Separation

AFTER almost two months of Gavin being a drunkard, Greg has a crisis. Naomi took care of Greg for some days.

"My flight leaves tomorrow, Greg."

"Have you told Gavin?"

"Nope. And I don't want you to. He barely notices my presence or absence. He's moved to the visitor's room, so, most times, he leaves for work without having physical contact with me. When he's back from drinking late—and I'm in my room already—he slips into the visitor's room. We don't see each other for consecutive days sometimes. If he comes to his senses, he will come get me before my maternity leave runs out."

"I'm sorry for his irrationality, Naomi. He will come around soon, I pray. We both know he loves you regardless. I thank you for enduring his excesses. Say me hi to your parents. I would have loved to see you off to the airport but it is what it is. I will miss Jem." Greg sulks.

Gavin and Naomi named the baby Jem, short for Jemimah. They wanted her to inherit Gemma's name—as a legacy of Gem—but they also wanted a slight difference.

"Don't worry about a thing. How are you going to pull through? Gavin is presently incapacitated. Who's going to take care of you?"

"That's why I didn't request a private ward. I feared the boredom that would come with that. I predicted your flight would leave soon. I will relate with the other guys in this ward. You know I always find a way to blend."

"I trust you. I should get going. I paid all necessary bills. If you need further help with any other thing, be sure to call me."

"Okay, mummy." Greg and Naomi giggle. "Let me walk you to your car."

"Never mind. You shouldn't be stressing."

"It's my chance to hold Jem until next time."

"Touché."

Greg carries Jem and hangs his other arm across Naomi's shoulder. Onlookers would think they are a couple. When they get to the lot, Greg lays Jem in the car seat.

"I didn't think I would eventually believe the doctor. She's no longer a crybaby. She's so peaceful now." Naomi grins.

"I'm honoured I witnessed her transition." Greg chuckles. "You are certain about this idea of visiting your parents?"

"I want some change of environment. Need to clear my head, away from your brother's mess. Hopefully, when I'm gone, he will reevaluate his terrible stance."

"Hmmm," Greg nods. "Take care." Greg pecks Jem. He pulls Naomi into a warm embrace and pecks her forehead. "Be safe." He waves to her as she drives off.

On Greg's way back to his ward, he sees a lady struggling with two heavy bags.

"An angel to the rescue." Greg smiles as he grasps the heavier bag from her.

"Oh. Thank you." The lady heaves a sigh of relief.

"Angels help," Greg smiles. "I'm Greg."

"Bella. Nice to meet you."

"A denotative name for your beauty."

"Don't flatter me." Bella blushes.

"We've been walking for a while. Are we not at your ward yet? I don't want a patient being affected by me, please."

"I have to help till the end," Greg smiles. "I will drop your bag wherever you are going, then I will head to my ward. I'm always on my bed anyway, so it's a way to stretch."

"Thank you, again. My parents insist on overfeeding my brother that's admitted here. I told them this is too much and he won't consume this much. They say they'd rather have him waste food than sustain a food deficit."

"Typical of parents." Greg smiles. "My parents were like that too."

"Were?"

"Yes. They are passed now."

"I'm so sorry about that."

"It's alright. Where are they now? Your parents."

"They are at work so they dumped the responsibility, of delivering the goodies, on my head."

Greg giggles. "You are funny."

Bella smiles. "Here we are." She points at a ward and enters.

"Wow. Which of them is your brother?" Greg asks as he walks, into the ward, beside her.

"You sound familiar with this ward," She halts when she reaches one of the beds. She turns to Greg. "Here's my brother." She faces the young man sitting on the bed. "This person helped me with the overload your parents sent you through me. The load literally weighs more than me." Bella sighs.

"Your parents? You are not biological siblings?" Greg asks.

"We are. It's just our way of playing around." Bella grins.

The guy on the bed raises his eyelids to look at Greg; "thanks, Greg."

"It's cool, my man. I didn't even know she's your sister. I just randomly helped."

