Serendipity 18+

Unexpected

Rain poured down from the dark thunderous sky, giving way to the lightning dancing across, warning anyone out in the rain to head its dark threat of danger. As I sit on a bench waiting for a bus, with no roof of any type to cover me from the unrelenting wind and rain. My oversized rain jacket is the only protection I have. Its size engulfed me in a warm hug. Almost like a protector. Something that I desire as it passes like a fleeting moment.

My jeans are now sticking to me like a second skin. My now flat white shoes are encased in mud as the ground cannot absorb any more rain, thus creating a puddle the size of a pool surrounding me. The flimsy bench creaks and the bus stop sign sways in the wind. Ready to fly away.

I lift my head to the sky. I am contemplating if I should have just called a taxi instead of waiting for the bus in this weather.

I open my eyes and look at the now dark blue sky, lifting my hand to feel the water hit and then slowly travel down to my elbow. Trying anything not to let my mind wander.

Pondering the question if I should get on the bus or walk home. But today I must go to the hospital, to say goodbye to my older brother. He will be taken off his breathing machine this evening, and my mother wants me to pay my respects one last time.

Since the accident, I haven't spoken to my mother, and although we are not on speaking terms, I am pushing through to see my brother Alex one last time.

I wipe away the tears mixed in with the rain as I hear the bus approaching from its loud engine sound.

The bus approaches and slows down, splashing me with the mud on the ground. I step off the bench, my feet sinking into the soil. Thinking who was bright to build a bus stop bench on just a dirt ground. For me to only realize that this isn't the city, and I live in the middle of nowhere.

I step onto the bus and deposit my coins while the bus driver looks at me. " Hello, young lady. I didn't expect anyone out in this storm." I looked at him and politely smiled, " The storms not too bad." He looked at me like I grew five heads and then looked at my appearance. He probably thought I was crazy with my soaked jeans, baggy blue rain jacket, and now white stained muddy shoes.

With the storm still raging on, not many people were on the bus. I sat in the back and thought about how I will face my mother. Whom I haven't seen or talked to in three years since the accident. Her voice rings into my ear. The screams overtaking her body as she told me over the phone that Alex was hit by a car coming home from a college party. It was a hit and run. The driver took off, leaving Alex to almost bleed to death in a middle of a road. Before a stranger in a car saw him in the street and called an ambulance.

I still remember everything like it was yesterday. The way he smiled at me before he left. The way he looked at me impatiently as I was giving him tips on which outfit was the best for him to wear. For he wanted to get the attention of this girl he liked in his Psychology class. I still remember his outfit. Light blue jeans with a small white paint stain on his left leg from when we were playing around while painting my room, to the plaid jacket that he swore were too sexy on him, with his white t-shirt. Then he looked at me one last time and smiled at me, saying he would accomplish his mission to win over the girl in his class. Something that I don't know if he did that night.

I clench my fists while looking outside the bus window. Seemingly not knowing that the bus is approaching the next stop right across the street from Brigham's hospital. I get up and put my hood back on, covering my platinum hair that almost looked white in the sun. Something that I despise, but the day I dyed it was the day of the accident. And when Alex saw my hair, he said I looked like a beautiful fairy. Now I keep it because it reminds me of what he said that day.

As the doors open, I thank the driver and walk across the street to the hospital. The rain was now pouring harder down my back, almost pushing me to the doors of the hospital, encouraging me not to turn back.

I walk in and proceed to the room I have engraved into my memory, " Room 247". I say and take a deep breath, and open the door. I look to see my mother holding my brother's hand. Mumbling under her breath, " I love you so much, baby, just open your eyes for me, please." Her whole body begins to shake as she raises her voice a little, " Please, baby, give me a sign before I do it." I take another step, my shoes squeaking against the floor giving me away.

My mother glares at me while letting go of Alex's hand and proceeds to come over to me. Before she can say anything hurtful, the doctor comes in.

" Hello, are we ready to start now?" He asks while my mother looks at me and then replies, " Of course, Doctor Baine, you may proceed." I stand there, distraught that I didn't get to be by his side yet since I just walked into the room. Before I could say anything, the doctor began to take out Alex's breathing tube. Slowly I walk closer to my mother and see the pain in her eyes as well as mine. Eyes tell the person all there is, and within that moment, my mother was beginning to break.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP" the sound breaks me out of my trance. As I look over to Alex, the doctor finishes taking out his tube. His machine beeping was creating a sense of hope that he could breathe on his own and would wake up, to it flatlining only a second later. Killing any sense of hope I had, and my mothers as well. She looks at Alex then begins to sob, " oh no, my baby, I'm sorry I failed you. I can't see this. I'm so sorry". Then she proceeds to hurry out of the room, leaving the doctor and me.

I get a good look at him. Old grey hair, hunched over my brother double-checking everything, before he looks at me, " I'm sorry for you're loss, dear." He says with a frown and then leaves to give me space.

I walk over to my brother. I take his hand. Still warm. I bend down and kiss his forehead while a single tear drops onto his cheek. Sliding down his face, almost looking like he was crying as well. I look at his features one last time. His soft black hair, to his freckles running across his nose just like mine. "I love you, Alex, always I will love you." I stumble back, my smile breaking. I turn before I break down and rush out into the hallway. I begin to walk, looking down, and almost stumble, catching myself against the railing. I look at my hands as they shake uncontrollably again. I take the nearest chair and sit looking at the floor. I take deep breaths as I squeeze my chest. It felt like I had left a piece of my heart in that hospital room. From their tears start to slide down my face.

Minutes go by before I feel someone sit next to me. Their body was taking up the whole chair. A scent of pinewood invades my nose as I take a deep breath of it. The smell was almost calming me down. I try not to notice the stranger sitting next to me, but before I can think any longer, he huffs and says, " I see you've experienced a death. I see it in you're eyes."

He pauses then continues in his deep, gravely voice, " Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but still always near, still loved, still missed and very dear". He proceeds to hand me something. My eyes still to the floor, I see his massive hands drop a necklace on my opened palm. His fingers graze my hand when he retreats. I look at the chain; it's a beautiful anchor you see on ships. I open my mouth to ask why he would give this to me, but he begins to talk again.

" This anchor represents strength, faith, and hope. Something that you need more than me. Something that I know you will cherish dearly, for it will help you through the darkness that I have once been in". Before I could say anything, the mysterious man got up and walked away. Leaving me only to catch a glimpse of his shoulder, which had a trace of a tattoo.

An anchor.

Thank you all for reading the first chapter of serendipity!!! This is my first book I've ever written, so major editing is still being done. Feel free to leave comments, and spread and share my story as well. Also I don't have a set schedule yet for this book, but for now I will be updating every two days. So put you're notifications on, and add my book to you're reading list.

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