Square One

Chapter 2

Almost immediately after I walk into the hospital, the smell of sterilization fills my nose. Just like school earlier today, the hospital has this solemn aura to it that I just can't shake. I don't like it here- I just want to turn around and run down the block and all the way back home, but I'm here for a reason. And if I completely fail, that's fine with me. I just want to walk back out of here tonight knowing I tried.

"I'm here to see Hailey Driscoll." I say to the receptionist, a kind looking middle-aged woman with a light brown bob and obnoxious pink cat-eye glasses. Her brown eyes look up at me as she types into her computer, the clicking sounds hurting my brain a little bit.

"I'm sorry, dear, we're only allowing family in at the moment."

"Nonsense." I say, feeling a rush of confidence spread through my body like a virus. I look around and then point to LeighAnne Mills, Hailey's new best friend, in the corner. "She's not related to Hailey! I know that for sure!"

The receptionist looks to LeighAnne with a reluctant smile and then turns towards me and sighs. "And what's your name?"

"Aria Bates, ma'am."

The receptionist sighs again and scribbles something down on an index card. She hands me the index card and says "Room 115."

I tuck the index card in my pocket and start a determined walk to Room 115. It's pretty easy to find if you just follow the signs on the wall, but I was so excited and determined that I completely ignored the signs at some point.

Finally, ten minutes later, I find myself in front of a door. There's a whiteboard tacked to the outside, with Driscoll, H written in messy scrawl.

This is Hailey's room, I'm in the right place, but why am I so nervous to open the door? I wasn't this nervous earlier, why are the nerves just coming now?

I take a shaky breath as I reach my hand out towards the doorknob, and my brain tells me to turn it.

Creak...

I walk into the room, and again, the solemn aura fills my body and I start to get the chills. I don't like this, I don't like being here whatsoever.

I see Hailey in the bed, unconscious, but the heart monitor and the rise and fall of her chest shows me she is very much alive.

I smile and think of what to say. What do you say to your comatose ex-best friend? "Hi, how are you?" seems way too bland and anything sappy seems too, well, sappy. I need to find the fine medium, but how?

My mind goes to my memories with Hailey from middle school. They're blurry and jumbled, but I'm sure if I say them out loud or write them on paper, more details will come to me. However, the most prominent memories, the ones I can remember the best, are the sad ones. Mostly the fight we had way back when, the fight that ended our friendship for good.

But I'm not gonna think about the bad things. I'm going to focus on the good, because Hailey, me, our entire school, we're all going through so much right now.

"Hailey! Are you going to stay up all night or not?"

"Hailey? Are you ever going to wake up...or not?" I whisper to Hailey.

"I'm just tired! This is my first time sleeping over!" Hailey yelled. I sighed and continued making the cupcakes.

"I'm...tired. This is my first time doing this. And truth be told, I'm a little..."

"I'm a little scared. I miss my Mom."

"Scared."

"Don't worry, Hailey. It'll be okay. You can call your Mom if you want!"

"Don't worry, Hailey. It'll be okay. You can call me if you want when you wake up!"

"Let's just make the best of this."

"We're gonna make the best of this."