**Karen's P.O.V** 10:00pm
I stand outside waiting on Charles to come. My sweater protects my body from the cold air but these allergies are still kicking my ass.
Our reservations for the restaurant is at 10:45. I swear if he blows me off at the last minute....
I hear a car door slam and I turn to my left. The person stands down the street for a second before heading my way. I cross my arms and start to head back inside.
"Wait!"
I spin around at the voice and stop dead in my tracks. She jogs over towards me and stand face to face with me.
"Hi," she holds out her hand to me. "My names Jasmine."
I hesitate before taking her hand and shaking it. "The receptionist."
She smiles. "Yeah. Figured you'd remember that."
I stare at her. She looks..... different from the last time I saw her. Her hair isn't pinned up, and she's not wearing a sun dress. A tank top and jeans hug her body, showing off the curves I never saw before. She looks more relaxed.
"Your name is Karen, right?" She asks. "I never really got a hold of your name."
"Yeah," I answer. "Last name Smith."
She nods her head. We stand there for a second. She looks around, trying to find the words. "Brandon...... he sent me to-"
"Brandon?" I ask curiously.
Brandon never spoke about me or notice me from the years we known each other. He only tolerated me because I was Charles girl friend. Why the hell would he send someone here to me?
Actually I can understand him sending someone to speak to me. He's such a dick.
"Its about Charles," she says. I clutch onto my sleeve, my heart racing.
Charles?
I stare at her in confusion. What about time?
"What....." I step closer to her. "Where...... Why isn't he here?"
I look around for him. This bitch better answers me.
She places her hand on my shoulder in a sympathetic gesture.
"He's in the hospital."
✨
I burst through the hospital doors, Jasmine next to me. We both run over to the counter and give them Charles name. They tell us what room and I charge straight down the hall. Jasmine stops at the elevator but I head for the stairs.
I take the stairs two at a time until I reach the fourth floor. By the time I'm up the last flight, my legs give up and I fall against the door. My heart races and my breath comes in shaky. I grab the door handle and pull it open.
Jasmine grabs my arm and we both jog down the hall.
4D. Room 4D.
I mentally count down the numbers on the door until we reach his room.
Please be OK.
My stomach churns and I step into the door way.
The first person I see is Brandon, leaning against the wall casually. Two other guys stand in the room that I never seen before, and standing over Charles........
Emily looks up at me with teary eyes and I stare at her. My eyes trail down her body and stop where her hands held Charles's.
