Back to Reality

Chapter 3

 Dahlia looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was wearing the same dress she had worn at the park just a month ago. The stain was gone, taken away by a high quality cleaning product. She looked at herself in the eyes, standing only a couple of inches away from the mirror. She stared deep into herself. In her eyes she saw the vision of what happened at that park. She saw the car drive by the trees and take her brother with. As she saw this, a loud knock came on the door.

"Come on Dahlia, we're waiting on you! The car's ready in the driveway." Dahlia flinched and stepped back.

"O-okay...Sorry." She sighed and opened the door, walking through her house into the living room.

The house they lived in made them very fortunate people. They lived in a small suburb in the wealthier side of town. Their three story house was probably too much for them, as they all only slept and lived on the first two floors. The house was moderately modern, with tile flooring, white walls, black wood cabinets, a large square sofa and topped with a flat screen 4k television. Dahlia came into the room to also see her parents standing at the door, mothers hands folded and fathers hands in pockets. They were all dressed nicely for the occasion. Dahlia kept her hands behind her back, head slightly leaning towards the ground in shame.

"Come, Dahlia. We don't want to be late."

"Okay." She slowly walked with them and into their luxury SUV. She stepped into the back seat, quickly putting her seatbelt on and leaning on it. They drove for about five minutes, but the whole way there all Dahlia could think of was Samson and what he would say when they got there. She played out scenarios in her head like him telling her that it was all her fault and her parents making her live on the streets for what she had done. She imagined another scenario where Samson died in the hospital bed before they could make it there, subsequently meaning that she had to die because she was the reason he ran into the car. She thought about being locked up in prison, not being allowed to see anyone because of the horrible thing that she has done to her brother. Then, they arrived at the hospital. It was a large, towering hospital that overlooked the rest of the city. It was the best around. Dahlia's mother spoke.

"I thank god everyday that we live in such a hopeful place. If we didn't have the flight for life so close to the hospital I don't know if we would have had today." The father spoke.

"Let's just hope they can do what they could do with Samson."

"Don't say that sweetie. The doctor said Samson was beginning to recover. Right, Dahlia?" She shot a look at her. Dahlia didn't lift her head up to speak.

"Yeah..."

The three of them stepped out of the vehicle, entering the front of the hospital. It was a vast, intimidating waiting room. It was as large as a section at the airport. Dahlia followed behind her parents as they walked up to the reception desk. They waited in line for a minute or so before being helped.

"Welcome, what are you looking for today?"

"Hello, yes, we are looking for patient..." Father pulled a note out of his pocket. "...Uh, 3176. Name should be Samson." The person behind the desk went through their computer, searching for information. The person at the desk lightly gasped under their breath.

"Samson... that will be on floor seven, the top floor, in room 744. 7-744."

"Okay. Thank you."

"Of course." They walked to the elevator, boarding it once it had arrived.

Dahlia stood in the corner of the elevator behind her parents. There were two other people in the elevator with them, a man and a woman. The woman looked like she had been crying a river just minutes ago, and the man stood in grief. Dahlia gulped at the thought of what might be in the room she will visit. She hoped in her head that everything could be alright, wishing things could go back to normal. The elevator dinged, letting the two off at floor four. IT closed again and raised to the seventh floor. They stepped out and walked down the hall. On the wall was a sanitized, but depressing looking plaque on the wall informing of where the rooms are. There was also a warning sign to please be quiet in the hall, as this hall has terminal patients. The three of them walked in the direction of their room, reading the doors as they passed. Eventually they made it. Room 744. Dahlia felt her hands begin to itch, getting nervous of what was beyond the door. Her father turned back to her.