Truly Madly Ghostly

Chapter Thirty-three: The Miracle

Surgeons never smell of blood or meat. Charlotte noticed while getting bored in the hospital lobby.

But butchers do. The difference was in the way they cleaned. Surgeons follow a well-structured and well-equipped flurry of cleaning protocols that butchers lack. Anyways, both professions had similarities in that they possessed a certain amount of cruelty to run the knife and were essential for society—while one nourished humankind, the other healed.

She was about to share her thoughts with Tina by her side. But when she looked at her, she noticed that she had her eyes closed and head tilted back oddly with drool dipping the side of her gaped mouth. Tina slept soundly.

In fact, all the other people from the uni were either asleep or on the verge of dozing off. Some were glued to the phone screen. 

Charlotte looked around.

The professor had many well-wishers. There were also some she didn't know but could guess were his friends or colleagues at the mental facility. The university authority had contacted Ian Flinn's family, who lived about three hours away in another city. They were on their way here.

Ian Flinn's serious condition—multiple broken bones, bruises, and concussion as a result of the abduction—had brought a crowd of concerned people with the hope to help him in any way possible. They waited as the surgeons worked on fixing his bones in the OT.

Some news reporters also had been waiting outside to get an update. The hospital people had to instill security at the front entrance to control them.

Ian Flinn had gotten famous overnight.

Tina, earlier, was particularly gushing over how heroic the professor was.

But Charlotte knew that the real hero was her Alex. And she was proud of him. Only if she could tell him that. 

Since saving Ian, the brooding ghost had chosen to play hide and seek with her. Charlotte didn't see him around for some time—for about a night and a day. Only the lord knew what was wrong with him.

Like how it happens in the movies, the surgeon came out to tell them that the professor's going to be alright. A holler of relieved sighs and exclamations blew through the waiting area.

"However, he won't wake up until tomorrow. In fact, it may take even more time," the doctor added, looking at the people before him. "The physical and mental trauma he had suffered would require some time and a great good sleep to wear off."

Soon, the crowd began to dissipate with this verdict happily.

The weirdo professor would live to take more classes.

Relieved Charlotte was leaving too, after slapping a still sleeping Tina's shoulder with some irritation. Now, she must explain what the doctor said to this girl. Hell, why didn't she woke up from the constant poking Charlotte was delivering to her cheek when the doctor came out and spoke. Drat it.

"Argh Charu—maru," Tina whined after getting the good news. "I'm overjoyed that he's okay, but man, I was dreaming of winning the lottery and going on a romantic vacation with him, girl!"

"Cut it," Charlotte said dismissively, adding, "Andy and others are waiting for us at the cafeteria. We must hurry. I'm hungry."

Tina was in the midst of replying in excitement at the mention of food, but her words went out of Charlotte's focus.

Her eyes caught someone—a guy walking down the hallway. He looked familiar.

It took her a couple of seconds to recover the memory from the depths of her mind's storage.

Ace.

Wilder Ace. 

Charlotte bit the inside of her cheek—Alex's older brother.

"Hey, where are you looking? I'm going to the washroom—need to pee—" Tina announced.

Charlotte recalled long before she knew Alex's truth, she had met this guy, Ace, during one of his visits to Alex's apartment.

"Mr. Wilder," Charlotte called him in a controlled voice as if it was a hospital.

Sadly, it didn't reach Ace's ears. He continued striding towards a long corridor.

As Tina left for the washroom, Charlotte went after Ace into the corridor. Soon, he stopped in front of a door to coil his hand around the door knob.

"Mr. Wilder..."

The distance between Charlotte and Ace had decreased drastically, so he heard her.

Ace's eyebrows furrowed in concentration before hardening in recognition. "Well, what a pleasant surprise," his expression didn't reflect any pleasantness he must have felt inside, though.

She stopped before him and said a bit self-consciously, "We meet again—" She looked back and forth between him and the door, "and it reminds me how we met the first time."

He must have an ill family member or friend admitted to this hospital.

Ace glanced at the door. "It's true, I see." Then, smiling forcefully, he threw his wrist up before his face to look at his watch. "Well, nice to meet you again—" he paused for a millisecond, "I think your name has escaped my memories, however—"

"It's Charlotte—"

"Charlotte," he was hasty. "I'm in a hurry today. Have you already finished seeing your doctor? I hope the medicines and therapy are working well for you. You look more stable now, although exhausted—"

An utterly puzzled Charlotte frowned, but before she could ask for any clarification of what he meant by doctor—medicines and therapy, a nurse approached with a tray filled with a couple of syringes and drugs. After a short greeting, Ace stepped aside to let the nurse in the room he was holding the knob of.

He held the door open for the nurse.

Charlotte's eyes trailed into the room. 

And her heart almost dropped out of her ribcage. 

What the hell was she seeing?

Her eyes remained glued to the man in patient's attire on the hospital bed.

"I will have to go now," Ace cleared his throat and turned around to get into the room as well.

Charlotte's mouth gaped. She wanted to stop Ace and ask him a flurry of questions. But no words came out of her mouth, just a weird squeak that he didn't even notice.

And as long as the door was kept ajar, which was perhaps a minute or so, she hawked at the man on the hospital bed—his eyes were closed, and he was hooked to many machines with the help of wires. His tall physique was skinny, and his skin pale, making him almost mash fittingly to the sheets. Yet, that straight nose, the tousle of dark hair, the curve of his lips, the crease next to his eyes—all distinctly matched the snaps of the person in her memory. 

The door clicked close before her.

She fell to the floor as her legs gave up beneath her.

At last, her mouth breathed out the name, "Alex!"

~

Please don't forget to vote and comment! I already have the following two chapters ready. A few tweaks and they will be uploaded fast as well.  

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And how are you all? 
I went through something bad recently. Healing from it mentally and physically. I had stopped writing altogether for some time as the emotional trauma of it broke me completely. But then I returned to the best way I knew I could heal - writing! And here I am. So, forgive me if my writing tone or anything seems a bit off or weird. I'm trying. We must, always.

Love,
Lara.