Chapter Text
The morning light shines through the window revealing the stacks of paper on the table, the sound of splashing water can be heard inside the bathroom. Natasya washes her face to wake herself up from the slumber and look at the mirror. She looks at the reflection, the bag under her eyes, the long frizzy black hair, her thin figure, she can only sigh at the sight. “C’mon Nat, today is the day.” she mumbled to herself as she brushes her hair and put it in a low ponytail. She stepped back into her room, eyes flickering to the clutter she hadn’t bother to deal with. Paper stacks unevenly, notes scatter on the wall, she ignores most of it. The calendar caught her attention instead. Red ink circled today, the hospital tour. She sighs, grabs what she needs and proceeds to go to the hospital.
As Natasya walks to the bus station she thinks of the reason she asks for this tour, a proposal of collaboration in her research regarding Deathbed Phenomena. Natasya wants to ask for permission to observe patients near their death although she knows what they will say. They’ll deny it because of the patient’s privacy even though it really wouldn’t matter, so she settles to interview people who have witnessed it happen. The sound of the bus arriving snap her out of her trance, she greeted the driver with a smile and took a seat near the window. She always likes the morning; the sunlight always looks divine glowing on the trees and bushes at the streets. The blur of motion invites her back to her thoughts; the interview will only provide secondary data, words from the interviewee that’s not one hundred percent accurate, maybe not correct at all. She must find a way to get the information she wants, Natasya closes her eyes and brings her hand to the bridge of her nose. She has an idea, but she needs to get her hands dirty.
The vehicle stops smoothly, Natasya gets off the bus saying thank you to the driver and look at the hospital building in front of her. She took the first steps into the building and straight to the receptionist. The hospital smells like antiseptics and alcohol, the quite atmosphere interrupted with the occasional coughs brings uneasy feeling through her. The receptionist is a man of twenty perhaps more, with a slim and youthful appearance with black wavy hair cut to a length just over his ears.
“Hello miss, what brings you today?” he said immediately, “Ah hello, I’m scheduled for a tour? It should be under the name Natasya.” Said Natasya as she comes closer to the table. The man readjusts his focus to the computer in front of him, the sound of keyboard clicking filled the room as she looks around. The hospital only has a handful of patients currently; perhaps because it’s still morning, it’s perfect Natasya thought, with few distractions she can focus on observing the hospital layout. The man’s voice bounces her back from her mind, “So… not to be rude, but why do you ask for a tour? Usually, the only people that ask for a tour is pregnant women or children that’s curious or want to be a doctor.” Natasya pauses for a second, then in hushed tone she says, “I actually want to ask for an interview for my research but kind of scared to ask… so I ask for a tour instead so I can y’know… ask more... politely and personally?”
The receptionist chuckles and says he is surprised by how shy she can be, he proceeds to explain that she can ask for an interview as long as it doesn’t interfere with patient’s privacy as she expected. The sound of footsteps interrupts their exchange; the nurse has arrived. “Oh, there you are. Here’s the little birdy that wants a tour.” The man points to Natasya, she waves her hand and give the nurse a smile. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s begin!”
The nurse walks her through the corridor, the smell of alcohol only getting stronger as she walks. Natasya listens to the nurse explaining each of the room functions, the patient’s rooms, the nurse’s station, soiled utility room, medication room, operation room, but what really pique her interest is the MRD. Medical Record Department, the room where the hospital keeps all their physical data. Hospital today primarily use electronic health records for its data and security but the one on the MRD are rows and rows of papers, “why are these still physical?” Natasya asks before she could stop herself. “Unfortunately, our hospital doesn’t have the fund and people to operate a server room and to change them to digital copy. But rest assured, all the information is safe and secure. We have CCTV all around the room 24/7 and security on a moment notice.” The nurse says with confidence, they both stop in front of the MRD room. The light feels brighter inside, Natasya scans the room for the cameras, the people pacing back and forth searching for records they need.
The nurse leads her down the hallway of patient rooms. The curtains half drawn, machines humming softly. People lie still in their beds, eyes closed or staring at nothing in particular. The sight tightens something in Natasya’s gut, but she keeps walking without commenting on it. Eventually, they circle back to the reception desk. The tour is over. The nurse thanks her and starts to turn away, but Natasya hesitates, then speaks before she can talk herself out of it. She explains her research. Deathbed phenomena. The moments before death. She asks if there’s anyone willing to be interviewed be it doctors, nurses, anyone who has witnessed it closely.
“Oh, honey,” she says gently, “I can’t guarantee anything. But I can try to find you a few people.” Natasya thanks her profusely, she gives the nurse her number to contact her about the plan and said goodbye. The wind greets her when she steps out of the hospital, she lets out a sigh for a job finally done. She can finally enter the research phase for her paper, she can only hope it will go well.