Dear Maria: Chapter 3

She was the only one who ever came into the office anymore. Patients records had to be filed, new medicines ordered, new information to be noted on medical records, along with various other hospital tasks. Dr. Elaine Carol had spent over fifty-six hours in the hospital building, fighting her fatigue with countless pints of caffeine. Only a few more tasks had to be done before she could leave. Oh how she longed to leave, if only the people in her town could overcome their depressive apathy, then maybe things would return to normal. Life itself seemed to have been sucked out of Napels, the once lively, yet small settlement.

Signing her name on the last piece of parchment was a wave of euphoria for Elaine. That small scribble of blank ink was her passport out of her sleepless prison. She stood up, stretched – feeling her muscles ache under the sudden change of use – before picking up her small bag that sat patiently on the shiny grey floor. The door squeaked slightly as she passed out of the office into the gloomy hallway. They seemed darker than before, slowly descending in shades of grey. She was almost sure they were a light blue last month when she started her work here. She pushed the heavy bar on the exit door, a cold wind blowing instantly on her skin. The sky above was dark, filled with grey clouds of misery. They shed their tears to the earth below, watching them splash in the small pools of depression they created on the ground. Elaine forced up her umbrella and began her long hike home. She would have gotten a bus, or even a taxi, but she hadn’t seen one around lately.

The streets were unusually quiet for this time of day. Normally, the pavements would be filled with bustling people, all making their way round the shops or to other destinations. The roads would be busy too – with small queues of cars at the lights and impatient drivers beeping their horns. Children would also be rushing out of the school at this time. Running down the streets, shouting and calling their friends. Over the last week though, Elaine was seeing less and less people in the streets everyday. She saw one or two sluggishly making their way around yesterday. She had waved, but they only glanced at her with sorrowful eyes before continuing their saunter down the dull pavements. There was nobody outside today.

Eventually, she reached her home. Digging around in her pocket for the small brass key to open the locked door. She could tell instantly when she found it, the cold metal against her fingers. There was a small click as the door unlocked.
Elaine walked into her small hallway. She could hear the loud buzzing of television static coming from the living room. Silently, she peaked her head round the door. Her father was sitting there, watching the black and white snow scattered across the screen. He’d done this for days now.
“Hi Dad,” She said in an upbeat tone, “How are you?”
The elderly man turned his head and stared at her with that hollow look everyone in the town had gained. He held the stare for a few seconds before returning his vision back to the static screen.
“Ummm, would you like me to make you a coffee, dad?”
The man didn’t reply.
“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to it then. If you need anything, just shout, ok?” There was a tone of sadness in her words.
After shaking her wet umbrella to remove some of the rain, she placed it upon the small glass table in the hall, before making her way up the stairs. Maybe Victoria would be in the mood for hide and seek today. Oh how she missed her smiling little face.

She approached the simple white door. There were a few drawings of oddly figured animals stuck on its surface. This was Victoria’s room. Elaine gently pushed the door ajar. She could see her small child sitting in silence in the centre of her room, repeatedly picking at an invisible stain on her grey dress.
“Victoria, sweety, I’m home.” She said lovingly to the child, taking a few steps into her room. Victoria’s hollow eyes stared deep into nothingness.
Elaine continued, “Would you like to play a game with mummy? Hmm?”
No reply.
“Or we could bake something. I know how you love that. Would you like to bake something for your granddad? I’m sure he’d love that.”
Victoria faced her mum with a certain sadness swirling in her eyes. She picked herself off the floor and gently brushed her dress off. She broke the gaze with her mother, turned her back and walked towards the small rectangle window on the other side of the room. Remaining unvoiced, she watched the rain pound off her window.