Ephemeral Reverie

CANVAS OF MEMORIES

CH18: CANVAS OF MEMORIES

Her first day in the hospital felt interminable. She feels bored, as nothing must be done here. To break the boredom that kills her slowly, she roams around the hospital's miniature park, relishing the thought of fresh air against her face. A familiar face caught her eye, as she's busy interacting with nature; it was Thorne. She rushed as she saw him.

Thorne visited her yesterday, while Zara dropped by every morning, afternoon, and evening. As for Soren, he hasn't dropped by yet since the day she was admitted to the hospital.

As she caught Thorne's attention, his face was shocked. "Thal,"

"How's Soren? He didn't come by yet," she asked worryingly as she saw Thorne.

Thorne shook his head; his expression seemed blank. "I don't know what he's up to." Maybe Thorne and Soren didn't get to meet as they usually do.

"Why are you here? "she asked curiously, trying to shift the topic.

"Oh, college medical requirements." He seems annoyed; maybe the medical requirements are too much for him.

Knowing Thorne, he's a guy who's very short-tempered.

As she nodded, her thoughts turned to Zara. "I hope your college admissions stuff isn't that stressful."

"Yeah! "Thorne chuckled. "It feels like yesterday we were in school together."

She sighed softly. "Time flies so quickly, doesn't it? "

"Thal, I know it may take some time before I finish my medical school, but hang in there. I'll pursue being a cardiologist, so hang in there," Thorne assured her, pulling her into a warm hug.

It was so relieving, although she knows that it will take a lot of years.

They exchanged a few more words before Thorne excused himself. She's happy that she can ask how Thorne's doing. As Soren remained preoccupied with his unknown pursuit, possibly his college admission preparation, she felt trapped in the four-cornered room of the hospital as she diligently took her medication.

Zara also promised to visit later this evening. It feels like yesterday, when they were in elementary school, the brink of college flashed before Thalia's eyes as time slipped faster than she thought.

As the night fell, Zara and Auntie Cathy arrived.

"Hi there, Thalia. How's your day? "Auntie Cathy began as she gently patted her head.

She smiled and said, "It's boring, but I am fine."

Everyday seems like a routine here: taking her medication in the morning, going for a small walk around the hospital with her nurse, then going back to spend the rest of her day laying down and looking out the window.

"I know you'll like this," Zara said, excitedly showing her some art materials.

She stood up to see if she's right; it was some of her unfinished paintings that she does when she's bored. No one knew, except her, where these paintings were hidden. She guesses Zara cleaned her house since it's been a while since she last went there. She has some fun talking and catching up with Zara, but as the night goes deeper, they bid goodbye to her.

Looking at her unfinished paintings, she smiled, knowing that her day tomorrow will be productive and not the same as what yesterday was.

Thalia found herself staring out the hospital window. It has just been two days since she admitted it, but it already feels like a month. "Mom?" she wondered carelessly as she looked at the night sky. "Guide me in my everyday life here; it's confusing and hurting here."

She stared there for a minute, with the rhythmic beeping of medical machines providing a steady backdrop to her thoughts. A knock on the door interrupted her reverie, and a nurse entered, bringing her medications. "Good evening. Time to take your medications."

She walked forward to take her medication, and as the nurse bid goodbye, she found herself lying down and finding coziness in her warm and soft bed, making her fall asleep that quickly.

She sat at the edge of the hospital bed as the morning sunshine shone through the window, casting a gentle glow in her hospital room. Beside her are the unfinished paintings of the hallway where she first bumped into Soren.

"I could possibly turn this hospital room into a mini art studio; I never thought that it could be possible," she laughs at her little idea. She's thankful that Zara brought some of her art supplies so that she can now be busy and make her day more productive.

Each stroke of the color of the brush recalls all of her memories when she first met Soren, from the feeling of excitement and nervousness that she feels, giving her a sense of connection as their eyes met. Two hours later, she finished the painting. It feels surreal to see how detailed and wonderful it is. She hangs it beside her, letting the paint dry.

She has nothing to do now, as she finished it more quickly than she anticipated. She moves onto the next canvas, and she first draws a stage under the stars of the music festival, where their first kiss happened.

Lost in her own world, she unconsciously whispered to herself. "These moments aren't just simple memories; they are the whispers of our dreams, waiting to be written in the stars again."

As she put the finishing touches on her canvas, a soft knock on the door stopped her from doing what she was doing. "Hi there," Soren greeted.

"Hi," she replied casually, putting her attention back on the painting.

She's a little sullen because Soren didn't visit her these past few days, and she longs for his presence. "What's with that behavior? "Soren asked while she was still focused on painting, not wanting to leave any details about that night.

"How come you never drop by? "She asked, turning his head to meet his gaze.

Soren, on the other hand, looked so lethargic, as if he never had a good sleep. "I've been busy with some things I can't tell you for now," he admitted, his voice filled with sincerity.

He sat beside her, confused at what she was doing. "What is that? "

"The night at the music festival, where we shared our first kiss," she said, pointing at the finished painting that lies beside the table. "I just finished that lately; that's when we first bump into each other."

Looking amused, Soren stood up to have a closer look at the painting; it was very detailed. His look, his hand, and everything else looked so detailed, as if that scene just happened yesterday.

Soren shifted the topic to the good news he brings. "The school will hold some dance parties tomorrow for the recent graduates; I am asking if you can attend."

She wants to go, as she thinks this might be the last time she will experience this kind of fun. But it still depends on what the doctor's decision will be, but as far as she wants, she can convince the doctor to let her, as tomorrow feels like her last.

"I'll ask for my doctor's approval; I'll pursue it. I also want to attend," she said as she leaned on Soren's shoulder. Although the doctor doesn't tell her what her condition is, she knows that it is getting worse and worse. Medication can't prolong her life that much; it can just lessen the symptoms, but she holds on to the very little miracle that will happen.

Every day frightens her even more—what if just one day she will not be able to open her eyes once again without even saying goodbye to the people she met along the way into her journey of life?

She's afraid that her heart might just stop beating one day.

She's always drunk in her own tears every night, hoping for a miracle to happen one day. The silent screams, "Why me? Why did it happen to me? "filled the room every night.

Tomorrow is a miracle and luck to her; that's why she's making the most of it every time she sees the sun shine through her room.