Joy

~A Familiar Unknown Man~

Once the nurse left that is when I began to panic once again. I twirl myself around to take in my surroundings. The room seemed to be pearly white, almost blinding. I ran out into the hallway to see nurses walking towards their patients, doctors scanning info and test. Loved ones sitting out in the hallway either crying or yelling at a doctor or nurse. I saw a man, maybe in his early thirties heading towards me.

"Hey!" I call and start to jog up to him. He kept walking and all of a sudden through me. I would have said I felt nothing but that would be a lie.

It felt as if I had been hit by a truck. A burst of cold air hit me and I fall back as the impact hit me. My chest felt heavy and I try to catch up with myself before chasing after the doctor again. He was talking to a young female nurse, who looked barely in her thirties. She had bleach blond hair that fell past her shoulders and about down to her breast. It could be longer, I could not tell. Her hair was pulled into a braid. I loomed in, listening to their conversation.

"Mark, Olson. Age thirty two, died in taxi accident down on Maple Av..." the doctor said flipping a piece of paper over showing the picture of the man who had passed.

I instantly remembered his appearance. The sharp facial features, and really young appearance. My hand flies over my mouth once again and I stood their for a few moments in terror. The two stopped about ten feet ahead of me and I continued to eavesdrop.

"How is the survivor...?" The nurse started.

"Joy Matthew? Not good I am afraid. In a serious coma and major injuries that could lead to fatality." he started to list all these medical injuries that had occurred to me during this accident. Broken leg arm, bruised neck tissues, bruised and swollen brain.

My mind raced which led to a massive headache. I grabbed the sides of my head and let out a scream. I turned around and no one was paying attention to me. Tears started to tumble down my cheeks again and I ran up to the doctor that had announced Mark dead. I did not know him long, but I did feel responsible for his death. If I had insisted that he had dropped me off we would not be in this situation. He would not be dead, and I would be awake. I started to scream in the doctors face, but he did not hear me, he kept talking to the nurse.

I asked him why was this happening, why did they let him die?

"Where is the body at, at the current moment?" asked the nurse taking some notes calmly.

Why were they so calm? I just witnessed a nurse praying her heart out at a sight of me dying, why was this any different? Why did they not care? They acted like because they saw this almost everyday it was okay just to...give up remorse and emotions at all.

"Room 315D."

"Thanks Dr. Pertons." she says and starts to walk off in a total opposite direction as the male doctor. I turned, following the young female nurse. Maybe she was heading towards Mark.

She was, she pressed her nurse I.D against a scanner and the scanner blinked green and released a small beeping sound. The beeping sound was completely different from the monitors. The monitors beep sounded deathly, no one wants to hear that flat line. She opens the door slowly and walks in. I walk in behind her and the atmosphere in the room completely changed.

In here, my chest felt heavier. I wanted to vomit, I hated to feeling in the room. She walked over to a group of huge metal drawers. She pulled a key off her key chain and unlocked a volt. Once she pulled it out, I saw the body of the taxi driver that was taking me to work. I gasp out in disgust and looked away. For my brief moment of seeing the corps, I felt like I just faced death himself.

His right left as completely torn off, his right arm might as well been torn off as well. The rest of his body parts that were attached were covered in holes, bruises, and dried blood. They did not even bother to put stitches on him which told me he was dead before their could attempt to save his life. But that did not matter to me. Doctors were suppose to help and save lives. Not toss them out like an old phone. The nurse pulled the body out and placed him on the table. I felt sick to my stomach and I could not be in the room any longer. I turned around and saw a man in a black suit and red tie standing there looking into the room. Directly at me.

"Hey." I say and walked to the glass. I placed my hand on the glass. "Can you see me?" I asked hopeful. The man just nodded. I smile, leaping with joy. I place my hand on the door knob. Surprisingly, I could take the grip and open the door. I ran out and to the man.

He was older then anyone I saw today. He had silver hair and calm blue eyes. He was shorter, small facial hairs, and was chubby. I looked down to him confused, scared, lonely. I was hoping he would have my answers that I needed. He placed his hands in pockets that were in his pants.

"What is going on?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"My dear, all in good time you will know. But for now let me explai-"

"Am I dead?" I asked.

He gave me a small chuckle. "No my dear."

"Then, I am alive?" I asked. "That cannot be, I saw my body. What is going on?" I turned angry at him. He remained calm, giving me a gentle smile. I gave him a bewildered look. How can he be so calm?

He pulled his hands out of his pockets and put one arm around my shoulders. "Let's take a walk my dear."

"Why do you keep calling me that? My dear?" I asked him, allowing him to guide me.

"Trust me, my dear. You will know shortly. I promise. But, I need to explain what is going on. In the end you will have a choice. Either to stay, or to leave."