In silence and alone, sitting at a table at the cafeteria, the blond angel's eyes registered people passing by at the patio of the Bountiful City Hospital. Most of them had a family member or a close friend admitted at the hospital and took a break from the cold and small hospital rooms to breathe some fresh air and maybe eat something while they waited for news about their beloved ones.
Andrew had a cup of hot chocolate in front of him but he had barely touched it. With his hands conjoined over the table, he was lost in thoughts about the future of his relationship with Monica. If she did not remember the journeys on which he took her spirit while she was unconscious he would have to live with those memories all by himself and stand next to her as a mere friend. He could also try to make her remember but wondered if his superiors would even allow him to stay close to her to start with. Besides this, Andrew was suspended from his duties as an angel of death and if getting out of this punishment meant letting go of his love for Monica he would rather remain like that.
"Excuse me?"
Karen's voice took him out of his reverie and drew his attention back to the present. The nurse was holding a tray with her lunch and looked at him with some curiosity.
"Hello, Karen. Sorry, I didn't see you coming." He managed a slight smile.
"Oh, it's okay! Lots of important things happened today." She watched as he nodded his head in agreement. "May I sit here?"
"Sure, please."
"I have 20 minutes before I come back to my shift, but now I confess that this is something I'll be glad to do. With the news about Monica's recovery spread everywhere, it seems that even the hospital atmosphere became a joyful one."
"I guess it's not just Tess and I who will offer our prayers of thanks for Monica's recovery. It's become everybody's miracle." He half joked, his fingers toying with the paper cup in front of him; his dark green eyes still holding much sadness.
The young nurse gazed at him for a long minute before speaking again. "You love her, don't you?" Watching as he eyed her with surprise, Karen realised she had spoken too much. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like an intruder. Please forgive me."
Still with the same bittersweet smile, Andrew shook his head. Admitting defeat on that particular issue was not that difficult any longer.
"I think meeting Monica and not loving her is... unthinkable."
Karen was moved with those words and with the look in his eyes as he spoke. It was clear that he loved Monica dearly and deeply and would do any sacrifice to see her well.
"Anyone could see your devotion and your suffering during all the time you stood by her bed. I've known Monica for just a couple of hours but if she's deserving of all this care, then she might really be a wonderful person."
"She is..." He said, the memory of his dearest friend's uncountable assignments quickly coming to his mind. "Monica has this ability to bring joy to all of those who cross her path."
A smile graced the nurse's face. "I guess I have to agree with that judging by everything she's done not only for those children but for the many people who came to visit her...I did notice how she managed to touch some people's hearts even being unconscious in that hospital bed."
"Exactly. This is Monica."
"I sense you haven't told her how much you love her..." Karen hoped she was not being an intruder again.
"It's...complicated..." He said, not wanting to sound rude but at the same time unable to explain her the implications of his love for Monica.
"I understand." She spoke, with a sympathetic smile. "And I just hope she's aware of your feelings. There's nothing worse than having to hide your love exactly from the one you love."
