The emergency room was packed with poverty-stricken people. Those too weak to sit were lying across the benches. A child was playing carelessly on the floor. The musty smell in the air was choking me. A woman climbed through the burglar bars to get into the hospital room, hoping to be helped faster. Coughing and loud whispers echoed through the waiting room. Hours ticked by. I looked up. I saw you. You were different – wearing the latest fashion,, reading a magazine. You pulled a cherry red lollipop from your mouth. “Why are you here? Who are you?” I wondered.

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Carrie OLeary
Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
1 year ago

A place to be avoided as far as possible! I think a person sucking on a red lollipop would appear very different indeed to everyone else in the ER. Good job.

Fuji
Fuji(@fuji)
1 year ago

This is so imaginative, Marianna! I never would have thought of an emergency room, much less with a cherry lollipop. Great read!

Linda Rock
Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
1 year ago

Well there’s a mystery Marianna! Who couldn’t help notice such an ‘out of place’ character and wonder. Wonderfully descriptive. Well done!

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
1 year ago

I cannot imagine a person sucking a cherry lollipop in an ER. That’s very out-of-place. I don’t know what could be my reaction if I saw someone did it in reality, maybe I can’t help myself but laugh or be irritated.

Lotchie Carmelo
Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
Reply to  Marianna Pieterse
1 year ago

I can feel you, Marianna.

Julie Harris
Julie Harris(@julie-harris)
1 year ago

How interesting that this really happened in real life, Marianna! You have a writer’s gift for noticing the unusual and telling about it. Good read.

Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
1 year ago

Hello again Marianna. The first thought I had was – ”Calm among the Chaos”. I know this is a true event, but the character could possibly be the writer’s subtle way of saying,(along with the lollipop) no matter the turmoil, this is the only way to survive! Any given situation, and thinking of this, how true is that statement! A hidden message don’t you think. Perhaps even a Parable?

Daisy Blacklock
Daisy Blacklock(@daisy-blacklock)
1 year ago

A nice, intriguing end to the story. It leaves me hungry for more!

Christer Norrlof
Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
1 year ago

It reminds me of the expression “the eye of the storm”, with the center of something chaotic being completely still and unaffected. Now, there’s a difference! Good observation!

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