A man in a dark blue suit trousers and a shirt looking like made from silk from forget-me-nots slowly and curiously walked in the hospital room. The scent that was surrounding him and wafted towards her bed was comforting. Not only because it was intoxicating and defeated the smell of disinfectant and medicine, but because in a way it felt authoritative. Something she needed right at this moment. Something real from beyond the hospital walls.


“Señor Ribera?” The astonishment in her voice did not just express surprise that the man came to visit her, but because his name automatically flashed through her mind.

“Francisco. Paco for friends. You are Angelika, am I right?”

She nodded slightly.


This man was synonymous with respect. Like someone who always knows what to do. And has an answer for everything. Black but not mean eyes stared at her and a hint of mischief seemed to glint in them. He must have been in his sixties, judging by the grey hair slicked back on his head, the wrinkles on his forehead and around dimples on his cheeks. Perhaps the dimples were the reason for the slight expression of naughtiness. Whatever it was, Francisco Ribera's presence put her at ease.


“Where is Oliver? What happened to him?” Angelika almost screamed in panic. Looking at the man, she realized the dog was with her and caused all the troubles. Now she could remember. She was holding Oliver away from the hooded man sitting on the pavement, police guys and agitated Mr Ribera. These were her last memories.

“Oliver is the dog?” Paco looked at Angelika just to make sure and continued right away. “The police wanted to take him to the shelter.”

“No!” she cried out in despair, her face contorted in pain. “This cannot be. That poor creature doesn't deserve this. He must think I ditched him. He has already spent too much time in shelters.” Tears of hopelessness were running down her face, not paying a slightest attention to Mr. Ribera who touched her arm gently.

“Calm down Angelika and let me finish. Oliver is at my house. This is why I came to see you. And of course, to check you are doing well.”

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked at him in disbelief. "At your house? Is he OK?”

“He is. Do not worry about Oliver now, we will look after him. But tell me, is there anyone I can call let know you are in the hospital? Husband? Relatives? Friends?”

“I do not have friends here. Only a few acquaintances. Do not worry about me, I will be fine. And thank you for Oliver, I am incredibly grateful.”

“Well, my pleasure. Thanks to him they caught the thief. Did you know he had pockets full of phones, wallets, and some watches, too? Oliver is a hero,” said Francisco Ribera and looked up at the ceiling as if thanking God.

“That's a relief. I was afraid we would have problems. The guy was injured if I remember correctly.”

Franciso waved his hand as if it weren’t worth talking about. "He just fell. His fault, he shouldn't have stolen and run."

“And what happened next? I cannot remember why I am in the hospital. Would you please shed some light on this?" Angelika looked at Francisco pleadingly and hopefully.

Francisco Ribera cleared his throat and looked out of the window. Then suddenly he laughed.

"Sorry, that wasn't appropriate, the situation was not funny. But I cannot help it when I remember what you did," he burst out laughing again.

Angelika was confused, but seeing Francisco so amused, she laughed too. It was calming and contagious.

“Please do not leave me in suspense any longer.”

“At that point it was a big drama, nothing to entertain. It was terrifying, and your sweet ignorance is better. Maybe I shouldn't even tell you, but you'll find out from the police later anyway. They are going to talk to you.”

“Police?” She breathed out in fright. “Now you have to tell me everything.”

 

Leaning back in a chair with his eyes fixed on Angelika, Francisco took a deep breath. She was ready for anything and did not even think about the fact that her makeup was most likely smeared, and her hair was messy. The hospital gown wasn't very sexy either. However, Francisco was not a catch, he was a witness to her embarrassing moment. Nothing could be more awkward anyway.

He told her how the thief tried to run away but Oliver blocked his way once again, barking at him furiously. And how the guy pulled a knife at him. Before the police could react, Angelika kicked the guy hard.

She listened with fear, covering her face with hands. When Fracisco got to this point, she looked at him in disbelief as if he was talking about someone else. “Did I really kick him? There?” she asked carefully.

“No, not there,” Francisco smiled. “Straight in his nose. He didn’t even have a chance to get up. Then you passed out.”

"Because I hate the sight of blood."