When sparks fly... [a Roman Reigns story]

14 Sharp as a knife

Roman POV

With the small box in my hand, I entered the hospital and was immediately surrounded by the pungent smell of sanitizer. I quickly followed the signs that pointed me in the right direction, or at least I hoped so, because it was quite a maze.

Eventually I managed to find the counter where I was supposed to check in with one of the nurses.

"Good afternoon. I'm here to see Miss Amali Stryker," I said through my mask.

It was muffled and the noise around us certainly didn't help me to be heard.

"Hello Sir. Yes, then we need to test you quickly to make sure you're healthy. It will only take a few minutes. If you are negative, I will take you to Miss Stryker's room. There you may take off your mask. But please remember to put it back on when you leave the room," she explained to me in an equally muffled voice before telling me to follow her.

A few minutes later that was done and I was able to knock on the door that separated me from Amali.

"Come in." I heard her voice say, but it sounded so different from what I knew.

Amali sounded glum. And sad, of course. I had expected it, but hearing it was still hard for my heart to bear.

I opened the door and looked in carefully. The bed my eyes fell on first was empty. But I quickly discovered that she was sitting by the window so she could look out.

"Hi Amali. How are you, baby girl?" I asked as I went to her while taking off my mask.

I hugged her carefully. But she only returned the hug half-heartedly. Instead, I heard a deep sigh. There was nothing left of her normal, natural joy.

"Hi, Roman. I've been feeling better. How are you? How are your munchkins?" she wanted to know, clearly to take the focus off herself.

"We're all doing well. So tell me... what do the doctors say? How are you really doing?" I replied.

"Well... There's not much new. I can finally get out of here next week. I actually wanted to go home. But as I can't do much with one arm, I'm going to go to my parents first. And as for the doctors... It doesn't look good. If it gets better at all. The prognosis is pretty poor right now.

One wrong step and that's it... It's all over. But that doesn't matter... What do you have there?" she told me dejectedly and without much emotion in her voice.

It hurt me to see her like that and to hear her talk like that. I thought about what I could say to make it better, but I couldn't think of anything. Because what could I say? After all, I couldn't promise her something and I didn't want to say stuff that we both knew might not come true.

"Oh um.... I've brought you some cannoli. Since it already looks like a flower store in here, I thought it would make a sweet change." I replied.

"That's nice. Hand it over.... Who cares if I get fat... It's not like I can work out." she said quietly.

I wasn't sure if Amali wanted me to hear it. But I did. And I didn't like what I heard.

"Hey, now listen... I know you're sad. But that's no reason to let yourself down like that. If anything, you should be more determined than ever to come back. You have to fight for what you love. I know you'll be able to do it," I replied stubbornly.

"Easy for you to say, Roman. But when you're so far out in a storm that your clothes are soaked with rain, it's hard to imagine there's sunshine somewhere," she said quietly, staring out of the window.

"But you know that every rain is followed by sunshine. You'll get sunshine. I know that." I replied as I knelt down in front of her to take her hand in mine.

Before Amali could say anything back, the door opened behind me. I turned around to see who it was. But it was only one of the nurses.

"Sorry to interrupt. Miss Stryker, it's time for your appointment with the physical therapist," she said.

Sighing, Amali rose from her chair.

"I'm sorry you have to leave again, Roman. Thank you for the sweets and all the flowers. It was nice to see you," she said to me.

I could have sworn I heard some kind of farewell that had nothing to do with just today. I immediately felt a shiver run down my spine.

"I'll come and see you again soon, baby girl. You just have to let me know where." I replied before giving her a little kiss on the forehead.

"Would you mind if you don't? I have so much to do with myself right now and I don't... I don't know what to do with myself." she whispered.

"I... um... are you sure this is what you want? I could-" I began only to be interrupted by her.

She put her free hand on my cheek and then gave me a quick kiss. There was so much pain in her eyes.

"I'll let you know if and when I'm ready," she said, and to my surprise, her words felt sharp as a knife.