Coma. Federico Betti

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СКАЧАТЬ For a period of time he will have to do some exercise, to fully recover”, one of the nurses explained to him.

      “He will do whatever it takes to be back to normal”, Mario Mazza confirmed, “He’s a willing guy, so he surely won’t have any problems to engage himself that way.”

       “He will follow an accurate program, that will bring him to gradual, but also total rehabilitation.”

      “Good, thank you for all that are you doing. We trust your experience.”

      “Now, if you don’t mind, I would like a coffee”, said the nurse.

      “Don’t worry. I’ll come with you, I need one too” answered Mario.

      They went in the corner where the vending machines were, at the end of the corridor.

      There was one for hot drinks, one for iced drinks, one for salty and sweet snacks and one for stuffed sandwiches.

      Mario put the money and selected a classic espresso, while the nurse, using a magnetic key given to the staff of the hospital, chose a chocolate cappuccino.

      “Sometimes I feel a little spoiled”, said the man.

      “It’s good to allow yourself to make an exception to the rule. We all should do it now and then”

      They drank their beverage and then each of them went his own way. “Now I have to leave you”, said the nurse, “I have a few things to do”

      “Don’t worry, I’ll let you go. Thank you for your company.”

      Mario Mazza went towards his brother’s room and stopped in the hallway, knowing that he couldn’t go inside.

      He was glad that his brother’s conditions were getting better day by day, and that was enough to him now; once completely healed, he would have the chance to stay with him and make up for lost time.

      One week to go and everything was going to be back to normal. Almost, at least.

      He stayed until the end of visiting hours, then he got out and went home: another day passed by.

      VIII

      I’m driving, I don’t know where to. I found myself here alone, in the middle of a homogenous black of this room, with a steering wheel in front of me, my only certainty. That’s all I could see, the steering wheel.

      I don’t understand what happened to the rest of the car. Because I am inside a car, right?

      “Hey guys! I know that you are somewhere. Am I in a car? Can someone confirm it?”

      No one is answering. Where is everyone gone?

      They’re hiding, that’s the truth. They don’t want to be seen. They’re pranking me. A really bad prank.

      I touch the darkness with a hand, but without feeling anything; I can’t feel the air moving, I don’t feel hot or cold…

      I keep not understanding where I am, but I’m sure I’m alone. Who brought me here, left, or hid somewhere close.

      “Come on, show up! I know you’re here”

      Nothing, I got no answer.

      What place is this? A basement? It doesn’t give me the idea of being a corridor. It rather seems like a closed space, a room.

      At least that is my impression, it’s what I can guess from the elements I have at hand. If I had some more information, maybe I could have more certainty on my situation. I don’t even know if I’m in danger, I don’t know what to expect in the immediate future. Deep down, I still don’t know anything that could be helpful to understand.

      How much time spent since I got here?

       I realize that any of the questions I asked myself is having an answer; I don’t like it, I’m a person that based on certainty every moment of his life, and losing them could, long-term speaking, bother me.

      Is it possible that there’s no one whom I could ask for help? Any kind of help…

      I also gave headache, so I wouldn’t mind taking a painkiller, bit I don’t know who I could ask it.

      “Is there anyone?”, I shouted, but as an answer I only get silence.

      “I need something that makes this headache go away! Please, if someone is hiding there, it’s time to come out!”

      I can’t see anything, the place seems empty, besides the car I’m in.

      I already saw this scene somewhere: me, on my own, on this vehicle.

      Darkness reigns all around, where is everybody?

      Someone besides me exists in this World, or not?

      Oh my God, in my head is making its way a quite worrying thought, or at least it is for me: what if, by any chance, I’m in another World? In a parallel word to the one where usually humans are?

      Have I been kidnapped by the aliens?

       I hope I will have an answer about all the question marks that are growing inside of me. And I hope I will have it soon, or I could take the risk of going crazy.

      If there’s some kind soul somewhere around that would know something more about the few things I know, I’d like that he would show up and explain the situation to me.

      No one is showing up. No one come out, they’re all cowards, sissies here because they know they’re wrong and because they know that I could kick them for what they’re doing to me.

      “Show up, have the guts for your actions!”

      Nothing changes. No one answers.

      I have nothing to do but wait, but I hope that soon someone explains to me what’s going on here, because soon I will lose my patience, and when I lose my patience… every man for himself.

      IX

      Every now and then, thinking about what he went through with his younger brother and seeing the current health conditions, Mario Mazza got tears in his eyes.

      He looked after him since they were children and has always been next to him during the following years; they lived many happy moments.

      They had similar characters, other reason that made them get on well, and they felt really good when they were together.

      The image of a smiley, playful Luigi came to his mind and he remembered only a few sad moments, since his brother, like him, was positive and optimistic for nature.

      Although the discrete age difference and the belonging, as a matter of fact, to two different generations, Luigi and Mario together were a good pair: they compensate one another and between them there was an almost indescribable understanding.

      It was like they were best friends: the one considered himself the perfect half of the other, at lest under certain points of view, and this situation became stronger and СКАЧАТЬ