Enigma

Twenty-one

Twenty-one

The doctor that was treating Raven came out later and informed that she had a panic attack and it was so bad because she fainted.

My mother went back to her floor because her shift wasn't over yet and I was currently in Raven's hospital room.

She hasn't woken up yet and I sat there waiting to apologize. She was curled on the bed with her chest lifting and dropping slightly. She slept on her side, facing me. Her knees were scraped for when she fell to the ground by the road. Her palms too were covered in small scratches.

They took off her boots and were neatly placed next to her bed. It was around 7 something when she stirred in her sleep.

Her eyes slowly opened and landed on me. She sighed and slowly sat up and asked what had happened. I got up and sat by her bed.

"You fainted after..." I trailed. "Look, Raven I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yell at you like that." I rambled on an apology but she kept staring at her lap.

She took the rubber band from her wrists and tied up her hair in a ponytail.

She got out of bed and gestured me to follow her. I told her to rest but she ignored me. I also question her about where she was taking me but she didn't respond and just kept on walking till we were back on the floor my mother was working. My mother wasn't at the reception place when we arrived at the floor. Raven wasn't even wearing her shoes as she walked on the cold hospital floor.

We walked for a few more moments until we stopped in front of a hospital room. Raven stared at the inside of the room as she hugged herself. I stepped next to her and peeked inside.

A familiar looking man was laying on top of the only bed in the room with wires and tubes attached to him. The machine attached to them beeped softly. I looked at the door and there was the patience's name above of the doctor's name.

Jeremy James Hale.

"That's my father." Raven said softly next to me. To say I was shock was an understatement. I couldn't even think of the possible things that had happen to him for him to be like that.

"He has been in a coma for a very long time." She whispered. She turned and took a sit on the floor opposite of her father's hospital room. I turned around and took a sit next to her. She even didn't look at me, she just stared ahead.

"When I was 12, my parents decided we could go for a drive to the countryside." She started.

"Raven, you don't have to do this." I told her but she shook her head and continued.

"My parents took the day off. We planned to go see the horses and all but when we drove past the forest area. A truck lost control and hit us. My mother... died instantly. My dad was badly injured and I survived because my brother used his body as a shield to protect me. My brother died in the ambulance when it was on its way to the hospital. I had a piece of glass pierced my skin, right below my ribs. I was out for a few days and when I woke up, my mother and brother was gone. But fortunately, my father is still here but we don't know when he's going to wake up." She took a deep breath as tears silently fell from her eyes.

"When I was let out of the hospital, I was placed in the orphanage that you saw the other day you followed me. The lady that runs the place took care of me and the other twenty or so kids. I tried to visit my dad as often as I can. My father and my mother had no family left so there was no one to take me in. Aunt Clara and Uncle Jack were good friends with my parents. They wanted to take me in but I refused. I didn't want to burden them. So, they let me work at the diner ever since I was 14. Once I turned eighteen and inherited my parents stuff, I sold our house and bought the apartment I live in now. I donated some of their stuff but kept my father's." I silently reached for her hand and held it.

"The other day he was getting better. That's why I was so happy that you questioned me about it after we went for your checkup but that day when we were baking the cake, something went wrong and he had to undergo surgery. Leo stayed with me for a while but he had to go home to his family after a few hours. When the surgery was done, we were back to square one. Your mother was one of the nurses that treated him since the accident. Since I live on my own, I'll spend my weekend here; hoping that he might wake up soon." She finished. She slumped against the wall and closed her eyes for a moment.

I stayed silent for a moment; trying to process everything she said to me. That explained a lot of things. Now I understand why my mother and that waitress said those things. God, how could something like this happen to someone?

"The road that we drove earlier was the place where the accident happened." She whispered. Guilt washed over me as I squeezed her hand gently.

"I'm really sorry, Raven." Was all what I managed to say.

She shook her head and finally made eye contact with me. "Don't be."

I scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. She snuggled to my side and I shifted a bit so that she was slightly on my lap. I placed my hand on her cheek; caressing it as she rest her head on my chest. I landed a kiss on her forehead; not knowing what else to do. She cried silently in my arms and I held her tighter.

It was then I realize how strong this girl is. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I wasn't used to having someone to talk to and besides, I hate the sympathy." She said softly.

"That time, when we were doing our project, why wouldn't you want to do the project at your place?" I asked.

"Because I didn't want to answer all the curious questions that you'll ask." She said. I chuckled lightly, knowing she was right.

We stayed that way for a few moments later, getting curious glances from people that pass by us.

"Raven?" I called for her. She hummed in response.

"No more secrets, okay?" I said. She nodded into my chest and I placed another kiss on her forehead.

This was really something I didn't expect to happen.