What They Left Behind

Ben was on the edge of consciousness. He had just had bypass surgery about an hour before and now lay on a gurney in the recovery room. Things were a bit hazy except for the tremors. Everything not bolted down in the room was shaking. His gurney moved a few inches and his IV bag fell off its hook and landed onto the floor. He didn’t know if it was real or all in his head, but he swore he could feel the entire hospital swaying. Well, he thought lackadaisically, I guess this is probably the safest place I could be considering the circumstances. He just wished the timing wasn’t quite so shitty. The least the earthquake could do was wait a day after the operation. You know earthquakes, he thought, they’re always inconsiderate bastards.

  The power went out and Ben felt himself agitate in total darkness. A few seconds later, the trembling ceased. A loud buzz sounded in the recovery room and the lights went on again.

  Outside, it sounded like pandemonium. Car horns, screams, what have you. In the hospital, he could hear people running around frantically, panic lining their voices. He saw Annie enter the recovery room. She was flushed and out of breath.

  “We just had an earthquake,” she said.

  “I know,” Ben replied, his words very slurred, “I think it was a pretty big one too.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Of course. Well, my IV bag is on the floor. Can you put it back up where it belongs?”

  Annie looped the hole in the bag through the hook on the pole. “My, you’re awfully relaxed. I was worried you were going to have another heart attack.”

  “I don’t think the anesthesia’s worn off yet. How is Kristopher?”

  “He’s at soccer practice! I have no clue how I’m going to pick him up. I hope he’s okay.”

  “Do me a favor. After you get Kristopher, try to get a hold of everybody at the restaurant…and my sister. I want to know if they’re all right.”

  “I will…if the phones aren’t knocked out.”

  “Well…if they are…uh, I have no idea. I’m going back to sleep. God, I’m tired.”

  Annie kissed him on the forehead. “Sleep tight, Prince Charming. Hopefully, the earthquake wasn’t as bad as it felt.”

  “Hopefully,” Ben said, his voice extra groggy.

  Chapter 87: October 18