Rooftop Summer | EN- Jake

16

Hanna had been waiting for this moment all day. The hum of the hospital's fluorescent lights, the dull routine of nurses coming in and out, the distant beeping of machines—it all felt suffocating. Her thoughts always circled back to the rooftop and Jake. She imagined him sitting there, as always, waiting for her. The thought filled her with urgency. She couldn't let him think she'd abandoned him.

As soon as the halls quieted and the shift changed, she changed into a pair of comfortable clothes she had hidden away and grabbed her jacket. The familiar fabric felt reassuring against her skin, a small reminder of life outside the hospital. She had escaped before without anyone noticing, and tonight would be no different. Her heart raced—not from fear, but from excitement. The rooftop was her refuge, the only place where she felt alive. And Jake... he was her reason to keep going.

She cracked open her door, peeking down the corridor to make sure it was empty. Satisfied, she slipped out and started her careful journey toward freedom. Her footsteps were light, her movements swift. She had done this enough times to have it down to an art.

But as she turned the corner toward the stairwell, a sudden, sharp pain exploded in her chest. It was worse than any she had felt before, like a fire consuming her from the inside out. She froze, clutching the wall for support, her breath hitching as she fought to stay upright.

"Not now," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.
"Please, not now."

She took a shaky step forward, determined to push through, but the pain intensified, radiating through her body like a lightning bolt. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold linoleum floor. Her vision blurred, and the world around her faded into a haze of muffled sounds and searing agony.

Within seconds, everything went dark.

When Hanna opened her eyes again, the world felt hazy and distant, as if she were underwater. The faint beeping of a heart monitor reached her ears, and the sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nose. Her body felt heavy, her limbs weak, and it took a moment for her to realize she was back in her hospital bed.

She blinked slowly, trying to make sense of her surroundings. A nurse noticed her stirring and quickly called for the doctor. Moments later, the doctor entered, his face lined with relief but shadowed by concern.

"Hanna," he said gently,
"you're awake. That's a good sign. You've been through a lot."

"What... happened?" she croaked, her throat dry and scratchy.

"You collapsed in the hallway," the doctor explained.
"The pain was caused by severe cardiac strain. We had to perform an emergency procedure to stabilize you. You were in a coma for three days."

Three days. The words hit her like a blow. Jake. He must have been waiting for her, wondering where she was. Her heart sank at the thought of him sitting alone on the rooftop, thinking she had abandoned him.

"I need to go," she said, struggling to sit up.
"I need to get to—"

"No," the doctor interrupted firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder to keep her still.
"You're not going anywhere, Hanna. Your body needs time to recover. Any sudden exertion could put you in danger."

"But—" she began, panic rising in her chest.

"No," he said again, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"You need to rest. I know it's hard, but this is serious."

Hanna slumped back against the pillows, tears stinging her eyes. The thought of being trapped here, unable to see Jake, was unbearable. She felt like a bird in a cage, her wings clipped and her freedom stolen.

Days turned into weeks, and Hanna grew more restless with each passing moment. She begged the doctor every day, pleading for a chance to go outside, to breathe fresh air, to escape the stifling confines of her room. At first, he refused, citing her fragile condition, but eventually, her persistence wore him down.

One afternoon, he entered her room with a resigned sigh.
"Fine," he said.
"You can go outside. But only for a short while, and only if a nurse accompanies you."

Hanna's face lit up, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a spark of hope.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with gratitude.

The sun was warm on her face as the nurse wheeled her out into the hospital courtyard. Hanna closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, the fresh air filling her lungs. It felt like a balm to her soul, soothing the ache that had been growing inside her. The breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers. She hadn't realized just how much she missed being outside.

For a while, she simply sat there, soaking in the sounds and sensations of the world around her. The nurse stood nearby, giving her space but keeping a watchful eye. Hanna felt a pang of longing for the rooftop, for Jake. But for now, this would have to do.

Unbeknownst to her, a boy was staring at her from across the street. Jake had been working his part-time job, trying to distract himself from the constant ache of missing Hanna. During his break, he stepped outside, hoping the fresh air would help clear his mind. But as he glanced across the street, his heart stopped.

There she was.

She looked different—thinner, paler, more fragile—but it was her. He couldn't believe it. For a moment, he simply stared, his mind racing. What was she doing here? Why was she in a wheelchair? Questions flooded his thoughts, but one thing was certain: it was Hanna.

As he watched, the nurse began to wheel her back toward the hospital. Panic surged through him. He couldn't let her slip away again, not without knowing the truth. Abandoning his duties, he followed at a distance, slipping into the hospital unnoticed.

He trailed behind them, his heart pounding as he tried to figure out what to do. When the nurse wheeled Hanna into her room, Jake lingered in the hallway, unsure whether to approach. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—relief, fear, confusion. He wanted to see her, to talk to her, but something held him back.

As he stood there, frozen with indecision, he overheard two nurses talking nearby.

"She's so young," one of them said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"It's heartbreaking to think she doesn't have much time left."

"Yeah," the other agreed.
"It's tragic. But she's a fighter. She doesn't let it show."

Jake's stomach dropped, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. Hanna didn't have much time left. The realization left him reeling, his mind spinning with questions and emotions he couldn't process.

Before he could gather the courage to enter her room, he turned and walked away, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had learned.

As Jake wandered the streets, lost in thought, he passed a small flower shop. The bright yellow daisies in the window caught his eye, their vibrant color standing out against the gray backdrop of his thoughts. He stopped, staring at them, a memory of Hanna's laughter and warmth flashing through his mind.

Without thinking, a thought took root—a way to reach out to her, to let her know he was still here, still waiting.

Jake stepped inside, the bell above the door chiming softly.