“Lisa, go ahead and take Jennifer upstairs, she’ll be staying home today.”
“Mom, can I…”
“No, you can not. You go to school, and let me worry about Jennifer and Audrey for now.”
Lisa did as she was told; knowing any further argument was useless. The sensations she felt as she took her friend upstairs were downright frightening; she could feel her Jen’s skin quiver and her muscles spasm violently.
“Sorry I couldn’t stay with you, girlfriend.” Lisa apologized as she helped her friend into bed.
“What? Uh…no, its OK,” Jen replied dully as she slipped under the covers.
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Lisa went on to school, and Carol continued to contact the embassy. It wasn’t till almost noon that she managed to get through to a person.
“Yes, Mrs. Papadakis, we will do our best at helping you to locate her. Could you describe her for me?”
Carol did so, stating that while she wasn’t family, she was the guardian of Audrey’s daughter.
“I understand. Mrs. Papadakis, I’m sure you realize, in such a tragedy like this, a positive identification is often impossible by conventional means. I do have a list of where the survivors were sent for treatment…I’ll of course send this description immediately…and I will call as soon as I hear anything.”
“Thank you, Mr. Malygin, let me also email you a photo for you.”
“Ah, molodyets!! That will help greatly, Carol!” His voice sobered. “Mrs. Papadakis, on behalf of the Russian people, I greatly and sincerely regret this terrible tragedy. Please pass this on to your friend’s daughter.”
“Of course David. Thank you for your cooperation, and for Russia’s.”
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Since so many hospitals and clinics were busy with patients, it wasn’t until several hours later that a connection was made.
David Malygin enjoyed his posting in New York and was doing some paperwork, filing visa applications, when the phone rang yet again.
“We have the patient you describe; the photo is a near-perfect match.”
“So, Audrey Smith is alive?”
“Alive, yes. Alive, but with a nasty bruise on her brain. She rests in a coma now. Also, the tips of her left pinky and ring fingers had to be removed from frostbite.”
“What is the prognosis?”
“We expect her to survive, whether there will be any long-term damage remains to be seen.”
Malygin paused, feeling sympathetic. More waiting for the friends and family. “How long before we know?”
“Two weeks on the outside. If she remains comatose much longer, the odds in her favor decrease dramatically.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
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Lisa came in late, exhausted. The cramps weren’t as severe as Jennifer’s appeared to be, but they still hurt, especially in her belly. A trooper to the end, she stuck it out, then watched the football team practice, not quite trusting her legs to take her home.
Lisa wasn’t at all hungry; she just crawled into bed with Jennifer and went to sleep.
As for Jennifer, her sleep was erratic and uncomfortable. Spasms assaulted her body throughout the night, and her skin itched…then tingled…then tickled…and itched again. Everywhere. But she was too weary to bother checking.
Lisa awoke very early the next morning. She was hungry now, and she went downstairs for some food.
The phone rang as she was pouring herself some apple juice. Lisa frowned, who would be calling before 6 am anyway?
“Hello,” she answered guardedly.
“Ah…yes,” said a lightly-accented voice. “May I please speak to Carol Papadakis.”
“SHE’S ALIVE!!” Carol whispered excitedly to her daughter. “Get Jen down here right away.
Lisa sprinted up the steps, throwing open her bedroom door. “Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, wake up, wake up. Your Mom’s alive!!” She rocked her friend’s shoulder violently.
“S-she’s alive?” Her voice was tired but excited. She flipped over to face Lisa. Jennifer smiled broadly. “She’s alive?”
Lisa’s mouth fell open in horror.
“Oh Jen!”