A Color With Love

Chapter 4

A sense of weightlessness fell over me. As if I've been falling a long way down, with my heart pounding in my ears and my breath frozen in my lungs. Falling deeper in an everlasting spiral. Nothing can describe what it felt like to see the hot asphalt burning in my sight...and how suddenly I drifted. No, more like floated within the depths of my soul. I gasped with inexplicable shock. I was expecting the, for a lack of better term, SPLAT of my body. I was expecting the pain. Just as I was expecting the pain of my mother's death. But of that, I never felt.

I realized, with great confusion, that a pillow under my head. As well as my aching body, wrapped tightly under warm, rather itchy covers. "This is...odd" I thought. But when I smelled the air around me, comprehension enveloped my nerves.

A smell of cleanliness. A smell like an over-sanitary bathroom. I knew the smell well, especially the nights when my mother tripped down the stairs or got in a late-night brawl. This is the smell of the place we went to fix her injuries. A smell I dreaded most- the hospital.

I tried to lift my head, just an inch or so, but received a throb of pain that sprinted to my head and zapped down my spine. I winced quietly. I had learned never to show what hurt me. I bit my tongue, so I wouldn't whimper. Instead, I opened my heavy eyes and was confirmed of my worst suspicions. This place was indeed a hospital.

My vision seemed more accurate now, more than ever. The walls were as white as the fluffiest cloud in the sky. Bulky machinery making beeps and blurps, much to my annoyance. Cheap, print-out paintings hung low on the walls. One of a dusty sunset, another of a frail bird making his way toward a forest of trees. Maybe he couldn't find his nest or his family, just like me. No family. No home.

Also, greatly to my irritation, I felt tubes and wires wrapped clumsily over my body. This was not comfortable. I did my best to lift my hands and proceed to work at the wires, to remove them.

I felt warm hands stop mine as a sweet, honeysuckle voice said, "Not so fast, deary. The doctors won't like that."

I guess my sight wasn't as accurate as I'd thought. But, boy was this woman old! She had to be like, what, four foot, two? She had that wrinkled, wise look about her that, if even possible, made her look even more fragile. Her mousy, brown hair was kept simply short. Her make-up applied not as a mask to cover wrinkles, but lightly only enhancing her beauty. And, man, her eyes were just somethin' special! They were a chocolate brown that, if you looked hard enough, you could see a hint of gold as well as love. This was the look of a woman that knew all. That had seen all.

She pulled up a chair and squeezed my hand. As she looked into my eyes, she said, "I need you to answer these questions, is that alright?"

I croaked, "Er... What for?"

"It's protocol, dear." She looked mildly concerned at my confusion.

It was as if another ray of hope was extinguished and thrown far from my grasp. For some odd reason, I never noticed what she was wearing. Some teal loose-on-her-waist scrubs and by her name-tag, she was known as Elena.

Why did I get the instinct that she was some faraway unknown relative, that'd come to visit me? Why was I so naive as to think that? To wish for it? I mentally slapped myself for even considering the thought that I had family, or someone who cared for me. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

The nurse known as Elena, called me back to attention when she tapped my cheek gently. She said, still concerned, "Maybe, I should just wait until you've rested long enou-"

"No! Please...sorry. I'll answer your questions." I practically begged like a puppy awaiting his belly-rub. Pathetic.

"Well, if you're up for it. What is the state at which you live in?" She asked.

"Illinois, I live in chicago," It seemed I wanted to impress her, like I needed to, for her to stay.

"Good," She checked something on her clipboard. Then she asked, "and what is your whole name?"

"Sofie Anne Martez," My mouth went dry at the thought of where my mother is right now, "erm... Can I ask you a question now?"

"Well, it's not on the list, but go ahead," She said brightly, as if she loved it when patients got to know her.

Unforchanitly, that's not what I was asking, "Did anyone by any chance... You know, visit me o-or call to say they'd stop by?"

"W-well, dear. I came here. That counts as something, right?" She must already know my "case" because she looked so sympathetic, that my eyes welled up with unshed tears.

"Oh, well, it does but... I don't know" My heart sank deeper every moment I thought, "No one came for you. No one loves you!"

"Honey," She reached to stroke my cheek but flinched away from the gesture, " I'll make a few calls to see if any relatives will except you into their home, okay?"

"Really, you'd do that for me?" I was shocked that she would considering all the patientsshe must have in a single day.

"Oh, of course! Anything for a sweetheart like you!" my face flushed at the compliment. Such a kind soul, Elena has!

"Now, you get some sleep, honey. I've still gotta finish my shift."

"Okay," I was about to cry when suddenly her lips kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes at the warmth of her motherly touch, never awaking that entire night. I didn't realize how unbelievably exhausted I was. Thoughts of my mother drifted through my mind, as well as the familiar feeling of peaceful weightlessness. Little did I know, the shocks of what was to come nearing dawn. Only for now, I slept.