While You Slept: Our Story Began

By: Cabbellie Bisous 🫦


Vincent's ears could no longer take the beeping sounds the room was housing. A symphony of high and low pitched sounds echoed in his ears driving him insane. Vincent had been confined to that room for 3 days now. He had to make the difficult decision to let go of his brother whom had been in an accident 3 days ago. Vincent's heart ached knowing he no longer had any family, he was all alone in this world of chaos and ugliness.

The overwhelming orchestrated sounds irked Vincent to his maximum point leading him to run out of his brother's room. Dripping a cascade of sorrowful tears, Vincent made it to the end of the hall where he labored to breathe. He propped himself against the wall leaning into it. His back and buttocks felt the hard surface as his legs trembled and shook. Vincent clutched his chest experiencing grief and shock, few minutes earlier, he had given his permission to take his baby brother off the ventilator. A victim of an armed robbery, his brother had been fighting for his life but at last he could not come back. Vincent felt alone and lonely and responsible making the hardest decision he would ever have to make.

"It is very sad." Vincent heard a nurse tell another, the women were in the room next to him.
"From what I know, they were newly weds and had a baby on the way." One nurse said to the other one. "She was like 8 months pregnant and they had married 2 weeks ago." The nurse continued. Vincent listened as the nurses continued to speak. "The fire was a disaster, it consumed everything. The poor young man made it to his home to find the house engulfed in live lava fire." The nurse told the other. "It was too late, the fire had taken his young family when he arrived. Not knowing, he foolishly went in only to be knocked down by falling debris." The main nurse said to the other.

"What about his family?" The second nurse asked curiously. "He does not have any living relatives but once in a while his best friend comes and visits him. Overall he is by himself." The nurse said. "He inhaled too much smoke and collapsed. He has not woken up." The nurse reported looking at the young man who was lying peacefully asleep in his bed.

The nurses finished their hourly duties and both exited the room. Vincent had been composing himself as he listened to the young man's story.

"You and I are alike." Vincent said to himself as he entered the room. "We are all alone in this world." He cautiously walked in and made it to the side of the bed. Unconsciously he sat down on the chair next to the bed. He looked around and saw flowers and cards. Vincent's auditory sense picked up the deafening beeping sound coming from the machine and fought back his sorrow. He looked at the young man lying on the bed who was quiet and at peace.

Vincent noticed the young man's face, he was about 26 years old, his lips were rosy and on the verge of cracking. The young man's complexion was smooth even though it needed to be moisturized. Vincent noticed piercing holes on the young man's eyebrow and lip but no earrings were visible. Vincent's vision trailed down and landed his gaze on arm sleeve adorned with vibrant tattoos.

Without thought, Vincent reached out to the foot of the bed and grabbed the medical chart that was placed in its holding. Vincent took a deep breath and read it.

Patient: Jeon Kook
Age: 26
Status: Widower
Diagnosis: Smoke Inhalation
Presently in A-coma
Next of Kin: None

Vincent looked at Jeon and spoke. "Nice to meet you Jeon." Vincent placed the chart back and looked around noticing a book on the sofa. He picked it up and opened it, he began to read some lines out loud when a nurse came in.

"Oh hello!! I am so happy, he has someone reading to him." The nurse said. "How often will you be coming?" She asked Vincent who was confused but did not let on.
"Read?" Vincent asked in a low voice. "Yes. How many sessions did you sign up for... the program?" The nurse said confused now worrying who the young man in Jeon's room was.
"Um. Are you not here for the "read to a patient program"... maybe you are a friend?" The nurse insisted on knowing.
"Young man .. if you are neither.. you are not allowed in this patient's room." The nurse said asking Vincent to exit the room.

Vincent exited and looked back as he walked forward.

1 week later Vincent was feeling restless, he was not able to eat or sleep, he was fighting his grief. Vincent got into his car and mindlessly drove until he arrived at the hospital. It was close to midnight, Vincent wondered what he was doing there, the hospital was the last place he wanted to be at but yet he was there. He entered through the emergency room and unconsciously made his way to the 7th floor. The halls were dim lit and it was desolate and quiet, nurses were making their final rounds.

Vincent looked in front of him and saw the name plaque. "Room 0613 Jeon Kook."