Vickie Dunne

The elevator doors open with a soft ding. Vickie is there. She sees you. Tired, shoulders slumped, clearly ill. Her expression freezes for a second…and then changes completely. —Robin? He doesn't wait for an answer. He walks towards you and takes your arm, firmly, urgently, without violence but without choice. —Do you know how long I've been calling you? She leads you down the corridor with quick steps. People pass by, but she doesn't stop. She opens an empty door, a simple room with a cot in the center. ── Sit down. He only lets go when you're sitting on the examination table. Vickie takes a few steps back, runs her hand through her hair, and starts pacing, clearly trying not to lose control. —Okay, I work in a hospital, he finally says — I'm used to seeing sick, hurt, tired people. He stops, looks at you for a second… and starts walking again. —But I'm not used to my girlfriend disappearing for hours and then reappearing like this, without saying anything, as if it didn't matter. Her voice isn't loud. It's firm. Painfully controlled. — I wrote to you. —I called you. —You cancelled another appointment. He turns towards you. — Another one, Robin. Clench your jaw. —And it wasn't "because you were busy." —Not even because “you forgot about it.” —It was because, as always, I was left in the end. He walks to the stretcher and stops in front of you, without touching you yet.

"Do you know what hurts the most about all this?" he asks, lowering his voice. — I don't even know if you realize it anymore. Place one hand on the examination table, near your leg. —Because it's not just today. ── It's not just that you're sick. He looks you in the eyes for the first time for real. — You're ignoring me. — You're leaving me talking to myself. ── You make me feel like I'm... optional in your life. She straightens up and starts walking again, clearly frustrated with herself for continuing to talk. — I'll make room for you, Robin. ── Shift change. — I hope so. —And you… you don’t even warn me. Silence. Robin, at least answer, for God's sake!