by Dana Burkey
“Yeah, I’ll save you a seat,” I confirmed, glad for the first time that every seat at my table was usually open.
“Did you want more tea?” The waitress’s voice startled me, an unexpected noise after so long in silence.
“Uh, yes, please,” I managed, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.
Glancing at my watch I was surprised to see it had been almost 15 minutes since Olena had left our table. Not sure if I should check on her, I allowed my gaze to wander around the room. There were only a few other tables full at the moment. Perkins was the popular spot in town, but it was only 8:30. It was still too early for the college kids to spill in after an evening of fun, and yet already too late for families to be spending time together over a meal. Deciding to give her another minute I patiently waited for my tea and took a few sips before heading to the restroom as well. Leaving my purse in the booth I made my way across the restaurant while looking around to see if Olena was in sight. Perhaps she was feeling sick, or got distracted by someone she knew from school along the way.
Pushing open the bathroom door, I was met with resistance. The light was out, something I had never seen at Perkins before, but I continued on in without the fact really registering.
“Olena?” I called out, pushing a little harder and being rewarded with the door swinging open. My voice echoed off the tiled walls as I stepped in, my arm groping along the wall to find the switch.
As my hand made contact with the light switch, I was met with shining light in my eyes. Blinking against the sudden brightness I took another step into the room and felt my feet slipping beneath me. Pitching forward before I could catch my balance, my vision exploded with stars as my forehead made contact with one of the sinks mounted on the wall. Only partially aware of a sharp pain in my wrist I sat up and brought a hand up to my forehead. It came away bloody, causing my stomach to churn immediately.
Lowering my hand out of view I squinted to make out the sight in front of me. My vision was swimming, no doubt a combination of both the hit to my head and also the sight of my own blood. Finally, however, the room came into focus. A scream immediately ripped from my throat. Trying to push myself back with my heels I slipped more, now seeing the cause. The floor of the bathroom was covered in blood, all of it flowing from the body that had been blocking the door just moments before.
As my mind tried to take in the shocking sight before me, I was only vaguely aware of a waitress entering the bathroom. I could hear her calling out for help she moved towards me, assuring me it was going to be okay. It was then that my screaming turned to tears, shock hitting me like a brick wall. The waitress held onto me as I cried, the bathroom quickly filling up with people trying to help.
“Let’s get you out of here sweetie,” the woman mumbled before standing up and helping me do the same.
My head swam as I leaned into her, my slick shoes finding it hard to gain purchase on the tiled floor. I tried not to think about the fact that this was due to blood coating them, and instead focused on getting out of the bathroom as soon as possible.
“A little help someone,” the waitress called out from next to me. Before my body could drop from her grasp two arms wrapped around me from each side, supporting me and all but carrying me to a bench near the open restaurant door. The cool air streaming in from outside stilled my head, if only for a second.
As someone pressed a cloth to my head I glanced toward the booth I had sat in with Olena. It was just how I left it, my tea half full, and my purse on the seat where I had been enjoying my reunion with my best friend. A flutter of motion next to the table caught my attention.
Glancing over I made eye contact with a boy that was about my age. His piercing green eyes shone across the restaurant at me before he turned and ran out into the parking lot through the emergency exit. I wanted to ask someone who this person was, but all I could manage to do was slump my head back onto the wall behind me. My body could not seem to process everything fast enough. Olena was gone, a man was dead, and it seemed that those two facts were more closely related than I would have liked them to be.
“...and then I fell and hit my head,” I finished, glad to be done with the recap at last.
I glanced at the two officers at the foot of my bed. They had been asking me questions for the last hour, trying to make sure they knew each and every detail about my time in Perkins with Olena. The only thing that made it a little better was that one of the officers was Ray Cimenti, my next door neighbor and dad’s best friend. His partner, Officer Janet Alberino, however, was doing her best to grill me as if I was somehow at fault for the dead man.
“Your friend never mentioned anything about being in trouble or being scared someone was after her?” Officer Alberino asked again, at least the third time for that particular question.
“No,” I closed my eyes as I continued to talk. “She told me that when she left Ohio it was to help family, but didn’t say where and didn’t hint that things were still bad after her aunt died in a car accident.”
“Claire, we really need to you to focus,” she grumbled, clicking her pen a few times for good measure. I opened my eyes and stared at her. “There is a dead guy we can’t get an ID on, and the only known person in that restroom was your friend. Her blood was on the wall right under the window and all over the knife she stabbed him with. Now either she just decided to stab some guy, or she was in trouble and is trying to hide it. Innocent people don’t just stab guys in the chest then sneak out a window to get away.”
“I told you everything I know. I just want to go to bed and have this day be over,” I explained, my voice breaking as I was once again overcome with emotion. I had more questions than any of the law officials did, but had no one to answer them.
“We just need-” she began again, before being cut off by Mr. Cimenti.
“Let’s let her rest,” he offered. “Once she gets more sleep maybe she will remember something useful.”
I could hear Officer Alberino grinding her teeth. Thankfully, after a pause, she gave a curt nod before turning and walking into the hallway.
