as he supped his pint. It had a pleasant malty undertone and was very palatable. He might stretch to a second given that it was on offer. There was certainly entertainment to be had here, even if he wasn’t watching a show.
It was just as he was getting more comfortable, taking off his jacket, that the play broke for its interval. A considerable number of people poured into the bar. There must have been at least fifty of them and Clive noticed that along the bar were several prepared orders. Customers were presenting pieces of paper and the barman would supply them with a pre-prepared tray of drink. It was a nifty system.
The bar was a buzz of noise, of brief conversations and halfway reviews. And then an announcement called them back to their seats and they filtered out again. The contrast of noise and ensuing quiet reminded Clive of the difference between being in hospital and staying in the lab.
The keys were on the table and he caressed them, appreciating the freedom they’d given him. It reminded him he wanted to return to the allotment as soon as possible. A shadow of a memory was still playing on his mind.
He paid more attention to the keyrings this time. There was one with symbols from the periodic table that he’d forgotten the meaning of many years before. The other worn keyring had a sleeve over a plastic square displaying a couple of dates. They seemed to be birth and death dates, the sum between them only giving the person forty-seven short years. He pushed out the plastic square to see it more closely. An image on it made his heart flicker as if it was playing the crescendo of a tune. It was a young Keisha with a black man who was undoubtedly her dad. It was a photo-booth snap of Keisha on her father’s knee.
It would seem, without meaning to, Clive may have stumbled across Keisha’s why.
23
Keisha
The evening has grown dark by the time I arrive at the hospital. George is waiting for me at the main entrance, true to his offer of helping me find Lucy’s ward. He looks so incredibly cool, leaning against the wall, a black hoody draped over his uniform. I wish I still had my lab coat on rather than the crumpled T-shirt and cardigan that I’m left with now. I try not to worry about not having made an effort.
‘Hey,’ he says.
‘Thanks for this.’
‘So, Lucy is your colleague, right?’
I nod, struggling to find words with my anxiety rocketing. I’m not sure if meeting George has made it worse. I gulp to moisten my throat.
‘She’s also my best friend. We live together. It’s a houseshare. You said you live with your parents, didn’t you?’ My nerves are making me ramble.
‘Yes. Rebuilding my funds after travelling for a few years and working abroad. The NHS is quite deluxe after volunteering in Namibia, but sadly no one takes good will as a deposit.’
‘Wow.’ I can’t imagine what that must have been like – I don’t even own a passport.
‘Did you know there’s a name for fear of hospitals?’
‘Is there?’ I ask. It comes out as a squeak.
‘Nosocomephobia or something like that. Have you never liked places like this?’
I wonder what the name for a fear of everything is. That might be closer to the mark.
‘I struggle with the size of this one,’ I say, not ready to own up. ‘It’s so vast, especially when you’re not sure where you’re going.’
As we enter the hospital the rush of people makes me glad I have a guide.
‘That’s understandable and I’m glad to be of help. I’m just sorry I’m not off duty until Tuesday. You know, to help Clive view the flats.’
There’s a blush to his cheeks which I’ve never witnessed before and, on spotting it, my tummy flutters.
‘Can I ask you a question?’ I glance around at the people passing in the corridors, wondering if this is the right time to bring it up. Identifying we won’t be overheard, I go for it. ‘Can you tell me about what really happened when Clive came into hospital?’
George glances around as we walk before answering. ‘It was called in by a member of the public. He’d collapsed while pushing his wheelbarrow on the way back from the allotment. He was disorientated and unwell when the paramedics picked him up and he went on to have his cardiac event on the way to hospital. He gave his version of events