Cop To Mafia

CHAPTER 4 – Physiotherapy session

CHAPTER 4 – Physiotherapy session

Cherry’s POV

My life had turned upside down within forty-eight hours. The jovial life I spent as Cherry Wayne was no longer existent. I was now a daughter of a famous mafia king, the most wanted mafia leader in the country. How could this be possible? How am I feeling and living in another person’s body?

My soul was alive but my body was dead. So, does that mean I died on the spot during the encounter? The person I had admired and respected the most in my life, my very own chief, had shot me, leading to my death.

How could he do such a thing? The six of us were like a family, we shared everything in that police department. We always watched each other’s backs.

He betrayed me! He betrayed the entire police department and the country! But why? Why me? Why did he want to kill me?

Once I died, my heart was instantly transplanted to Evie’s body. That was why I felt as if I was alive. But, where’s Evie’s soul then? Is she dead inside?

My parents! Oh no, they must be mourning at my funeral. My body may have already been buried six feet underground, lying in a cold coffin alone. I never expected to die so soon. I wanted to treat my family better, financially support my siblings to complete their higher education, get married to a handsome man and make a beautiful family. But all my dreams had faded away.

No, no! This can’t happen! I couldn’t just sit back and see what was happening before my eyes! I knew that I had to speak to the doctor and tell him that I was not Evie Clerk, that I was someone else, someone different altogether.

Do you think they will believe you? Do you think that Michael Clerk will allow you to remove your heart from his daughter’s body and put it back into your dead body? My logical mind sarcastically taunted me.

Then who shall I see? Where should I go and seek help?

Sighing out loud, I placed my hand on my chest. My heart was beating victoriously. I never imagined that listening to my heartbeat could be so beautiful and wash me over with relief. I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream and run for my life. I felt like I was a zombie who had nothing except my senses and like I was living in a rented body. Distressed, I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath of air.

I couldn’t call the chief, he was my murderer. He wouldn’t believe that I was Cherry. In fact, the whole world wouldn’t accept that I was Cherry. After all, people only believed what they could see. It was like the whole world was dying around me and I was the only one who was living at that moment.

“What is it, Ms. Evie?” The nurse barged into the bathroom, her face contorted with panic.

I was holding the washbasin tightly so as not to fall on the ground with the machines that were attached to me. I washed my face and turned to face the nurse.

“You look pale, Ms. Evie. What’s wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost!” she stated.

She is right, I am a ghost now. I am a ghost who is cursing my own body.

“I…I…nothing. I was about to slip and fall,” I lied. After all, my entire life was going to be a lie. I had to live with two characters.

“You should have called me, Ms. Evie. If anything happens to you, Mr. Clerk will turn us into ash. Now, if you are done here, shall we return you to bed, Ms. Evie?” she suggested kindly.

I craved to scream out and tell her that I was not Evie, that I was Cherry. But who would accept it? They would think that I have gone crazy.

Nodding at the nurse, I slowly made my way out of the bathroom with the nurse’s help. She helped me onto the bed and adjusted it so that I could sit comfortably and have my lunch. Then, she brought the food tray towards me and prepared to feed me. However, by this time, I had lost my appetite.

“I am not hungry now,” I said, pushing the tray away.

“Miss, you haven’t had anything to eat for two days. You should eat your meals regularly to build up your strength and become healthy. Your new heart needs a lot of energy to adjust to your body,” she advised, bringing a spoon of rice to my mouth.

I felt sorry for myself. , The Cherry Wayne who was once never afraid to face her enemies was now laying on a bed without her body, with her heart attached to the body of the most wanted man’s daughter.

Do not show empathy to Evie and her family, Cherry. I am sure that Evie was aware of her father’s business and she was the next mafia heiress.

I had to fight the battle by myself. But, to fight, I had to live, and to live I had to eat. I opened my mouth and accepted the spoonful of rice into my mouth.

“Do you need anything else, Ms. Evie?” the nurse asked after I finished my meal while offering me a glass of water.

“Can I make a call from your landline? Do you charge for that?” I inquired.

“We do charge a small amount for it. I think your mobile phone might be with your dad, Ms. Evie. Anyway, you can make a call.” She smiled and stood up to leave the room. But, I held onto her hand and she turned to look at me.

“Thank you,” I said and her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“That’s strange. You have never said sorry or thank you to anyone before,” she revealed, shocked by my sudden change in behavior.

“Really? I guess I’ve learned a lot about life after the surgery,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders and tilting my head to one side.

She smiled and finally left the room. I sighed out loud at my current situation, but before another second could pass, once again Evie’s parents barged into the room.

“Are you feeling better now, Evie?” her dad inquired.

Should I call them Mom and Dad now? How can I call members of a mafia family, Mom, and Dad? I was a respected citizen who had taken a vow under the flag of the United States of America to protect its civilians. Where and when are all these dramas going to end, Cherry?

“I am good now. Can you please give me my phone?” I asked Evie’s dad politely. He looked at me in disbelief with his wide eyes and slid his hand into his left trouser pocket. He pulled out the latest Apple iPhone and handed it over to me.

Rich people! I smirked to myself.

“I’ve talked to the doctor, Evie. He said that within two days you could come home. Sweetheart, if you feel any discomfort, please let us know. Evie, I know that you have hidden your pain from us. You didn’t care about it and we almost lost you because of that,” Mr. Clerk said, concern laced in his voice.

