All That Remains: Day 6

Word Count: 36,048

Summary of Events:

While sorting through the thousands of photos she had of Tristan on her laptop, the thought of ending her life returned to Chloë's head, and this time she let it linger instead of shaking it off as nonsense, as dying, she had to admit, was a legitimate way out of having to pretend to be a grieving widow. Will, as well as the small handful of his fellow teammates and team personnel who had minor injuries were transported by train from Frankfurt to Brussels, where they were welcomed into a ward that had been deliberately set aside for them and decorated in Anderlecht's colours. To Will's dismay, his least favourite teammate had been assigned as his roommate in the ward and, since he could walk, he came over to Will's side of the room to chat…

Excerpt of the Day:

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Angelo said. “I am Angelo Moschella.”

“Draženka Branković,” Enka replied.

“And what is your relationship to Will?” Angelo asked.

“I’m his girlfriend,” Enka replied.

“Ah, I didn’t realise he had one,” Angelo replied. “You do not live in Brussels then?”

“No,” Enka replied. “I’m in my fourth year of studying medicine in Zagreb.”

“Ah, so this is something of a practical experience for you,” Angelo said.

“It’s not officially a part of my education,” Enka replied. “But it is a bit of learning, yes.”
“Are you seeking to become a nurse, or a doctor, or a specialist of some sort?” Angelo asked.

“I’m looking to become a doctor,” Enka replied. “Just general practise for the moment, but that’s mostly because there’s so many specialties I find interesting. I am interested in pursuing specialist education in the future, though.”

“Ah,” Angelo said. “So what do you know about shoulder and collarbone injuries?”

“That’s what you have?” Enka asked.

“Yes,” Angelo replied. “I have a break of my collarbone, of my…”

“Humerus,” Enka replied.

Angelo patted his upper arm, which he’d touched while trying to think of its technical name. “Not very funny.”

“No,” Enka agreed.

“Also there are some minor fractures to my ribs, and I have a tear in a muscle of my shoulder,” Angelo added. “There were also concerns that I had broken my eye socket, but it is fine.”

“That’s good,” Enka said.

“How about Will?” Angelo asked.

“He got a moderate concussion, severe fractures of both tibiae and fibulae, and minor fractures of the patellae, femora, and metatarsi,” Enka replied.

“You already sound like a doctor,” Angelo said. “I would presume all of those fractures affect his legs because they’re what’s all wrapped up.”

“Yes,” Enka replied. “His spine and everything is fine.”

Angelo nodded. “It will be a far longer time before he returns to the pitch than it will be for me.”

“It will,” Enka replied, making pointed eye contact with Will.

He met her gaze with stubborn resolve. There was no use in trying. He wasn’t going to make it back onto the pitch. Ever.

“But what is the needle for?” Angelo asked. “In his hand.”

“Nothing,” Will replied. “They’re going to take it out.”

“But then why did they not take it out in Germany?” Angelo asked.

“It’s still needed,” Enka replied.

“No it isn’t,” Will replied.

“She is the almost-doctor Will,” Angelo said. “And your girlfriend. Why do you disagree with her?”

“You weren’t exactly invited to come over here,” Will snapped. “I just wanted you to stop talking up that nurse.”

“Then I will go,” Angelo said, standing up briskly and stalking away.

Will watched him leave. He wished Angelo wouldn’t stop at the adjacent bed, but would keep walking straight out of the room and into another one. He had no idea who’d been behind the determining of the pairings, but he wanted to give them an earful about making Angelo his roommate.

Pronunciations:

Draženka: drahzhehnkah

Branković: brahnkohvihch

Tibiae: tihbeeay

Fibulae: fihbyoulay

Patellae: pahtehllay

Femora: fehmohrah

Metatarsi: mehtahtahrsee