The Whispers

10

Nate and Candice followed one of the nurses to the restroom where some patients were surrounded by their families, some playing cards and some sitting in groups chatting loudly. Nate's gaze scanned the room for Bea while following the nurse to one of the very few empty tables. He was anxious to see his beautiful Bea in her scrubs. Yes, she was his. Or at least, she'll be.

He watched the nurse go over to a group of white haired women sitting around the table with one younger woman with dark hair playing cards.

The young woman looked very much like Bea, but what would Bea be doing playing cards with mental patients? Urgh! Probably made new friends. His Bea was like that.

When Bea stood up to follow the nurse, she was dressed like everybody else who wasn't a nurse or a visitor. She was...a patient. A patient at a mental hospital!

Nate looked at Candice to find her looking at Bea, tears staining her cheeks. He took out a handkerchief from his back pocket and gave it to Candice, taking her hand in his large one.

Bea sat opposite them, looking anywhere but at them. "How did you find me?" Her voice trembled with unshed tears.

"Beatrice." He didn't even know what he really wanted to say.

Bea sniffed and gazed at him with glassy eyes. "You only call me Beatrice when you're angry. Are you angry, Nate?"

Nate was shaking his head when Candice choked out, "We've been so worried about you, baby." She sniffed. "So why did you decide to check yourself into a mental institution?"

Bea took a few moments to compose herself. "Between my broken engagement and friendship, and being haunted by ghosts, I guess I couldn't keep it together anymore."

Ghosts? Candice understood she worked in a hospital and people sometimes died, but ghosts? She wanted to know more but Nate talked over her.

"When are you coming home?"

Bea gave a flimsy laughter. "It doesn't feel like home anymore, but I need a few days."

"Can we visit?"

Bea looked from her mom to Nate and nodded. "Thank you for not judging."

Candice walked around the table to hug her.

When Candice pulled away, Nate pulled Bea to him by the waist and took advantage of her shock and kissed her. He felt her stiffen and trailed his mouth to her ear and whispered, "A little something to remember me by."

A loud cheer broke them apart. Bea blushed crimson and Nate beamed happily. He gave her a perk on the forehead and said, "I'll be waiting."

Bea watched them leave with a wide grin.

"That was some hot stuff right there!" One of her elderly friends, Lily, practically bounced in her seat as Bea sat beside her.

Bea had made friends with the older women who had welcomed her in their garden, as they called it. It had been shocking to Bea too, until she learned their names. Lily, Rose, Daisy and Violet.

Now all her four friends looked at her with amusement waiting for her response.

"No, he's just a friend," Bea tried to be nonchalant but she also was bouncing up and down, mentally.

Violet looked at her from under her lashes. "Your friend sure can kiss, girl!"

"Mmhmm!" The others agreed.

Bea looked from each of them to the other and muttered, "You guys are unbelievable. Let's just drop this."

Lily made as if to drop something and they all broke out in hysteria.