Broken

Chapter 17

Lydia

The taxi comes to a stop in front of a large colourful building.

I pay the driver and get off the car. As he drives away, I look up at the sky.

"It's going to rain," I say to myself. Dark clouds are coming this way and the weather seems to be getting more colder. Shoot, I didn't bring an umbrella with me. I then look at the pastel-coloured building and start walking towards it. The big 'Nicholson children's hospital' signboard glows in white, blue and pink light in the dark of the night. People and kids are walking in and out of the building. Walking up the stairs, I enter through the frosted glass double door.

The inside looks more bright with cartoon characters on the walls and colourful furniture. The lobby isn't as crowded as I thought and the receptionists seem to be busy with people. Kids are running around and playing. One's on a wheelchair. There's a family with gift bags in the waiting area. Doctors and nurses pass by. Good. I won't be noticed.

According to the information Richard gave me, he's supposed to be in room 206. This is my first time here so I may be a little lost. I keep walking from the lobby into the hallway with many rooms. Voices can be heard from inside. I need to find the elevator that'll lead me to the 2nd floor.

I find the elevator along with a curved staircase after coming out of the hallway and into this huge hall with a giant dazzling crystal chandelier at the ceiling. The hall leads into multiple hallways. People can be seen coming in and going out from many rooms in the hallways.

"Can I help you?" I hear a woman call out to me from behind. I turn around and come face-to-face with a nurse who has her hair in a bun and holding a notepad.

"Sorry?" I say. Well, so much for going unnoticed.

"Well, I saw you just now and it seemed like you were lost." She says.

"Oh, no, I'm not lost. I was just...looking at that chandelier. It's really catches my eye every time I come here." I lie as at look at the chandelier again.

She smiles and looks at it too "Yes, I know what you mean. Whenever I pass this hall, I can't help but glance at it too."

I need to brush her off quickly. As I begin to walk away, she starts talking again which makes me stop.

"So, who are you here for?" She asks.

"It's...my little cousin. His parents couldn't come today so they sent me." I say as I proceed to walk towards the elevator.

"Ahhh, I see." She says and starts following me. Ugh, please don't tell me she's going to use the elevator too!

I press the button and wait. The doors open revealing the empty elevator. We both walk in together.

My frustration increases as the nurse presses the 2nd-floor button.

I press the 3rd-floor button.

"He's on the third floor huh? Your cousin?" She says trying awkwardly to have small talk.

"Yeah, he is. Ugh...I think my stomach's starting to ache" I wince and place a hand over my stomach. Pretending to be in pain. Please let there be bathrooms on the 2nd floor.

"Oh. If it's urgent, use the bathrooms on the 2nd floor. They're more closer." She says and looks down at her notepad.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." I say.

The elevator stops on the 2nd floor. As soon as the doors open, revealing a lobby like area with pale green and white walls, I rush out and run towards a hallway. I don't know where the bathrooms are so I'll just hide away from that nurse. The people around me seem surprised to see me run but don't think much of it and ignores. This IS a children's hospital. I take a peek at the elevator from the hallway.