Living in the hospital isn't that as bad as it seems. You have your own bed, if you're lucky enough your own room. You receive three square meals. And people take care of you. It's almost like staying at a hotel actually. Almost. At hotels you're not surrounded by sick people and the foul stench of death. At hotels the food is way better and you actually have a choice in what you eat. At hotels not every floor, sheet and wall is white. At least I think so. I've never actually been to a hotel before. But I like it. I like these white walls. It calms me and gives me some sort of peace.
I've been living at St. Katherine's Children's Hospital for the past 6 months. I was living with my grandparents but they are older now and their health is deteriorating. My options was either live at St. Katherine's or at some home for troubled kids. And so I made the obvious choice. I and the youths live on the highest floor; the fourth floor of the hospital. Persons age 16-21 live here. The ground floor is 0-5 years; second floor 6-11 years and the third floor 12-15 years.
This past six months has been anything but easy. Hell! My life since that day hasn't been easy. But with the help of nurse Lotti and the four friends that I met here, life has been a little more...livable.
There is the eldest, Rashad Thompson 20, he has acute respiratory failure. His lungs are basically useless and can't breathe without the help of an oxygen tank. Then there is Miko Wallace, his girlfriend. Miko is 19 and she suffers with anorexia. Jasper Rodgers is 17 like me and has leukemia. The baby of the group is Ruby. Ruby Saunders is 16 and has kidney failure.
"Hey sweetie, I brought your meds." Nurse Lotti said as she entered my room.
Yes, I happened to be one of the lucky ones. Rashad and Jasper shares a room and Miko and Ruby shares a room.
"Hey." I replied sitting up. I reached over for the two blue pills and the cup of water that was on the tray.
"So...", Lotti said while taking a seat at the bottom of my bed.
I raised a brow in her direction urging her to continue.
"I have good news and great news for you. Which you wanna hear first?" I broad grin spread across her smooth dark face.
I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. Unless my parents were miraculously risen from the dead, no news was good news for me.
Lotti sighed loudly. "The great news is, Dr. Andrew said that you've made tremendous progress these past months."
"Hooray for Hope!" I cheered with fake enthusiasm.
"Hope Evans this is serious!" Lotti scolded. "Once you keep taking the Buspirone, have regular therapy sessions and creating meaningful connections with your friends you'll be okay."
Okay? I'll never be okay. I'll never have my parents. The nightmares won't go away. I'll never un-live that day. So no. I'll never be okay.
"So what's the good news?" I asked
"Well...I was notified early this morning that we have a new patient coming in...."
"And?" I questioned impatiently.
"And you'll have a roomie bunking with you by the end of the day!" Lotti said excitedly.
Just great!. Couldn't have think of any better news! Note the sarcasm.
"What's she's dying with?" I asked. Lotti gave me a mortified look. I shrugged.
"It is a he. And I'm in no position to disclose that information to you." Lotti responded as she made her way to the door.
What!
"Is that even legal! Sharing a room with a boy?" I got out my bed and sped walked after Lotti.
I know she is hearing me but she ignored my questions.
"Lotti!" She was already out the door.
"Breakfast in the café in five!" She yelled before disappearing down the hall.
Ugh!
I turned around to enter my room but my hotheaded brain miscalculated my steps. As a result I came face to face with the white wall on the outside of my room.
I hate these white walls!
YOU ARE READING
A Heart Like Yours
عاطفية"How do you do it?" She asked "how do you live each day knowing that you could die tomorrow?" "Tomorrow has nothing for me." He said simply. "All I am is who I am today and all I have is what I have today. You ask how I live knowing that I could die...