Mrs. Clerk took her handkerchief out from her purse and wiped her tears. Even though Evie was a daughter to a mafia family, a child becomes the world to their parents. Suddenly even Mr. Clerk’s voice became emotional and his gaze lowered.

“What is it?” I asked curiously.

“Nothing, Evie. We got you after undergoing treatment for more than ten years. We were almost losing hope. Your mom and I spend a lot of money on fertility treatment. We even went abroad, but nothing worked. Then, one day the doctor suddenly announced ‘Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Clerk.’ The treatment had finally worked. Mrs. Clerk is pregnant. The fetus is three weeks now.’ Our world was showered with a rain of light. Until today, those words still echo in my ears, Evie.” His emotional tone was soft and I couldn’t believe that the mafia king was speaking in front of me. For the world, he was a mafia king, but his world was his daughter.

“So, you were expecting me many years?” I questioned.

“Evie, I can’t begin to describe the feeling I had during my pregnancy. When you kicked my tummy for the first time, I cried. Your dad and I recorded so many videos when you kicked inside my womb. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world, my angel.” Mrs. Clerk's eyes started welling up with happy tears.

From what they were saying, I understood that Evie was their everything. They would do anything to protect Evie. What kind of a person is this Evie? But, I couldn’t ask them about her, because for them I was Evie.

“We never knew that you were suffering from a heart disease,” Mrs. Clerk stated, grief lacing her voice.

“How did you find a heart for me?” I was anxious to figure out the way they obtained my heart.

Mrs. Clerk answered, “Your dad arranged everything, Evie. You should be indebted to him until your last breath.”

You are the people who owe me and my family.

Growling at her in my mind, I looked at Mr. Clerk and our eyes met. At that moment, the look in his eyes belonged to a father, not to a mafia leader.

“Tell me, Dad, how did you find the heart?” I made sure to emphasize the word ‘Dad’.

“Evie, you know that I have contacts in every corner of the world. There’s nothing I can’t do in this world. I got a call that a girl had just died and her family was willing to donate her heart, so I quickly arranged a reward for it,” he explained with a triumphant smile.

“Did you know about the family?” I asked, my voice laced with pity.

“The hospital was the one involved in the process, Evie. I just paid for them. Anyway, who cares, we paid them and they gave what we want. Deal close, Evie,” he replied.

Deal close? How can he act so lightly after playing with someone’s life? Life must be nothing to this mafia king.

But, did my family willingly donate my heart?

I gritted my teeth secretly. I had to uncover the truth. I could feel that he was hiding something from me.

“Excuse me for disturbing your family time. I have to check on Ms. Evie.” The doctor entered the room with his usual smile.

“Not at all, Doctor. We were just sharing our feelings,” Mr. Clerk replied.

“Ms. Evie, I have to check your blood pressure and then, take a blood sample to run a few tests. I hope I am not disturbing you,” he said. He was a pleasant-looking person, maybe in his mid-forties.

“Go ahead, Doctor.” He checked my heartbeat with the stethoscope and then my blood pressure. After that, I forwarded my arm for him to draw out some blood. Through it all, Mr. and Mrs. Clerk watched us carefully.

Then, the doctor once again checked my pulse and heartbeat carefully, closing his eyes to focus. Finally, he removed his stethoscope from his ears with a smile.

“How is it, Doctor?” Mr. Clerk asked immediately.

The doctor flashed him a warm smile. “Everything is fine so far, Mr. Clerk. I have to run the blood tests and I let you know the results once I receive them.”

“Why did you take the blood, Doctor?” I asked, curious as to his purpose.

“I have to check if your blood is accepting the new heart,” he explained.

“Thank you, Doctor,” I greeted him with a smile. Instantly, the room turned eerily silent, baffled with shock.

“I know, I know. I have never thanked anyone before, but the point is I got a new heart now,” I joked lightly and Mrs. Clerk giggled as she looked at me.

“Ah, one more thing, Mr. Clerk. After Ms. Evie gets discharged from the hospital, I highly recommend you to send her to a physiotherapist,” the doctor advised, his face turning serious.

“Physiotherapist? But, physiotherapists are good for physical examinations, Doctor. She had a cardio issue,” Mr. Clerk retorted.

“Let me explain, Mr. Clerk. In physiotherapy, there is a specialty area called Cardiovascular and Pulmonary. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary rehabilitation respiratory practitioners and physical therapists offer therapy for a wide variety of cardiopulmonary disorders, including pre and post-cardiac or pulmonary surgery. The primary goal of this specialty is to increase endurance and functional independence. Pulmonary disorders, heart attacks, post coronary bypass surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis, treatments can benefit from cardiovascular and pulmonary specialized physical therapists,” the doctor explained in complete detail.

“I never knew that Physiotherapy was like an octopus!” Mr. Clerk exclaimed.

The doctor patted his shoulder. “Science is broader than you think, Mr. Clerk.”

“Doctor, is there any place you know where I can send my daughter for physiotherapy?” Mr. Clerk inquired, his eyebrows arched at the doctor.

“Hmmm…. I know a few places, but I can recommend to you the one I believe is the best place, Mr. Clerk. I have received positive comments from the patients who went there. It is a multi-function academy with physiotherapy. Here is the business card of the owner. You can contact him directly.” The doctor pulled out a business card from his white coat pocket and handed it over to Mr. Clerk.

“Who is the owner, Doctor?” Mr. Clerk asked, peering at the card.

“It’s a Washington police officer named Eddie McLelland,” the doctor replied.

Shit! F**k this life!

It’s my chief from the Washington PD!