Red Snow

Shoeless In A Hospital

December 6th 3:09 am
CARMEN

"Girl? Girl. Girl!"

When I opened my eyes, I almost fell off the chair. I looked around quickly. I had no idea where I was. The pale mustard yellow walls, the low ceiling, the chairs. All looked foreign to me. There were blankets wrapped around me. But I was cold. Really cold. I looked around for Kai. He was always with me when I was some place new. I didn't see him. All I saw was a boy with dark brown hair and beautiful brown eyes.

Then everything came back to me like a boomerang. I sat up so quickly my head began to rush. I put my hand over my forehead.

"Easy there." Someone put a hand on my arm. I looked up, it was the boy-Quin.

He had a red t-shirt on now instead of his other blue one. He had two bags in both of his hands and a coat slung over his shoulder. I wondered why he was still here, he was just a driver, I didn't ask him to stick around. Not that I didn't enjoy the company.

I stood up quickly, running to the trashcan across from me. I spit up blood into the can. The boy patted my back awkwardly.

"Is he awake? Is he okay?" I asked, getting up.

Quin grabbed my arm again and sat me back down. "He's fine, just recovering for now. You can see him after you get out of those clothes."

I looked at him, startled. "No. I came here to see him, not for myself. What room is he in?"

Quin grabbed at his hair. "Okay. You wanna see him? We can see him. See those doors?" He pointed to the left. I nodded. "He's in there. But the nurses won't let you in there until you are clean and are at no risk of getting anyone more sick than they already are."

I stared at the double sliding doors that were separating me from Kai. The nurses didn't want me to be clean. I had been in hospital emergency rooms before, when I was a complete mess. I didn't even look that bad now. However, I didn't want to go in there and give Kai a cold. That would only make him die more quickly.

"Okay." I muttered. When he did say anything, I spoke louder. "Okay. Fine. I'll do it."

The boy smiled, reaching into one of the bags in his hand, and setting the other on the chair beside him.

"Okay, well I doubt that these will fit you because you're very small, but-"

"I'm 5' 5" I slapped his arm. He laughed and I smiled.

"Keep telling yourself that. Anyway." He drew out the words. "They're the best I have. And I didn't know where you lived, so I'm sorry I couldn't get you your clothes."

I nodded, taking the bag from him and walking to the bathroom beside the dark window. It was a one bathroom room that would fit a wheelchair. There was an open diaper change beside the toilet.

When I looked in the mirror, I understood why the boy suggested I change clothes. Not only was I sopping wet, I also had blood on me. Everywhere. On my chin, in my hair, on my shirt, my socks, even my leggings contained at least a speck of blood. I looked like someone out of a horror story. My cheeks were deep, I could see my collar bones sticking out through my shirt. My eyes were dark and hollow.