Monday morning. The smell of dew and the hope of a new working week. Bernard stood on the porch. He wore a black tee-shirt, pocketed his Roman collar, his trousers a deep navy, a black belt and shoes. He took a deep breath, his heart racing, knowing the day was going to be long and he was ready to take it head on.
The keys turned and the engine roared as he started the car and headed for the hospital. He was already on the path before realizing that he had not touched the bottle of pills in a long time.
He got there very early, about the time the morning and night shifts were handing over. He walked up to the front desk in the reception. The nurse had a big smile; the day had just started, so things were still lovely for now. Bernard spoke up. "Hmm, hi. Good morning. I was here last week and was told to come back, I think for a follow-up."
"Ok, sir, please, where is your hospital card?"
"Hmm,sorry, hospital card?"
"They wouldn't have attended to you without the card."
"Oh,I came in collapsed. I was in a hurry when I woke up. I didn't know about a card."
"Ok,since you were attended to, your docs and records should be in our system. What is your name and when were you here?"
"My name is Bernard Eclistus.I came in on Friday."
"Ok,give me a few."
The keys clicked and the mouse clacked. The monitor glared as the smell of antiseptics filled the air. People slowly piled in and the reception became busy.
"Ok, sir, I see you came in and you have some pending tests. I'll refer you to a doctor to authorize them. And since you don't have a card, I'll print you one now. So you can come in anytime, as long as you have the card, we will attend to you. Please sit down."
He found a chair in the waiting area of the reception. His face was clearly distressed, but he kept up a smile anyway. The clock slowly waddled its way to 8:30. His name shot out from the desk: "Bernard Eclistus." He came over and was handed his card. "Please walk down this hall to your left and enter room 19. The doctor will see you there."
His shoes clacked down the hall. The door hinges creaked as he grabbed the handle and opened the door. The room bloomed of blue and white, the office meticulously arranged. The doctor called as he walked in.
"Bernard Eclistus?"
"Yes,Doc."
"Please,sit down. Good morning, sir. How have you been feeling before and after that episode on Friday?"
The doctor was at least 10 to 15 years younger than him. If he wasn't a priest, the doctor might have been his firstborn, if not second. He sounded cold and professional, reminding him of himself when he was younger. Bernard spoke up.
"Well, I have been feeling fatigue, and joint pain, and a lot of tiny needle stabs to the chest. But I can't explain the pain. On the Friday, it was a different kind of pain."
The doctor took detailed notes.
"On a scale of one to ten,how would you describe the pain?"
"Eleven,doctor."
"Did you experience the pain again?"
"Yes,I did."
"Ok."
"I have ordered the following tests." He brought out several pads, writing on each of them. "I've ordered for you a chest x-ray, an EKG, an echo, and I hope there are good. I also ordered some blood work. You should be fine."
He had a few stops after leaving the doctor's office. First up, radiology.
"Bernard Eclistus for CXR.Breathe in. Breathe out. Peep."
"Bernard Eclistus for echo."
"What's that on the screen?"he asked.
The sonographer smiled and finished the scan without answering him.
Then the EKG. Lines squiggled on the screen. At least it's not flat-lining like in the movies.
Then the blood work. The medical lab complex was up next, the hematology department. He was put up to a man in a lab coat to draw his blood. I guess a part of everyone trusts women more than men when it comes to needle stabs. He couldn't help but flinch as his blood was being drawn.
He went back to the doctor's office to tell him he had done all the tests.
"Ok.You'll get the results tomorrow, and therefore, my diagnosis. Ok?"
"Ok,thank you, doctor."
"Check out at the reception,then you can go home."
"Ok,Doc."
He walked back to the reception. At the desk, he saw that the nurse there had changed. She was stern and dismissive.
"What can I do for you,sir?"
He replied,"I'd like to check out."
"Your card,sir."
Five minutes later, a bill was printed.
Consultation......$***
Test
CXR
Echo
Blood Test
EKG
Test Total .....
Grand Total...
He sighed. He didn't have this kind of money, and he couldn't leave without paying.
He called his sister.
"Hello,Lucy?"
"Father!How are you? How have you been?"
"I'm fine,Lucy, and I'm not fine. I'm apparently in the hospital. I need to pay a bill. Can you help me with $.... amount?"
"Ok,Fr., but why are you in the hospital, though?"
"We will talk later,Lucy, I'm kinda in a hurry."
"Ok,I'll find time. And we have to talk about what I heard about you. Bernard... dark magic? Seriously."
He hung up and gave the nurse his card, paid, and walked away, heading for the door.