10PM. 

13th FEBRUARY, 2024, CRATER'S PRIVATE HOSPITAL (CPH), LAGOS. 

Nse ambulates out of the great white building into the lawn. The air outside is damper than the inside's, and so her body tingles. Her gaits become sluggish in an attempt to prolong the tickling feeling. She enjoys the feeling because it felt familiar and relatively nostalgic. She wishes to stand here in the lawn and reminisce about the good and bad memories the night has brought along. But she has to get to the infirmary. Her hands are deep inside the side pockets of her blue overall. She shakes her head like a dummy as she reluctantly marches forward. As hard as she tries to suppress it, she couldn't help thinking about him. The smoker she had fallen in love with. The smoker she had had to leave because of the way he smoked her love to embers. In life, certain decisions are difficult but highly necessary and one of hers was betraying what she shared with the smoker.

A beep echoes in her left pocket, jostling her out of reverie. She retrieves her fancy cellphone, presses it against her left ear and strides toward an empty seat in the lawn. “Hello,” she says, sitting down and crossing her legs. 

"Hello, Doctor Nse!" The voice at the other end is frenetic and worrisome. 

“Yes?” She inquires casually.

“It's an emergency. Male. About 43 years. Heart attack!" 

"A heart attack?” She lunges out of her seat. “Okay. Okay. Any signs of angina, fatigue, or shortness of breath?" She queries.

“He's still unconscious Doc. I suspect a CAD. Dr. Martins is performing CPR. The patient seems at a critical stage. Narrow arteries and signs of atherosclerosis. He might be needing a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery as soon as possible..”

TBC…