Trapped

13

t h i r t e e n

Two weeks. It had been two weeks since I'd received the news about Bryson. I still haven't gone to see him, part of me didn't even want to. Part of me wanted to leave Bryson in the past and to move on. What has liking him ever gotten me? Where has it ever gotten me?

Delusion is what it is, what it was. I found myself questioning it so many times, the people around me even questioned it. My grandmother always told me that whatever the question, love is the answer. However, love is not a question, it is an experience. I deserve more than mere questions.

I walked into my last class for the day, and I sat near the back of the class. All was well until Zeke came and sat down next to me. Things went by as they should until the class were given personal work.

"Hey," I heard him say and I acted as if I didn't hear him. "Hey!"

"Yes?" I responded, annoyed.

"You're some piece of work, you know that right?"

"Excuse me?"

"You sat there and claimed to like Bryson. But from what I heard; you haven't gone to see him."

"And how is that any of your business?"

"I've visited him every day but all he can think about is if you're okay and why you haven't gone to see him."

"I thought you didn't want me to be involved with him, that I wasn't right for him."

"How would you feel if your best friend of over ten years finally makes a recovery and then all you want to do is talk to him and catch up, but all they can do is think about someone else, and they just talk on and on about that person."

"Too bad it's not my business." I said and his eyes widened in shock. "Now if you don't mind, I have work to do."

"Miss Davis, Mr. Nolan is there something you need help with?" the teacher asked, and I shook my head. I gave him one last glance before gathering my things and just walking out of the classroom.

♠︎

That night, I made it my mission to finally go visit Bryson so people could stop breathing down my neck about him. I couldn't take it anymore.

I didn't know what he expected from me. Was I supposed to drop everything and rush to Bryson's side? Zeke's words echoed in my mind as I stood outside the hospital, the cold wind biting at my skin. I took a deep breath and walked in.

The sterile scent of disinfectant hit me as soon as I entered. The fluorescent lights above cast a harsh, unnatural glow on everything. I made my way to Bryson's room, my steps heavy with reluctance. As I approached, I could hear the faint sound of beeping monitors and the low hum of hospital machinery.

Mrs. Freeman was there, her face lit up with relief when she saw me.

"Na'lini! Oh, thank goodness you're here," she said, rushing over to me. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days. "I've been praying for you to come. Bryson has been asking for you."

I nodded, giving her a knowing look.

"So, you knew but you didn't come sooner?" she asked, and I shrugged.

"More or less." I said, looking her dead in the eyes. I didn't share her belief that I was Bryson's savior, but I didn't have the heart to argue. Not tonight.