Free City of Halves by Lucy Inglis

there’s anything there.’
    Regan blew out slowly. ‘Fine. Where is it?’
    â€˜Bride Court.’
    â€˜Then finish that and let’s go.’

T he morning was icy as they walked towards the surgery. Lily pushed her hands deep into her pockets in a vain attempt to keep them warm. Bride Court was a small turning off Fleet Street, in the shadow of St Bride’s Church.
    Inside the surgery, it was too warm, like all doctors’ surgeries. It was also busy. A woman in the corner was crying, and the counter was two deep. The receptionist, whom Lily recognised, was on the phone, and didn’t look up at her immediately. Like all doctors’ receptionists , thought Lily, like it’s an unwritten rule .
    â€˜I’m afraid there are no appointments for today,’ the receptionist was saying into the phone, ‘and for non-urgent cases it’ll be at least ten days. We’re so stretched.’ Then she looked up. ‘Oh, hi, Lily,’ she said, looking at Regan in surprise.
    â€˜Hi.’ Lily presented the test form that had arrived in the post.
    The receptionist took it, not taking her eyes from Regan.She smiled. ‘Take a seat. The nurse will be with you shortly.’
    Lily looked around. ‘It’s really busy.’
    â€˜Yes – since the new laws have come in, about the moves towards privatisation, everyone’s desperate to get themselves fixed now, while it’s still free.’ The receptionist sounded matter-of-fact.
    â€˜I can wait, if there’s a more urgent case,’ Lily offered.
    â€˜Oh, no, you’re a priority round here, you know that,’ she said, and winked. ‘Take a seat.’
    There was nothing in the woman’s manner that was any different from usual, Lily decided. Wandering over to the green-covered plastic chairs, she sat down. Regan seated himself next to her. Only a few seconds later, a nurse in a green tunic and black trousers came out.
    â€˜Lily Hilyard?’ she asked.
    Lily got up. The woman smiled at her. ‘Does your boyfriend want to come too?’
    Regan got up, looking away. ‘I’ll wait outside, I think,’ he said. ‘It’s a little warm in here for me.’
    Down a corridor and through a swing door, they entered the pathology room. Lily was still bright red from embarrassment at the nurse’s mistake as she took her jacket off and sat in the chair the nurse indicated to her. Lily’s stomach twisted as she saw her open a new sterile needle packet. I hate this .
    She took a deep breath and winced as the needle slipped into her vein, then watched, unable to look away from the bag on the metal stand as it filled with dark crimson blood.
    â€˜Is that bag bigger than usual?’
    The nurse looked at the form. ‘A little. Not much.’
    Lily shifted uneasily on the chair. ‘I’m small and have low blood volume – you know that, don’t you? I’m not sure taking more is necessary.’
    â€˜It’s just what’s on the form, love.’ The nurse tapped away at the keyboard of the computer, then got up and walked out. ‘I’ll be back in ten minutes to check on you, okay?’ Lily nodded. ‘Would you like a magazine?’
    â€˜No. Thanks, though.’
    The nurse smiled and left the room.
    Dragging the metal stand with her, Lily just made it to the computer before the screen went to sleep. No lockout . She breathed a sigh of relief, then pulled a disgusted face. My God, this system is based on Access. Who even uses that any more? Still, makes searching easy .
    It took her about three seconds to locate Vicky Shadbolt’s records. Lily looked through them – there was nothing unusual, as far as she could see. Vicky seemed fit, healthy and perfectly normal. Pursing her lips, Lily searched for her own record. ‘Hilyard’ brought up only herself and her father, but she saw that her own record was flagged. She brought it