The Wrong Sister

I hadn’t been able to get a hold of the doctor directly, as expected. Instead, I left an urgent message asking her to come see me as soon as possible at the hospital, since I was due to be discharged the day she planned to see me. I asked the staff and was totally relieved to learn that they usually discharged patients in the afternoons, not the mornings. That way, I should be able to make my getaway from the cafeteria an hour or two before my scheduled release. I tried so hard to calm my nerves and not let on that anything was up. I was grateful at medication time for my chill pill but knew I would have to pretend to take it on the day of my escape and spit it out as soon as I could. The last thing I needed was anything slowing me down with drowsiness. Time seemed to stand still. Every hour felt like several hours. I tried to keep busy so that it wouldn’t feel like time was crawling as slowly as it was. Even though I had a long way to go before getting out of there and putting distance between myself and San Francisco, I made an audible sigh of relief when I saw Dr. Lacayo the next morning. “I am so, so glad to see you,” I said softly, relief heavy in my voice. “Thank you so much for getting in to see me earlier.” “It’s a good thing you left the message when you did,” the doctor said. “You’re going to have to go today at lunchtime.” My pulse quickened with both dread and excitement at the thought. “I know. I was told they usually do afternoon discharges, but if they discharge me before lunch for some reason, I’ll have lost my chance.” “Yeah, I hear you,” the doctor said as we chatted in my empty room. “Roommate coming back anytime soon that you know of?” “I don’t have a roommate at the moment, fortunately. Lindsay was discharged yesterday.” “Good.” The Guatemalan doctor glanced toward the door, then pulled the fake visitor card from the pocket of her tweed jacket. “Here you go.” I glanced at it quickly. “Sara Anderson, huh? Looks pretty authentic to me.” “M-hm, and here’s Sara Anderson’s ID.” “Oh? What’s the ID for?” “Well, they may find it strange that you don’t have a purse, and they always ask to see visitor IDs on the way out. So now you have one.” “Clever thinking. Thanks, Doc.” “Hurry up and slip it in your pocket.” I did so and looked into the doctor’s dark eyes. “I don’t know how I could ever thank you or express my appreciation.” “Don’t worry. Just excuse yourself to use the restroom, clip it on when you’re out of view of the others, and get out of here.” “Where do I go?” “You’ll need to head to the right of the cafeteria. It’s a long corridor opposite the way they bring you to and from it for meals.” “Okay.” “Just head straight down there, and you’ll see the exit signs. Someone will be at the desk to collect your so-called visitor card. Say it was issued to your old roommate and you forgot or didn’t realize she was discharged.” “I don’t know the layout here, though. Any recommendations for where to go if I make it out?” “In a minute. First things first: if you get caught, where did you get the card and ID?” “Just some wildly creative kid in my singing class, whose identity I would never divulge.” “Correct. Also, I suggest you tell the truth if you’re caught.” “I can’t implicate you in this, Doc.” “No, not about where you got the cards. I mean that you should be honest about Lisa and tell them everything that happened if you’re caught. The only thing to leave out is the information I told you about Lisa, as well as your missing files. That’s a separate investigation. But if they catch you, we both know what Lisa’s going to do.” “You got that right. I cringe just thinking about it. I can’t ever be alone with that woman again. She may be sweet and lovey-dovey at first, but sooner or later, that violent side would emerge again, no matter how much she believes her false promise to keep her hands to herself. If I don’t hit her first, that is,” I added with sarcastic anger and disgust. The doctor looked at me empathetically. “That’s why it’s important to come clean at that point, and I’ll do what I can to vouch for you.” I looked at her with gratitude. “Again, thank you so much. I’d be totally screwed without you. But where do I go if I make it out?” “Head three blocks to the left, and you’ll see the library. Go in there and look for a tall dark guy.” “That’s half the male population, Doc.” The doctor smiled. “Only this one will be carrying a trumpet case. I also gave him your description, so he’ll be on the lookout for you as well.” “Who is this person, your son?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Okay then… I’m so nervous. I’m terrified too, but I want to get it over with like yesterday.” “Just try to remain as calm as you can. You don’t want anyone getting suspicious.” “Yeah, I know. But I only have to suffer through one more visit with the evil bitch and do my best to play a straight face. Well, at least as straight as possible. The sicko has a way of seeing right through me at times. It’s like she’s beyond intuitive.” “Just don’t try too hard.” “I won’t.” “I'd better get going now, so no one wonders why it’s taking me so long to make my rounds.” “Okay, Doc. Thanks again.” “Good luck. Just remember… the worst that can happen is you get caught, tell them about Lisa, and refuse to go back with her. It’s not like they’ll send you to jail.” “I know what you’re saying, but we’re still dealing with a very vicious and corrupt cop. Who knows what strings she may pull? Fingers crossed!” The doctor left, and I found myself hoping something—anything—would come up to prevent Lisa from visiting that day. Of all the things that could happen—flat tires, family emergencies, illnesses, injuries—why couldn’t today be one of those days when Lisa simply couldn’t make it in? “Please, please let a big break in one of her cases stop today’s visit,” I chanted in my mind over and over. “Better yet, let someone kill her.” But a few hours after lunch, I was once again proven that prayer was really just wishful thinking.