Maria

[sestra]

Part 1

Maria found her happiness and misfortune in this hospital. Life is a strange and mysterious thing. But what is the reason of living this life? You live to leave it quietly, in peace. You struggle in this mortal coil to ensure a better end for yourself. You always strife to organize your life in such a way, so that you don’t feel embarrassed when you turn back and glance it through. Maria had a complete .thy towards her life and was absorbed by these thoughts and lost all her hope for recovery. She was doomed to spend her entire life in the hospital and die here. She tried to ride before hounds for couple of times and attempted to commit suicide, rather than just wait for a slow and lonely anticipated death. Alas, she failed and was saved. She could not realize why these doctors were so keen to make her live. Was it because they didn’t wish to breach the oath of Hypocrite and do their job diligently, or was it really because of saving her life that she did not want lives at all?

Suddenly a knock at the ward door disturbed her from the thoughts.

- May I come in, my dear? - said professor Park and opened the door a little bit.

- Could you give a minute, please? – Maria organized her hairs and clothes, trying to look good in front of a fifty years old doctor.

- Oh, dear? – said professor wonderingly – You look better than never today? I’m very glad for you.

- Please, don’t lie to me professor. I know I’m looking awful. I’m trying to look good, but I look awful.

- Here, I brought you some songs of Nat Kin Cole – he took the disc and put it in the player in the corner of the room – You know, my dear baby, music will help you to cheer up, if you have an interest to it, of course. It will drive you out from your depression. You listen to it and I’ll see how’s your blood pressure to-

The disc sang a soundtrack song from “Untamed Heart”, a very beautiful and peaceful one. Maria couldn’t even notice how professor checked her pressure and the pulse. She could hear:

There was a boy, a very strange and chatty boy,

They say he went up very far, very far, over land and sea

A little shy and sad of eyes

But very wise was he

- Well dear, you better sleep now, - said professor and left the room quietly. Some time passed. The door of her room opened again and now Gregory came in.

- Hello Maria! How are you feeling? Oh, you look much better to- You won’t make us worry again, will you? Your father was going crazy all these days when you were so fast asleep. But, thanks God, everything is ok now. You’re a nice girl and I think we’ll get on with each other. I want you to marry me. I’m not hurrying you. You can think and tell me later what you decide.”- said Gregory, holding her hand.

Then he stands up and added:

- Do you need anything? I’m going home now.”

- No, thanks, Greg, - answered Maria, - you are so kind

Greg smiled in reply and left the room.

Part 2

Maria was woken up because of the steps she heard. She opened her eyes and saw her mother.

- Hello, my dear! How are you? You look better to- Fresh blush on your cheeks and your eyes are shining now!” her mother said. - putting some fresh flowers from the own garden into vase which was on the window.

- Really? -Said Maria with surprise, - Greg told me the same”?!

- What? Greg?”

- Yes, Mum, you know he wants me to marry him.”

- Yes, it seems that he loves you. He was so worried about you. I knew that sooner or later he would make such proposal”.

…The Wedding of Maria and Greg were on Thanksgiving - A lot of people came, but the wedding party was very modest, because Maria hasn’t recovered yet after the illness. She was weak and looked very ill. Modest white dress just a bit above the feet, small hardly noticeable diadem on her head and a bunch of violets in her hands. Greg looked like the hero of the - Black tailcoat with a bow tie, clean-shaven face and hair brushed backward. He was a receiving guest, smiling to everyone. It seemed that he was happy. There were many honorable and respected guests. That was maybe because Maria’s family had prestige and was hold in respect of other people… After the wedding ceremony Maria and Greg went to the mountains for the honeymoon…

Part 3

…Life of Maria and Greg seemed to be perfect. Greg often made parties, invited his friends. He was very polite with them and entertained them with his jokes. And every time Maria, forgotten by her husband, stayed alone in her room. Greg was leading his own life, he forgot about Maria at those moments. He was often leaving Maria at home all alone and spent his time with his friends.

The telephone rang. Maria picked up the receiver.

- Hello?”

- Can I talk to Greg?” a voice came from there. It was woman.

- And who is asking?” Maria asked.

- Oh, it doesn’t matter. Can you call him? I need to talk to him”.

- He’s taking a shower now and can’t answer” Maria answered.

- You saying such rubbish! I’m coming. Don’t you dare to lie to my friends” and Greg, covered with a towel, took the receiver out of her hands.

- Yes, dear, how are you? Something wrong? … Yeah, I’m coming now. In 10 minutes - I’m there” and he put down the receiver.

- Who was it, Greg? And what happened?” asked Maria.

- It’s none of your business. You’d better give me something to eat and a coffee as usual”.

In 20 minutes, snatching his omelet, he drank up his already cold coffee and went out. Maria was watching him going away, standing by the window. God knows what was she thinking about.

Part 4

Maria woke up because of the unbearable pain she felt in her back. She turned on the other side, but it also wasn’t comfortable. She got up and looked around. Greg’s bed was made. He didn’t come home last night. Maria went to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took an orange juice. Having made several sips, she felt sick.

What is it?” she thought. “I felt fine yester- I must be ill”.

She went to the bathroom and looked at the mirror.

- God, what is happening to me?”

Her face looked twice bigger than it was awful bags under her eyes and pale face. She recalled that yesterday she cried a lot before she fell asleep. She felt sickness again and gave way for it. In some minutes she called her doctor in the hospital.

