chapter 01:
rose opens the door to jack's flat. "jack, are you home?"
"jack" rose repeats. "did you forget that we're supposed to have breakfast today?"
she checks every room before knocking on his bedroom door. "jack?"
jack does not reply, and that's when rose grows worried.
she grows worried, at the fact that jack didn't wake up to any of the sounds outside of his room.
"jack, I'm coming in" she lets him know before entering the room to find jack asleep.
"jack, can you hear me?" rose goes to sit on the bed, near him, touching his forearm.
predictably, rose is greeted with neither a reply nor a stir from him.
rose taps his forearm once and twice before she dials 999 biting her lips in trepidation.
adam's day was going as you'd expect a monday in a hospital would go. people with headaches coming in, and students who have the flu asking if he can write them a sick leave from school.
adam is sipping his warm americano when he watches lisa going for a knock on his door.
he puts his coffee down and motions for her to come in.
she walks in and says "sir, it looks like your friend jack has come with the ambulance team and is accompanied with a lady and are waiting for you in the emergency department."
he pauses his movements, "what do you mean 'looks like'? are you not sure it's him?" he looks at his watch and says, "follow me."
rose waits for the doctor's arrival before the doctor who appears to be almost 6'2'' comes into view.
he locks eyes with jack first, then her, then back to jack.
he notices the woman sitting near her friend's body, the quiet woman who has her hand on jack's right knee.
"let's have him inside, then" adam tells the group of nurses.
he locks eyes with rose for the second time and notices her break the eye contact quickly.
he finally asks her, "who are you?"
"his- friend an-and neighbo-r" she responds, quietly and adam notices her unbrushed tears.
"no, what is your name?" he places his hand on his hip, awaiting her name.
"rose" she mutters.
"rose, I'm dr. adam. don't worry, jack will be okay. however, you will need to wait for him outside, okay?"
rose nods and adam thinks that he hears her mumble something.
"jim, come with me" says adam, leaving rose waiting inside.
it has only been twenty minutes, when adam gets out of the room.
rose gets up and startles adam with her quick move.
"how is he? is-is he okay?" she rushes out.
"calm down, rose. I will tell you everything, don't worry." rose shyly nods at adam's words while adjusting her sweater sleeves before adam realizes that she must be feeling cold.
"we can go talk in my room, it's heated" says adam and rose nods. "this way, please" rose nods again and starts to follow his lead.
rose feels so small beside adam and so nervous around him and she doesn't like it.
his room certainly does not feel warm.
it's big and has glass windows, allowing him to see the hallways and lisa's office.
