One Wrong Turn

Episode 49

The sullen look on her face presented a kind of
guilt i couldn’t understand. She avoided eye
contact with me. I was very sure she knew
something that she wasn’t telling me.

My heart raced as we entered the federal
psychiatric hospital. The sheer magnificence of
the building wowed me a little. But it still did
not shore my anxiety.

I know that mad people were usually admitted
here, hence i did not know if i should pray to
find Ruth here or not. As we walked in,
Hannah began to drag behind. Her
unwillingness to enter the building gave her
away.

I looked suspiciously at her and left her
behind. Unlike the previous hospitals, this one
had no reception. I looked around for a while,
hoping to find someone to talk to.

I ran towards a nurse who seemed to be
hurrying out of sight.
“excuse me ma, please help me I’m looking for
someone ”
She neither lessened her pace nor stop to look
at me. She was focused on the file she was
carrying. She walked and spoke at the same
time.
“who exactly?” she asked, flipping through her
file and walking briskly.
“it’s my friend, her name is Ruth, i don’t know
if…….. ”

She stopped abruptly and shot a horrible look
at me immediately i mentioned Ruth’s name. I
stole a glance at the file she was holding, it
had” Ruth Nosakare” written on it, with a tag
next to it stating clearly “emergency”
” are you the Hannah? ” she asked, grabbing
hold of my hand.

” no ma, Hannah is just outside, I’m Ella” i
replied, trying to wriggle free from her grip.
“take me to her” she ordered, as she pulled me
towards the door.

My anxiety increased, at this point i was
certain that Hannah had a lot to do with what
was happening.
“do you know your friends Parents or anybody
we can contact ?” she stopped and asked.
I thought about it for a while, if Ruth wanted
them to contact her family, she would have
volunteered those information. I decided to
withhold answers myself.
“no ma i don’t know anyone ”
” what about your school? ”
” school has closed” i replied.

She resigned from her questioning and
continued towards the door, till we were out in
the open.
“that’s Hannah ” i said, pointing towards her.

The sight of the nurse holding my hand firmly,
and pointing at her frightened Hannah. She
began to retreat towards the gate as we
approached her.
” my friend stop there! “the nurse ordered.
Hannah froze, with a frightened look on her
face. The nurse approached her and grabbed
her by the hand.

” come with me, you have some explaining to
do” she said, as she led us all the way up to
her office. Hannah was shedding tears
already.