- I have stomach upset,” she said to the doctor, who came to see her.

- We’ll check it, and tomorrow I’ll tell you the results”.

Part 5

- Congratulations, Maria. You’ll become a mother soon”, these words settled deep in her head. She recalled last night, which she spent with Greg. He came absolutely drunk, he was shouting, and then treated her so rude. It was so disgusting and cruel.

- God, why it happened? I didn’t want to make him suffer. I want him to be happy,” Maria thought.

- Now I’ll have a baby. Maybe this news will satisfy Greg and he will be ok”.

The doorbell rang. Maria opened the door. It was Greg. He looked so tired. She embraced him and they went into the bedroom. He lied on the bed.

- What’s wrong with you, Greg? Where have you been?”

- I’m dog-tired. I want to sleep,” answered Greg.

- Ok, I just wanted to say you something really nice. You’ll like it. But that’s ok. Sleep now. We’ll talk about it later”

And Maria left the room…

Part 6

- Maria, we have to talk,” said Greg, when Maria was preparing a dinner.

- I wanted to say it a long time ago and at last I decided to do it. I want us to break up. I hope you won’t mind,” he said.

- Greg, you’re crazy! I want to say… I wanted to say I’m pregnant. We gonna have a baby!”

- What? A baby? You’re stupid. I don’t want any child. I don’t need you and a baby! I want to leave, to get rid of you!” his hands began shaking.

The telephone rang.

- Yes? I’m coming, I’m coming. Don’t worry”

He put down the receiver.

- Don’t worry, don’t be nervous”, he was saying to himself. “I’ll go now. Victoria is waiting for me. Victoria understands me. She knows what to do!”

- Who is Victoria, Greg?” asked Maria.

- Shut up. I don’t want to listen to you. You are nothing, and Victoria is my…is my dream. I’m leaving. You hear me? Leaving…”

Maria was sitting silently in the kitchen. It was night, but she was sitting motionlessly…

…Greg has gone, and he never came back. Days and then weeks were passing away, but he never came back…

Part 7

The state of Maria was aggravated due to her present situation. She was bearing her pregnancy with difficulties. So she was put to the hospital. And now the hospital again – her “second home”. Injections, pills, different treatments every -

The doctor came into her room.

- You know, Maria, I have news for you. I don’t know if it will make you glad. Yesterday there was a conference of specialist doctors and we’re expecting twins. I have to talk with your parents or relatives and discuss with them the details concerning a surgical intervention. I’m afraid, but in natural way you won’t be able to have a child”.

- Doctor, I…. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know!”, Maria answered.

Part 8

Greg came to take Victoria at 8 in the evening. She was as beautiful as never before.

- Where we’re going?”, she asked.

- Now we’ll go to the restaurant. I ordered a table for two. Well, maybe we shall invite some of my friends as well. Today is 5 months since we met each other. We should celebrate this date. Do you agree?”

They went to the “White Club”. Quiet music was playing. They took their seats at the table in the corner. A waiter put menu on their table.

- Bring us some good wine for the start”, said Greg. “Celebrate means celebrate!”

He tenderly embraced Victoria and kissed her passionately.

- I’m so happy that we’re together again”, said Greg. “Shall we go to dance?”

- With pleasure, Greg. I like to dance and you know it!” she answered….

…Maria was lying in the operating room. Nothing was around her; just bright light from big lamps above her dazzled her.

- Count, Maria, count. I don’t hear you. Come on, one, two, three, four…”.

Doctor’s voice was lost somewhere in a mist. She felt cold from her feet to her shoulders, and the light. The light, which was blinding her. And then she saw herself falling into the waterfall. The water was so clean, but cold. More like icy. And there were mountains all around. Cold and wind. She was flying into the waterfall. She wants to open her eyes, but she can’t because of the light. And then the sky. Huge sky with no beginning and no end. White clouds and air. And weightlessness. The sky and the voice calling her:

- Come, Maria, come here”.

She walks on the water stairs. Legs are falling somewhere, and it’s very cold. She can’t go any further, and she falls.

- Come, Maria, you can go”, she heard again.

Maria opens her mouth to say something, but doesn’t hear a word. Then comes a shrill rumble. Or whistling. It’s so strong that she closes her ears with her hands and fights with the force that pushing her. Some force that grips her in a vice…

- Come on, Maria. Wake up! All is over!”

Maria opened her eyes. She was lying on the bed. She saw people in white clothes and her mother and father. She was lying for a long time and was looking at them…

- You have beautiful children, my dear. Boy and girl”, said a man in white. - Everything is over. We’re so happy for you”, he added.

Part 9

And in another three days Maria was told her son had died. He died because of the trauma he got when coming into this world. But the girl stayed alive. Little and sweet as a doll. And she will see her daughter in two days or so…

The girl was really sweet.

- My doll”, said Maria holding her for the first time. “Doll… I’ll call you Dolly”.

- If your father could see you, what would he say?” – thought Maria.

Today Maria is going back home from the hospital.

- Congratulations, Maria! You have a daughter now, though we thought you wouldn’t go away from here alive. You nearly died and you were almost taken from another world. Really, God is almighty! Instead of you he took you son, who looked much like his father. But he let you live and gave you happiness to have such a nice daughter”, doctor said. “By the way, how would you name her?” he added.

- Dolly”, answered Maria. “My Dolly!”,

She clasped her baby to her breast and went away along the snowy alleys of the hospital….