The following morning Busi had just signed the discharge papers in the doctor’s office. She was walking down the corridors and saw a handful of people gathered near the exit cubicle. They looked like they were discussing something sinister. It was in how a few of them kept looking outside their group to see who was listening or looking at them.

She slowed her pace and although they were whispering, she concentrated on the words said.

“The wards are packed because of these people. Some of our people are short of medicine because it is given to these foreigners who are undeserving of it,” said the tall man to his small congregation.

They all looked up at him, paying attention to his every word.

“We are conquering them in the streets and they think they can be safe in here? They are surely mistaken. We will come for them and they will perish.”

The people nodded in agreement.

“We can’t be merciful now that they are in hospital. We will burn the whole hospital if needs be.”

Busi’s eyes widened and her mouth was open. She was unable to process what she just heard. How brutality doesn’t rest, it even preys on hospital patients, the most helpless. Busi continued walking past them and exited the building.

She had walked towards Joseph’s ward to inform him about her discharge, but the news she heard had hastened her to leave before they realised she was listening.

Joseph went to the service that morning with excitement and hope. To his surprise, the one person who had encouraged him to go there was absent. He thought maybe Busi had overslept, didn’t feel like coming or something that made sense. Half way through the day he still hadn’t caught sight of her. He began to worry. It was the first time since they had met in the corridor that he hadn’t seen her during the day. He had known only her company and no one else’s.

He noticed that other patients treated him differently. He even started to feel like a leper because everyone steered clear of him like he was the only one who was sick. Busi was the only one who had talked and spent time with him like he was just another guy.

He remembered how she had dared him to do things that he wouldn’t have done on an ordinary day. But then again these weren’t ordinary times or circumstances, there was a war happening and she had become his only refuge.

***

Tell us: Do you think Busi will tell the police or get help?