Against her better judgment, as well as after waving off the approaching security personnel, she flips back to the page in question, glaring over the page for a few seconds before reading a few, but not the entire list of names listed for restriction from Mr. Libertine's room...
"Okay. Genovese...Taylor...De'Icco...There you go, that's you...Helms...Arielle....Dillinger...And there's a few more ma'am. I'm truly sorry for this but...Rules are rules Miss De'Icco. Maybe get in touch with Miss Banks and you two can arrange something?"
She was speechless. Why would Silvia restrict them from seeing him in such a situation. Who know what tomorrow would hold. Or the next minute for that matter. How could she do such a thing? It was almost as if...As if she and the others were being blamed for the condition Joey had been reduced to. Was that the reason they were being kept away? Surely Silvia didn't believe such a thing?...
Or did she?...
Laura's face shown pure disappointment...Anger...Confusion, as her eyes narrowed towards the middle aged woman seated behind the greetings desk. She stepped forward slowly, placing the flowers on the edge of the desk, nodding her head slightly, the tear that had begun to emerge moments ago making a slow trail down her cheek as she addressed that last suggestion from Sandra.
"No...I um...I don't think that'll be happening Sandra...I...I thank you for your time and help though. Can you..."
She pauses, her arm raising as she wipes away the small water trail made by the tear with the back of her hand. She glares over the flowers before asking for a small favor...
"...Can you do one more...One more thing for me...Just make sure that these get to his room. That's all. If you can promise me that I'll be..."
Her words were suddenly cut off, not by words but by the sympathetic look in the woman's eyes, as well as the head nod confirming her agreement to fulfill Laura's request.
Turning slowly, both of her hands finding their way to her face, she removed any remaining traces of tears from her now flushed red face. Her slow and paced steps readily began carrying her towards the exit of the hospital. A small grunt from her throat could most likely be heard by the one security personnel following her to said exit, clearly an attempt to regain composure over the ordeal just encountered. Once again, unanswered questions...The sound of the sliding doors coming ajar once again, coupled with the now clearly audible noisy "outside" world, both registering in her ears as the beaming sun rays could be felt against her face just as the cool Chicago wind had begun to whip it's way around the person of Laura De'Icco...
TO BE CONCLUDED...
Time: 2: 17 P.M.
Location: Michael Reese Hospital, Downtown Chicago
"Well there's no time like the present Laura. Not like it's gonna get any easier so...*Sigh*...Here goes..."
Taking a few steps towards the sliding doors of the hospital entrance, she could feel those narrowed eyes focusing in on her from a few feet away. An old couple, seemingly seated outside. Enjoying the view? Who knew, but by now they thought Laura was absolutely nuts with how long she had stood in that same spot attempting to talk herself into not proceeding with this visit one moment, and then the precise opposite the next. Still she flashed the couple a bright and as genuine as she could muster smile as she stepped through the doors just as they parted, allowing for her entry into the facility. The anxiety of the visit itself setting in even more so as each second passed by. She knew she should have come sooner. Much sooner. Regardless of how difficult she knew it would be to see him in such a way, she should have.
She wondered precisely what type of condition he was in at this point. It had been months since that awful day. That merciless fiery structure collapsing around the three of them mere moments before she arrived...On that horrifying afternoon...
A flashback to the unmistakable look of fear in his eyes as he called out to her. Longing to realize her safety once again. She could almost hear again, the emotion within the words escaping him as the structure burned like a beacon in the night, the wide eyed, glassy look ever present in her eyes at that very moment as the hurt he faced mirrored that of her own, yet 100 fold...
Fear...Regret...Panic...Guilt?...A barrage of emotions came over her, mirroring the day in question as well as in her thoughts at this very moment in time.
And then...The image of...The one from whom she was shielded from...The one whom had done this to her family? The one whom had waged this meaningless war upon the ones she would give her last breath for?...A moment in time for Laura she wasn't even absolutely positive that truly occurred. Or at least not the way her eyes suggested they did. That mask...Burned into her conscious. There was denying it. No escaping it. He...It...Was with her always since the day in question. A horrific memory, forever burned into her conscious, possibly eternally invading her even most pleasant thoughts, daydreams and dreamscapes...
And the feeling of regret and remorse over that part of it was evident as ever as she found herself standing directly in front of the greeting desk where she'd no doubt have to "check in" first before heading up to Joseph's room. A middle aged woman, the smile on her face radiant as she ushered another visitor on down the corridor with the most pleasant of voices. Perhaps the most welcoming she had encountered on this day of facing once more, the horrible events that occurred back on October 29th of the previous year. Once again, she composes herself, preparing to speak as she could hear the woman's voice chime in perfectly on time.
"Hello darling. Welcome to Michael Reese Hospital. What can I do for you this evening sweetie?"
A most welcoming salutation. One that actually made this ordeal a bit easier for Laura surprisingly. The smile now gracing her face much less difficult to form this time. She made eye contact with the woman, letting out a long breath before speaking, anxiety clearly present in her demeanor...
"Thank you..."
A quick glance downward, reading the woman's name tag before her vision arose once again to re-engage eye contact...
"...Sandra. *Giggles* I'm sorry, I'm just a bit nervous. Um, I'm here to visit a...A family member who was admitted here a few months ago."
The smile on Sandra's face was as wide as could be. It was as if she could read the uneasiness in Laura's eyes as she reached over to her direct left, retrieving the log of any and all visitors, flipping the book open, her focus intently on the names of the patients currently residing here as she responded...
"What's the name sweetie?"