“We’re right outside if you remember anything,” Mr. Cimenti smiled kindly. “And I’ll let your parents know to come check on you again.”
As he left the room, closing the door gently behind him, I allowed the tears to flow once again. Since arriving at the hospital just after 10pm I was stitched up immediately. My head wound required seven stitches, then lead to a time of “concussion watch” as my mom called it. Basically I would sleep for an hour or two then be woken up to make sure I was not dying. This wouldn’t have been too bad aside from the fact that both my head and wrist were throbbing. I had apparently landed harder than I thought, and managed to break my wrist, on top of the nice blow to my forehead. Thanks to the possibility of a concussion I was only allowed to take some Tylenol until they could determine I was healthy enough for real drugs.
By morning the doctors believed I was no longer suffering any head trauma and allowed me some serious medicine and more rest. Sadly I only got a few short hours when the questioning began. While I was out the police were trying to figure out what exactly had happened in Perkins, interviewing wait staff and checking security videos. I was the missing link in the story it seemed, but sadly could not provide any more details to what they already knew.
Through the interviews I was put through, details began to be filled in. Based on evidence at the scene of the crime, it appeared Olena had fought with the man in the restroom before stabbing him. No, not just stabbing him once or twice, but rather 23 times. The number of stab wounds and her quick exit out of the bathroom’s only window made all the police uneasy. Even more so, however, was the fact that there was no record of an Olena Kozak living in the United States. There were no records showing her arrival in from Russia, and no fingerprint record on file either.
As I laid there in the hospital bed staring at the stark white ceiling I ran my conversation with Olena over and over again in my head. We had c
hatted about boys we used to have crushes on, the latest drama with the girls we hung out with back in middle school, and then it was over. She was gone, killing a man and leaving his body in her wake.
“We got you some food,” my mom suddenly announced, coming into the room with my dad.
I did my best to smile as they placed a tray before me loaded with fresh fruit, soup, chips, a sandwich, and classic hospital Jell-O.
“I wasn’t sure how hungry you would be,” dad shrugged.
“So he bought the whole cafeteria!” Mom laughed, but the worry lines stayed on her forehead like a stain.
“Thanks, it’s perfect,” I replied. My stomach still felt like a brick, but I did my best to start putting food into my body. I could feel my parents watch each raise and lowering of my arm, willing the food to heal my body and emotions faster.
“I spoke with the doctor,” mom said casually as she began tidying up the already clean room. “They want to get some more fluids in you and then they said you should be okay to leave.”
“Great,” I managed through a mouth of Jell-O. It was already 2 in the afternoon, and the idea of being in my own bed felt wonderful.
“Let’s put the game on!” Dad announced, grabbing the remote and flipping on the Cleveland Indians game. He was a caged animal in the tiny hospital room, wanting to run but not wanting to leave me alone with the big needles and constant questions about all I had been through.
Doing my best to choke down more food while watching the game, I tried to pretend I was at home in our living room watching the innings play out. Baseball was always on in my house, so the familiar voices of the commentators helped me relax a little more. Mom took a seat at the end of my bed, one hand resting on my leg while she cheered on the team with dad and me. If it wasn’t for the shadowy figure of the police outside and the sterile smell of hospital chemicals invading my nostrils I might have actually enjoyed our moment.
Taking the last bite of chips I could muster, I leaned back into my pillows. I closed my eyes and listened to the game. Before long, the game faded as I once again found sleep, despite the chaos around me.
I was woken up at the end of the second inning when a nurse entered to check my vitals. Dad took it as his cue to step outside while mom pretended to read a magazine to pass the time. Between questions from the nurse I could hear dad in the hallway chatting to Mr. Cimenti. It was hard to make out exactly what they were saying it, but the phrases I caught were less than comforting. From what I could put together it sounded like the dead body was unidentified, the only lead coming from the Canadian cash in his wallet.
“I’ll be back in just a moment with release forms for you to sign,” the nurse told my mom before leaving the room
“Well, let’s get you into something more comfortable.” Mom could not help but smile as she pulled my favorite flannel pajamas out of the tote bag she had sitting with her coat.
I smiled back at her, not forcing the action for the first time since arriving at the hospital the night before. Sitting up to get changed I tried not to think too much about where my other clothes were. I knew I would likely never see them again, since they were no doubt in an evidence bag somewhere still covered in blood from the bathroom floor. Shaking off the thought, I pulled on an old pair of tennis shoes just as dad entered the room carrying what had to be the largest stuffed animal they sold in the hospitals store.
“I know you’re a little old for these now, but he just looked like he needed a good home,” dad shrugged, making the bear dance a little in the air.
Sliding off the bed and walking towards him, I gave the bear and my dad a hug. On my own I never would have picked out the bear, but given all I had gone through it was nice to have something to cuddle up to.
As the doctors came in with a wheelchair they insisted I sit in on the trip to the car, I squeezed the bear for support. Leaving the hospital meant that it was time to face the real world, the one where my best friend killed people in the bathroom at Perkins.
“Where are we going?” I asked once the nurse pushed the button for the basement.
“There are a few reporters outside,” Mr. Cimenti, who had joined us for the ride, spoke up before my parents had the chance. “We’re taking you out a back entrance to avoid them all.”
