Dreams Can Come True

92. Roses

Bas came closer and took my hand firmly, his gaze full of concern as he looked at me. "How do you really feel?" he asked, his voice softly trembling with emotion. I smiled weakly at him, grateful for his presence. "I'm just glad you're here," I whispered, my voice barely more than a whisper.
He nodded understandingly and gently let go of my hand, his presence still reassuringly close. "What does the doctor mean by destressing?" he asked, his gaze full of questions as he looked at me.
I sighed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling as I tried to grasp the complexity of my feelings. "My blood pressure was too high," I explained to Bas, my voice a whisper of frustration and fear.
He nodded sympathetically and took a seat in the chair next to my bed. "I actually mean, what's on your mind?" he asked after a moment of silence, his eyes searching mine as he tried to understand the true nature of my inner struggle.
My breath caught for a moment at his question, knowing I could no longer hide what was truly on my mind. But I didn't want to burden him with my problems even more. "David," I finally whispered, the name a bitter taste on my lips as I looked at him. His reaction was unsurprising; his face twisted in a grimace of disapproval and concern. "There's something else, Elise," he said, his voice serious as he looked me straight in the eye. "I can see it."
My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at him, my worries and fears now fully exposed to his sharp gaze. "I called Tom yesterday," I began, my voice trembling with uncertainty as I told my story. "And Bill walked into the room, but he didn't know anything, and now Tom has explained it, I think. And now I haven't heard from him at all," I rambled, my voice filled with panic and uncertainty.
My breath caught in my throat, my chest tight with the fear that overwhelmed me. "What do you think is going on?" I asked, my voice hoarse with tension as I kept my eyes on Bas.
He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on me as he thought about his words. "I think Bill might just need some time to process everything," he suggested cautiously, his voice a whisper of hope amidst the chaos. "It's been a lot, Elise. Maybe you should just give him some space." My heart clenched at the idea of Bill withdrawing, of him isolating himself in his pain and confusion. But deep down, I knew Bas was right. Maybe Bill just needed some time, maybe I had to give him the space to sort out his thoughts.
A deep sigh escaped my lips as I pondered the complexity of our situation. "Maybe you're right," I whispered, my voice barely more than a murmur in the silence of the room. "Maybe I should just give him some time." Bas nodded understandingly, his hand still firmly around mine. "He'll come back, Elise," he assured me, his voice a beacon of hope amid the darkness that surrounded us. And in that moment, amidst our shared worries and uncertainties, I felt a spark of hope flicker in my chest. Maybe everything would be okay. Maybe there was still hope for all of us.
"Look," Bas said, his words a distraction from the heaviness of our conversation. He held up a bag, a smile playing on his lips. "I brought some things to keep us occupied today." His eyes twinkled as he opened the bag and pulled out my laptop. A sigh of relief escaped my lips at the sight of my familiar companion.
But Bas wasn't done yet. He also pulled out a stack of booklets from his bag, his smile widening at my delighted reaction. "Oh Bas, you're amazing," I exclaimed, my heart filled with gratitude for his thoughtfulness. I gestured for him to come closer, longing for the comfort of his embrace.
He didn't hesitate and sat beside me, his warmth a reassuring beacon in the cold hospital room. I hugged him tightly, my heart filled with gratitude for his support. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice a whisper of sincere appreciation. "For everything."

A while later, I sat cross-legged on the hospital bed with my laptop. My fingers tapped rhythmically on the keyboard as I updated my emails, my thoughts focused on the tasks that still needed to be done. I scrolled through our setlist for the opening act for Tokio Hotel, which would start in just a few months. I wanted to start rehearsing as soon as possible. The thought of it made my heart beat faster as I imagined what it would be like to be back on stage, feeling the music flow through my veins.
Meanwhile, Bas had placed the chair by the window and was quietly reading a booklet, occasionally looking up to gaze outside. His presence brought a sense of calm over the room.
WXZWS? Suddenly, we were startled out of our concentration by a knocking sound on the door. "Come in," I called automatically, assuming it was another doctor coming to check my blood pressure. The door swung open, but instead of a medical professional, I saw nothing but a huge bunch of red roses entering. It was a gigantic bouquet, so large it almost filled the entire doorway. Astonished, I kept staring at the door, my mouth forming a silent 'o' of surprise.