"You guys knew yourselves? How?"

"This empty bed next to mine is his." Her brother responds.

"Wow. I guess an introduction won't be necessary then. Greg, Nat is my brother. Candidly, you look nothing like SS. I'm bewildered."

"I get that a lot. I'm like Nat, don't you reckon?" Greg grins.

"You will make Nat's pride peep now." Bella rolls her eyes.

"A hater is who you are." Nat sneers.

"Hating you is my talent." Bella responds.

Greg laughs. Nat and Bella remind him of how he and Gem used to tug at each other.

Greg lays his back on his bed. Bella sits on the visitor's chair between Greg's and Nat's beds.

"What did your parents send me?" Nat queries his sister.

"You will have to look into that yourself. The prominent part is Mama packed you one of her delicacies."

"Hmmm. Intriguing."

"Certainly. Foodie."

Nat reaches for the bags Bella brought and brings out a warmer.

"I doubt you can finish the food in that warmer."

"Mama wants me to explode from overfeeding."

"You should share some with Greg. Furthermore, he helped transport the bags." Bella suggests.

"That won't be necessary. Thanks though." Greg declines.

"Why not? I see only beverages on your bedside stand. We all know the hospital food tastes like crap. C'mon." Bella convinces.

"How do you know what the hospital food tastes like? You are also SS?"

"Nah, I'm AA. This has been our family hospital since birth. I always cater for naughty Nat whenever he's down with crisis. I could say I know most male sicklers his age range in this hospital. For instance, you are the only one in this ward I didn't know until today. Are you new here?"

Bella being AA makes her remind Greg more of Gem.

"Not exactly. I usually take a private ward. This is my first time in a general ward."

"Here's your serving." Nat stretches out a plate to Greg. "Mama's food is delicious. You will like it."

"Thank you." Greg collects the plate. He consumes one spoon. "Wow. This is really good. Thank you, guys."

"Glad you like it." Bella smiles. Nat nods his head.

"I've been here for some days. This is also my first time seeing you. Why's that?" Greg faces Bella.

"I recently completed my masters of science. I was doing my clearance these past few days. It was a hectic process. I used to be too tired to come down here. Thankfully, it's all over now."

Greg and Bella chatted away. Greg told her how much she reminded him of his late sister. Bella passed her condolences. Nat dozed off, leaving both of them to their chitchat. Bella set to go home in the night and Greg told her adios, hoping to see her again soon.

The next day, Gavin visits Greg.

"If it's not the August visitor." Greg jeers.

"I have been busy. I apologize." Gavin responds.

"Busy being a drunk. Why do you reek of alcohol? You've been drinking again."

"Can we not talk about me?"

"Not until you stop being a mess. I will ask you again, for how long do you want to be like this? You have a daughter. Is this the figure you want her to look to as a father?"

"I'm here to see how you are faring. I'm surprised you are in the general ward. I was almost confident the nurse made a mistake when she mentioned you are in here. Why the change?"

"I don't want to die from boredom in the private ward. I knew I wouldn't be having visitors so I opted for here, where I will interact with different people. I guess I presaged right because you are here for the first time after almost a week of my stay here."

"I told you I've been busy. Naomi hasn't been coming to see you?"

"First of all, she's your wife. You should know her whereabouts."

"I've been avoiding her. I can't look at her when I'm this derailed."

"Good to know you are aware of your lingering preposterousness."

"I know she doesn't deserve the rubbish I've been up to. I can't even look her in the face. She deserves much better."

"You need to fix up, bro, so you don't learn the hard way."

"I'm trying. It's just not forthcoming. I really try."

"Anyway, I don't remember my parents naming their child Naomi. She's not obligated to come here for me."

"She's more or less your sister."

"You are biologically my brother. Visiting for the first time in almost a week."

"She's too caring to leave you here to yourself."

"It's no wonder you conflate her gentility for stupidity."

"That's not true."

"It is accurate."

Gavin later leaves the hospital with an assurance to visit often.