Room 357 / Currently rewriting

Chapter 9

Tw//Panic attack.
This is a really short chapter I'm sorry.

After 30 minutes of trying to reach Zak and his mom, Darryl nearly cried out in relief when he saw his moms caller ID pop up.

"Mom! Are you okay? What happening? Why aren't you here?" Darryl was obviously panicked and full of fear. Though, the kind woman shushed him and told him to take a deep breath.

"Zak is at the hospital. They took him into a room, I don't know the full story, or- or what really happened. It's because of a pre-existing condition and that's all I can tell you." His mother was way too calm for this situation, though she stuttered a bit; showing she truly was panicked.

Darryl wasted no time grabbing his keys and starting his car. He hung up the call and pulled out of his driveway, getting to the hospital as quickly as he could.

Fear clouded his mind just as tears did to his vision. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white, though he still managed to drive safely. The whole way to the hospital he was telling himself that Zak would be okay. It's just a scare. Nothing serious.

Finally he pulled into the hospital parking lot and shut off his car. He practically flung the door open and ran up to the front desk, where he was met with a very tired looking receptionist. One of his former coworkers.

"Hannah! Um, is Zak Ahmed here?" He asked, frantically looking around.

"Calm down Noveshoch. Yes Mr. Ahmed is here, he's in room 357. How do you know him?" She asked, holding a pen to a sheet of information.

"I'm-... he's my friend. And he's really really important to me, can I please see him?" He needed to know if Zak was okay. He needed to apologize for being rude, and he needed to let Zak know...

"You need to wait until the doctors have him stable. Please take a seat."

Darryl sighed quietly in defeat. He took deep breaths and sat down, one chair away from an old man in green who was reading a magazine.

The more time that passed, the more anxious Darryl got. His knee bounced up and down slightly, his head in his hands. Thinking was the only thing he could do in this situation and boy did he do it well.

He knew Zak was hurting. The past few weeks he's constantly been complaining about his legs feeling oddly sore. Darryl assumed it was because of basketball. Could he have been completely brushing over something serious?

Was all this because of Darryls ignorance— Jesus! He's a nurse for gods sake! How the hell could he just ignore it?

Tears formed in his eyes, threatening to fall at any second. An overwhelming sense of guilt fell over him, fogging his mind up and dragging him away from the current situation. That was until he felt a hand on his shoulder. The old man in green had been trying to comfort Darryl.

"Sorry. You seemed like you were freaking out. What's going on mate?" His voice was soft and welcoming.

Darryl couldn't just sit around drowning in his thoughts anymore so he completely opened up to this stranger. He told him everything that was going on and the other listened intently.

"I just don't know what to do." Darryl sighed.

"Well. The only thing I say is be patient. I'm sure everything is gonna be okay, and if it isn't right now it will be soon. Your friend is gonna get over this and you guys are gonna work things out okay?" The old man, who's name is Phil continued to speak softly. Darryl nodded and almost if on cue, his mom walked into the waiting room.

Darryl stood up and rushed over to her. His moms face was stained with tears and her eyes were red and sunken in.

"Mom? What's going on?" Darryl spoke clearly, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm so sorry"

Darryl tensed up immediately. The world felt like Tv static. He couldn't hear or see anything and he wasn't aware of what was going on around him.

His mom was talking to him but he couldn't bother to listen.

The sudden shock of realization hit Darryl harder than a fucking truck.

At 3:14am, in room 357, Zak Ahmed had died.

"Darryl? Please answer me" his mom said quietly, taking his hand. The other pulled away calmly and silently left the hospital. He felt nothing but numbness as he started his car.

He drove safely down the highway, going to opposite direction of his home and after fifty minutes he reached a dimly lit park.

As soon as Darryl stopped the engine, he broke down in tears. The overwhelming feelings of heartbreak, sadness and anger had been bottled up for nearly and hour and they were finally being let loose.

He sobbed harder than he ever had, to the point where his throat became hoarse and his eyes stung. He shook violently and rested his head against the steering wheel.

He's gone.

Darryl let Zak slip right through his fingers and he didn't even get to tell him how proud he was of the other for everything. He was so strong. And so brave...

He looked over at his wallet in the passenger seat and caught a glimpse of the picture he kept in it.

It was of him and Zak studying for a test which they had to take an hour later. Zak's perfect brown eyes and beautiful golden complexion taunted Darryl. He tried to choke back even more sobs as he realized he'd never be able to see him again.

The joy and love of his life had just been ripped away by the unforgiving hands of death.

Darryl felt cold.

He felt empty.

The first place he'd ever see Zak, would also be last.

In room 357.

God he hated that room.

———

Heyyyy, how y'all doing?
I am so sorry. 🕺

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED, ILL SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!

-Alexander