The Voicemail

Fratana held the phone with trembling hands. She was sure she would drop it any minute now and it would break into tiny titanium pieces. She stumbled through the front door of her apartment, dumped her bags on the couch and tapped on the phone log again.

The battery alarm flashed bright red on the screen

2% battery life, please recharge

She dismissed the notification and tapped on the Hasvind call log notice.

Two missed calls, just five minutes apart.

She tapped on the voice note – Hallo, this is Dr. Harun. I tried calling but you didn’t pick up. Your name is on the registry as the main contact for ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’, she could not hear the name because it was muffled by the siren of ambulance passing by. If you could please call back to ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’, the siren went off again and it disconnected.

That must be Hasvind Hospital!

She listened to it again, cursing why the high pitched sound broken the connection. The message was still the same.

She scanned her mind, there was no one she knew who could be in hospital.

What if it was accident?

What if someone is dead?

The thought made her feet weak with fright. The air around her was heavy.

She turned on the switch, no lights – that was when she realised there was a black out in the neighbourhood. The smell of burning candles coming from nearby houses misted her nostrils and she opted not to light one.

Why did this happen today?

She could not get to Hasvind hospital, that was one-hour drive from the city, three hours minimum with traffic, she knew all her family has travelled for holiday and left her to work because hotel business booms with the festivities.

She had taken her mother to the women’s retreat in the next town one day ago. What if she had decided to come back with a bus, knowing how stubborn she was. She brushed off the thought. She wouldn’t have. She can be stubborn but she knew she would have told her so that she makes sure Frantana picks her up at the station.

She tapped on the screen again, this time it gave a dark glow

1% Saving Mode activated, please recharge

She did not know what to do. Her anxiety rush with adrenaline down her spine. Even in the dark room, she felt dizzy as though she would pass out.

There was only one way to save herself from this dilemma. She needed to decide who to call. Her mother, her children or the hospital. Whoever, she decides to call, it would be her last retrieve for her to get some answers. But how could she know what was right.

She found herself sliding down the wall in exhaustion. There has to be a way to handle this kind of situation.

The phone rings and it springs her eyes open to the black light. She reaches for it so quickly that she twists her wrist. The pain was madness. But she tapped on the caller alert

Hasvind

Again. Maybe the universe wanted to relieve her from the pressure she was feeling.

“Hallo. Hallo. Can you hear me?” she raised her voice through the receiver.

“Hey, hey you don’t need to shout,” She heard the voice caller in protest. It sounded strange. Not like a doctor’s voice.

“Am I speaking to Frantana?”

“Yes you are,” she said with her voice still shaking.

“Okay, “the voice was groggy and firm. “Well are you coming to pick up Lucky?”

Frantana shot up in the air, “Lucky?”

Yes, Lucky.

Frantana was confused, “What is Lucky?”

She is a lovely German Shepherd here belonging to Mrs. Kenoy. Put you as the main contact. Do you know her?

“Yes, that’s my mother,”

“She left her here before going on the retreat so that Dr. Harun could have a look at her before she comes home. The doctor had to leave and left me to try and call you again,”

Frantana shook off her nerves, “Am sorry, are you calling me from Hasvind Hospital?”

“No, oh gosh no…this is the Vets just opposite the hosp…,”

And with that, the battery took its own life.

Frantana collapsed on the couch in the dark room, buried her face under the pillows and screamed her mother’s name to the high heavens