...because I could not stop for death - ronance

chapter 6

17th July 2022

Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, New York

Robin has long since discovered that mortals are strange beings. Their lives are so short, they barely have any time to experience anything, yet some that Robin meet burn brighter than Robin could ever hope to.

            Maybe it’s their short life span that makes them live with so much passion, like a solar flare that shines brighter just because it’s so short lived. They have little time in this world, so they laugh more, cry more, love more and just generally live more than immortals do.

Robin watches mortals fall in love, and it is so strange to them, the way they base their entire happiness of off one person, the way they are content with whatever their lives give them just because they have someone by their side. Even as an immortal, Robin doesn’t think they've ever really loved, so instead Robin just continues to be baffled when they watch mortals, their hand grasped in their partner's as they walk down the street smiling, and their different way of life.

            Robin's always viewed them as weaker for it.

            The sixth time Robin meets her, it’s completely by accident.

Robin is in New York, trying to find Jonathan (the dick owed Robin a favor and they figured it was time to cash it in). After quite a bit of asking around (most immortals try to stay under the radar) and a few false leads, Robin finds them self wandering through the hallways of Lenox Hill Hospital in search of Dr. James Dean Byers.

            Robin stops outside a room labeled A113, the room that damn nurse had told Robin Dr. Byers was in (Robin should’ve known better than to trust her, she seemed far too ditzy for Robin's liking. Plus she wouldn’t stop batting her eyes at them and they found it quite annoying). Robin takes a deep breath before they turn the knob and opens the door.

            Robin doesn’t recognize her by her hair this time. They can’t.

            She doesn’t have any hair.

            Instead Robin recognizes her by her eyes, a stormy blue that jerk up from a book she was reading (there is a picture of a flame and the word ‘Divergent’ stamped across the cover and Robin briefly wonders what it’s about). The look of surprise that quickly flickers across her features is replaced by an expression of annoyance.

            “Can I help you?” she asks, her eyes going back to her book before the sentence is even out of her mouth.

            Robin stares, open mouthed for a moment because Robin hasn’t seen her since they watched her fade off into the distance a lifetime ago. “Uh…” is the only sound Robin can make.

            She looks up at them again, this time a brow raised and a mixture of curiosity and animosity in her eyes. “’Uh’ what?” she asks. “What do you want?”

“I’m, uh, looking for Dr. Byers.”

            She lets out a small huff and rolls her eyes, her attention going back to her book. “He’s a five minute walk down the hall. Last room on the left.” She says the words almost mechanically, as if she had said them a thousand times before and any interest she had in Robin was now lost.