His words left me holding the bear even tighter. It had not hit me yet that word of a murder would be spreading. Surely it had made the local news. My picture was no doubt plastered on every TV set in town, making it obvious to my classmates why I had missed a day at school.
My heart was racing by the time we exited the hospital and I was loaded into our car. I was constantly looking around us, expecting to see reporters heading our way any second.
“I’ll be following right behind you Lou,” Mr. Cimenti said, before walking to his police cruiser.
“Is he like, escorting us home?” I asked as I buckled my seatbelt. I said it more as a joke, but dad turned from the front seat to give me a serious look.
“Ray is a little worked up about you, and so am I,” dad explained as mom started the car. “He said he’s going to be on watch at the house for a few days in case your friend stops by for a visit.”
Clamping my eyes shut to ward off the tears I tried to tell myself this was just my dad’s best friend worrying about me. I had to be safe, right? As we pulled into my driveway a few minutes later I let out the breath I was holding, unbuckled my seatbelt, and headed inside before my parents could offer to help.
“Do you want something to eat?” mom asked as she chased after me into the house. Her voice was strained, clearly worried she did not have something more practical to offer me.
“No,” I mumbled. Without looking back I headed straight to my room and curled up on my bed.
I could hear my parents standing outside my open door. They did not want to bother me, but were worried about me all the same. Knowing my mom would stand there all night if I did not give her something to do I sat up and called her into the room.
“Can you make me some tea?” I asked, knowing deep down the warm liquid might help my throat. It was still a little sore from screaming in the bathroom.
“Of course honey,” she replied, before heading back towards the kitchen.
“Do you want anything to snack on?” dad suggested, not wanting to be left out of helping.
“I think I’m okay,” I smiled. “I might take a shower though.”
“I’ll grab a clean towel,” dad nodded then towards the linen closet at the end of the hall. I had only mentioned it so my dad would leave for a little, but the more I thought about washing my body the better it sounded. I would have to wait a few days to wash my hair thanks to the stitches, and would need to keep my new cast out of the flow of water, but it was better than nothing.
After a hot shower and sipping my tea with my parents watching from my bedroom door I announced I was tired and wanted to get some sleep. It was still early, and I knew I would not have to go to school in the morning, but I did not have the energy to keep the charade up any longer. Claiming a need for sleep seemed to be the best way to get them to back down a little.
“Call me if you need anything at all,” mom whispered as she tucked me into bed like she used to do when I was younger.
“Night, sweetheart,” dad added before giving me a kiss on the forehead.
As they turned out the light and left my room I found myself suddenly more awake. The dark reminded me of the bathroom just before I saw the body, and that thought got my heart racing once again.
Walking to the window I opened it to allow for some of the spring air to fill my room. It was cold out, but it felt good after being inside for so long. Hearing a metal scraping sound behind me I turned to face my vanity. Moving closer, it became clear what was making the noise. The necklace Olena had given me was swinging where it hung, tapping into the mirror.
It had been a full year since I last saw Olena. My birthday had come and gone, followed by summer and even Christmas. I knew it
was time I accepted the fact that I would probably never see her again.
Pulling the wrapped gift box from the top drawer of my dresser I could feel tears pricking my eyes. Despite my promise to open it when I saw her again, I had waited enough.
Ripping the paper off, I tossed it onto the ground, revealing a flat square box. As I took off the lid, a handwritten card from Olena greeted me instantly.
“In case I do not see you again, I wanted you to have this. You are my true best friend, and you will be missed. Do svidanija, Olena.”
Wiping my face with the back of my hand I pulled the card aside to reveal a necklace I knew well. Nestled in the small box was the silver pendant Olena always wore. It was a gift from her aunt and uncle; a locket that never opened. That did not matter though, as the design on its front more than made up for it.
I ran my thumb over the intricate tree design with light pink amethyst stones making up its delicate leaves. Since we shared the same birthday, February 23rd, it was not just my birthstone but Olena’s as well. With shaking hands I undid the clasp and put it around my neck, then looked at my reflection in the mirror.
Staring at the necklace resting atop my sweater I suddenly felt certain I would see Olena again soon. This necklace was too important for her to give me and then disappear from my life forever. Picking up the wrapper and reading the Russian birthday greeting once again, I felt a smile pull at my lips. This present gave me hope. This small amount of silver and stone was a sign from Olena she would always be my friend, no matter what. It was a sign of hope she would come back one day, and proof that our friendship meant something to her.
Pulling the necklace from its perch I held it in my hand, my thumb rubbing over the tree design the same way I had done so many times before. Tears sprang up in my eyes as I turned and threw the necklace at the wall. As it tumbled to the ground I heard it making contact with the floor grate, before falling into the heating duct. It would likely be stuck there, out of reach, until I unscrewed the grate to find it. My tears blurred my vision as I stumbled back to bed, unable to stop their flow. Crawling under my covers I hugged my new teddy bear tight as my body was wracked with sobs. Pressing my face into my pillow to mask the sounds, I cried until my body was too exhausted to do anything but sleep.
