After the closing hour, Sonia and Emilee had walked to the bus stop and they stood up waiting eagerly for the bus. However,Sonia had noticed Emilee wasn't her usual self. She looked stressed and pale.
"Are you okay?" She said putting her hand on her forehead to check her body temperature.
"Of course, I'm good" She forced a smile.
"You don't have to go to work. Just go home"
"I'm okay"
"But you're burning up" Sonia scolded
The bus arrived and Emilee ran inside before Sonia could say anything more. Sonia kept staring at her in the bus and she kept avoiding her eyes. They got to their workplace in nothing less than twenty minutes. Immediately they alighted from the bus, Sonia started again.
"I don't think..."
"Let's get ice cream after work today. What do you think?" Emilee cut in.
Sonia gave her a cold death stare that parched her lips. Emilee slowly walked away . After five minutes walk, they got to the restaurant, Royal's Restaurant, their source of income. Royal restaurant was the most popular in that area known for its different delicacies. Walking in, they weren't too shocked to see the tables full and the other three workers trying hard to satisfy the customers .They knew they were in for a lot of work.
The manager, Mr.Gabriel popularly known as Gabby, a short fair man in his early thirties was happy when he sighted them, knowing how hardworking and smart both were.He walked up to them in his usual big trouser big enough to house an elephant.
"You girls should go change. As you can see, we have a lot of customers and a lot are still coming"
"Okay sir" The two chorused
Within a twinkle of an eye, they had changed into the restaurant's uniform and had started waiting tables. They had to run helter skelter before the customers' order piled up. It got to some point, Emilee was sweating and was looking so tired that Sonia took her inside and continued working. It was hectic!
By 6pm, the restaurant looked scanty already and she only had few tables to clean. She took a minute to halt while cleaning the tables, heaved a sigh of relief before she continued. As soon as she was done, she ran to where Emilee was . She was lying down on the table sleeping. Sea of cold sweat flooded her face and her uniform looked wet. Sonia quickly checked her temperature. She recoiled.
"Jesus!"
she was burning up,her body was hot enough to boil an egg.
"Emmy! Let's go home" She tapped her hoping she would respond and stand up.
She tapped her again and this time around, she gave her a weak response and stood up weakly. Sonia quickly had her bag trapped to her back and Emilee's on her shoulder. They walked out of the room provided for female workers to change to where customers were attended to. Gabby was surprised when she saw Emilee walked out.
"What's wrong with her?"
"She's sick"
"You should have told me. Please take care of her"
"Alright sir" Sonia said holding unto Emilee
They were almost out of the restaurant when Gabby called for them to wait. He dipped his hands into his pocket and brought out some money.
"Don't bother waiting for bus. Take a cab"
"Thank you so much sir" Sonia said collecting the money. Gabby waved at them and walked into the male changing room .
She had Emilee rested on her shoulder while she looked for a cab. Within three minutes, they were in the cab. Emilee was resting on Sonia's lap . Sonia told the driver where they were going and the cab zoomed off.
They were halfway when Emilee coughed and was silent. The silence got Sonia scared. Her saliva had its way down her throat in quick succession that her mouth lose saliva. Her hand was shaking and her eyes was heavy with tears ready to pour down .
"Emmy. Are you okay?" She asked tapping her with shaky voice that made the driver turned back to see what was going on.
"Emmy!!" She called but she was answering.
"What happened to her?"
"Sir. Please come help me check on her"
The driver quickly parked by the road and ran to the door. He opened it and raised Emmy up from Sonia's lap. He raised two of his fingers against her nose. His heart shook to its apex. He was shivering all over.
"Let's go to the hospital" He managed to say.
He ran back to the driver's seat and drive recklessly forward. Emilee, now on Sonia's shoulder started convulsing.
"Emmy. Stay with me please" She cried bringing her back to her lap. "Emmy!!!"
"Sir please be fast" She yelled in tears
"Emmy. We are almost at the hospital. Please stay with me" She shouted.
The driver drove with more speed. He was wrapped in sweat when he sighted a hospital. He parked and jumped out of the driver's seat. He opened the door and took Emmy who was lifeless from Sonia.
Sonia ran after him as he ran into the hospital with her. The nurses were quick to carry her to a bed and checked her.
"She was fine in the morning. She started burning up, convulsing and not responding" Sonia cried without even taking a breath.
"It's okay. The doctor will come attend to her now" One of the nurses said .
The doctor ran in with his stethoscope jumping on his shoulder. He put it on Emmy's chest. He quickly took her hand and checked her pulse. One of the nurses shouted.
"Cyanosis!"
The doctor quickly checked her tongue and nails.
"Let's get some oxygen on board." The doctor fired hanging back his stethoscope on his shoulder. After the nurse set the oxygen, Emmy's chest kept rising with each laboured breathing. Her skin was slick with sweat and her once lively face looked dull. Sonia was ushered out with the driver but she could still see her through the door.
" Charge the defibrillator!" The doctor fired softly.
One of the three nurses handed over the defibrillator to him.
"Charge to 200joules!"
"Clear!"
"Shock!"
As the defibrillator discharged, Sonia's chest jerked violently upward as if yanked by an invisible force before relaxing back to the bed. He did it again.
"No response to shock. Let's start CPR" The doctor said and he immediately started the compression. Few minutes after, one of the nurses shouted.
" We've got a pulse"
The doctor stopped ,heaving a sigh of relief. He turned to the nurses.
" We are out of the wood but we need to keep a close watch on her . Get her to the ICU and get a 12 lead ECG"
"Okay sir"
Seeing this, Sonia wiped her tears.
"I shouldn't have let her go to work with me" She siloquised