56
Mother and daughter held hands as they entered Duke Medical Center, prepared to identify the remains of their loved one. They were met by Dr. Bluefield, the Emergency Room chief who took them to the morgue to view the body, which they identified to be that of Victor Christianson. Full of emotion at the sight of her father, Asia left the room in a hurry and headed for the nearest bathroom. Finding an empty stall, she cried until her tears were spent.
“The remains will be taken to the coroner’s office for autopsy,” Dr. Bluefield said to Brenda.
“Do you have to do that?” Brenda asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“It’s procedure, ma’am. This is a homicide case, but it’s apparent to us that he died of a bullet wound to his heart.”
Brenda grabbed her chest and began to hyperventilate. “Oh my God, oh my God,” Brenda said over and over.
“I’ll walk you back to the ER, and we’ll have a counselor to come and talk with you in the family room,” Mrs. Christianson. “Someone will be along any minute. You may want to find your daughter first.”
Brenda nodded her head at Dr. Bluefield without saying a word. She took one last look at Victor lying on the steel bed. She closed her eyes and clasped her hands over her face and broke down.
THE WALLS OF THE HOSPITAL SEEMED TO CLOSE IN AS BRENDA AND Asia walked in silence back to the entrance to get as far away from the hospital’s sterile environment and the knowledge that Victor’s remains were temporarily housed there. They walked past a number of people who didn’t have the foggiest idea about the pain they were in because those people were attending to their own agenda, which may have included their own kind of pain. Brenda heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the light shining through the glass of the double doors. Escape was near.
As Brenda and Asia reached the turnstile, they had to wait until they were able to enter. But neither had recognized the two people already in the turnstile until they met face to face.
Mimi jerked back as did Raphael who was right behind her, surprised to see Brenda and Asia waiting to exit the hospital. “Brenda,” Mimi mouthed softly, taking her hands and pulling her into a warm embrace. “I’m sorry about your loss.”
Brenda’s smile was weak. “Thanks, Mimi,” she whispered in her ear. They released each other and it was Raphael’s turn to give Brenda a hug.
“If there’s anything we can do, let us know,” Raphael said. “We’re on our way to see Afrika.”
Asia ignored Mimi and Raphael and went through the turnstile and waited outside for Brenda.
“It’s going to take Asia a while to sift through her pain,” Brenda offered. “Don’t take offense; it’s been hard on her—her father being killed and finding out about you and Victor, Mimi,” Brenda lowered her eyes, “and that Afrika is her sister.”
Mimi offered a half-smile but didn’t look at Raphael, who stood by expressionless. “We understand. We’ve got to check on Afrika. I’ll stop by later and bring you a dish.”
“Thanks, Mimi,” Brenda said. She watched as Mimi and Raphael strolled out of sight. Then she turned and saw Asia standing outside with a scowl on her face. “Victor didn’t deserve to die,” Brenda mouthed to herself, “but what goes around comes around.” She walked through the turnstile to a waiting Asia.