Candle In The Wind

6 | The Building

CALLUM
_________

Ardley finally woke up.

He was still in a critical condition and the doctor said if he crashes again, there won't be a comeback. I was equally happy to hear the news and terrified.

He was sleeping, actually sleeping, I could wake him up at any time — and knowing I could do that put me at ease. My knees still bounced anxiously as I sat by him because I also knew at any time he could crash and there's nothing doctors can do to help.

I remember when I first got the news of the accident, I wanted to transfer Ardly into a better hospital but his condition was so grave I couldn't risk his life. Right now, he was awake but barely breathing on his own — he had a tube in his mouth and a handful of IV's plugged up in his wrist.

I took a deep breath and dropped my heavy hands on his.

Celeste wasn't getting any better, there was still no progress, and I was scared — terrified. Everytime Ardly opened his eyes, I knew he couldn't speak yet but I could see the question in his eyes, and because I was always so terrified each time I did nothing but nod my head and squeeze his hands as reassurance.

I feel so shitty not being able to tell him what's going on with his wife.

I can't imagine Ardley without Celeste — she was probably the first name he learned how to pronounce, the first person he chose to care about, the only person he fell in love with. Celeste was his soulmate, his person, Celeste was all he knew.

They grew up together, like they always knew they were made for eachother. When I think of Ardley I can't erase Celeste, hell I'm positive when Ardley thinks of himself his first thought is Celeste.

They were always inseparable. Yin and yang.

You can never think of one without the other.

When the day comes and he can finally breathe on his own, he'll ask me and I'll have to tell him that Celeste hasn't been doing well at all. She's been unresponsive since the accident, the doctors have no hope, they're starting to give up. I can see it by the way they reply to me after asking them how she's doing, it's always the same generic answer.

She's stable.

My eyes dropped to the ground as I felt my phone vibrate in the back of my pocket. I immediately thought of Crystal. I was supposed to be back at the office minutes ago. At the thought, I lifted my hand up and pulled my sleeve back to check the time. I was over 30 minutes late.

I looked back at at Ardley and pursed my lips into a thin line, I stood up and fixed my tie and brushed my hair back. I finally pulled out my phone and noticed a text from Juliette.

I immediately tapped the message and opened the chat.

Juliette: Can we meet today?

I replied.

Callum: right now? When?

Callum: yes, we can meet today.

I waited for her to reply back and of course she didn't.

I walked out of the room and immediately greeted Ardley's doctor.

"Doctor Kent." I said.

Besides our family, The Oakes, Kent's family came second when it came to being the talk of the town. He came from a family of doctors, and they're all ambitious and very successful. And Kent was the man who convinced me to wait until Ardley gets better before moving him to a city hospital.