"Um, Joseph Libertine. He's ah...Um...Comatose patient and..."
The woman's voice cuts her off, flipping through the pages at a quick pace, with narrowed vision as Laura's trail off throughout the surrounding lobby area. Then...
"Libertine...Libertine...Think I recall a...Ah, here we go sweetie. He's in room..."
Her facial expression seemed to become frozen in time staring at the page in front of her. It looked to be that of worry or concern from Laura could gage from it herself. The woman was completely silent for a few seconds, reading over the page it seemed, before Laura's curiosity got the best of her and...
"Is...Is there something wrong ma'am?..."
She watched as Sandra slowly returned her vision to lock with hers, the look in her eyes suggesting bad news. Laura instantly thought the worse given the demeanor in Sandra's eyes. No. He can't be...It just can't be. Her mouth hung open, void of words as Sandra's voice could be heard, staggering, stumbling over her words a bit as she responded...
"I, um...Wel...It looks as if...Miss..."
The suspense was killing her by now, she wanted to hear what was to be known of Joey's situation. Needed to know how he was doing. Even if it was the worse possible scenario.
"What is it? Is he...Is he..."
Shaking her head in Laura's direction, a look of disappointment on her face...
"I'm sorry Miss. But...It says here that Mr. Libertine isn't to have ANY visitors whilst here with us. I'm terribly sorry but...I can't allow you to go up sweetie."
What? She wasn't allowed to see her family? Where did this come from? Who would arrange such a thing? It all made no sense to Laura, whose temper was slowly beginning to rise with each word she spoke, or was spoken to with...
"Joey is family to me. He's someone who I'm very close to, now who exactly says that I can't go up to see him? Who? The administration here at the hospital? Who?"
"Well...A Miss Silvia Banks ma'am. I'm only doing my job honey. It's not anything personal, but I have no control over what arrangements are made you know? What relation is Mr. Libertine to you Miss...?"
Silvia? But why? Why would she keep the people who cared for Joey away from him at a time such as this? Wasn't this THE time for them all to be able to be by his side? Laura's mouth once again hung agape, shaking her head back and forth before glancing in each immediate direction, noticing the approaching security personnel before looking back to Sandra again...
"Are...Are you completely...Sure about that? No, no that has to be a mistake. A mix up or something."
"Yes ma'am. Says it right here. Miss Banks wants absolutely no visitors. Even has a list of some people she wishes to not be anywhere near Mr. Libertine."
She couldn't believe it. She stood there motionless. The flowers she had brought for Joey, now barely clasped to with both of her hands in front of her, seeming to lower closer to the floor with each second passing...
"That just...Can't be...Wa...Wait...Well...Can I ask who's on the list ma'am?"
"I, don't think that'd be a good id..."
"Ma'am please! I need to know. He's family to me despite whatever you've been told. Is my name on the list? Laura De'Icco. Please...Just check the list for me?...Please?"
"Ma'am I..."
"Please Sandra? I just have to know. If it is I'll be on my way and I'll let you get back to doing your job. I promise. I just need to know who's on that list. Just...Am I on it?"
The tears had already begun to well, and Sandra noticed immediately. She could tell Laura was becoming emotionally distraught over the situation. Perhaps she was truly family and there was some sort of mix up. Even so she couldn't break hospital rules like that but, Against her better judgment, as well as after waving off the approaching security personnel, she flips back to the page in question, glaring over the page for a few seconds before reading a few, but not the entire list of names listed for restriction from Mr. Libertine's room...
"Okay. Genovese...Taylor...De'Icco...There you go, that's you...Helms...Arielle....Dillinger...And there's a few more ma'am. I'm truly sorry for this but...Rules are rules Miss De'Icco. Maybe get in touch with Miss Banks and you two can arrange something?"
She was speechless. Why would Silvia restrict them from seeing him in such a situation. Who know what tomorrow would hold. Or the next minute for that matter. How could she do such a thing? It was almost as if...As if she and the others were being blamed for the condition Joey had been reduced to. Was that the reason they were being kept away? Surely Silvia didn't believe such a thing?...
Or did she?...
Laura's face shown pure disappointment...Anger...Confusion, as her eyes narrowed towards the middle aged woman seated behind the greetings desk. She stepped forward slowly, placing the flowers on the edge of the desk, nodding her head slightly, the tear that had begun to emerge moments ago making a slow trail down her cheek as she addressed that last suggestion from Sandra.
"No...I um...I don't think that'll be happening Sandra...I...I thank you for your time and help though. Can you..."
She pauses, her arm raising as she wipes away the small water trail made by the tear with the back of her hand. She glares over the flowers before asking for a small favor...
"...Can you do one more...One more thing for me...Just make sure that these get to his room. That's all. If you can promise me that I'll be..."
Her words were suddenly cut off, not by words but by the sympathetic look in the woman's eyes, as well as the head nod confirming her agreement to fulfill Laura's request.
Turning slowly, both of her hands finding their way to her face, she removed any remaining traces of tears from her now flushed red face. Her slow and paced steps readily began carrying her towards the exit of the hospital. A small grunt from her throat could most likely be heard by the one security personnel following her to said exit, clearly an attempt to regain composure over the ordeal just encountered. Once again, unanswered questions...The sound of the sliding doors coming ajar once again, coupled with the now clearly audible noisy "outside" world, both registering in her ears as the beaming sun rays could be felt against her face just as the cool Chicago wind had begun to whip it's way around the person of Laura De'Icco...
TO BE CONCLUDED...