Remember when a musician played for us when we were out in a park?
Maine fainted at the café and she didn't know why. The next thing she knew was that she woke up in the hospital and Richard was there, hovering and looking worried over her condition.
"Where am I?"
"I brought you to the hospital. Everyone was worried." His jaws clenched. "How are you? How do you feel now?"
"I'm alright." She tried to sit up. "There's no need for me to be here. I guess I was only a bit stressed." She struggled while Richard tried to stop her and wanted her to lie back. Paolo came into the room at that moment and saw what was going on. "Paolo! I can't stay here." She looked at the logo of the hospital on the blanket. "It's expensive here." She turned to Richard. "I'm sorry, I can't afford to be here."
Paolo glanced at the other man and then, to her. "It's alright. We took care of it. I'll ask our manager for reimbursement. I just came from the cashier. The doctor will be here in a sec to check on you again."
"You don't have to worry about anything, Maine. You need to rest now." Richard added.
"Did my dad and mom know about this?"
"I haven't called them yet.
"I have to call them. They will worry if I'm not home yet. Artie will be looking for me." She held on to Paolo, giving them a pleading look. But her friend was firm that she should stay. "I think I would be better off home and not here in the hospital. I promise that I will call my doctor to set up an appointment with her tomorrow." Maine still insisted. Richard was only staring at her.
"You may call them later." Paolo said as a man in white entered the room and greeted everyone. Both men stepped aside to give way for the doctor, who introduced himself as Dr. Ian Keith, and gave her a quick check.
"I did not see anything wrong. I am glad that you're awake now and you looked like you have rested but I think it was not enough, so I will advise you to get more. Do you feel any headaches or anything?"
"I had headaches, but I feel better now. I want to go home." Maine replied. "Please, doc."
"Wait. I need to know where your headaches come from. Did you lack sleep? Did you tire yourself out? What have you been doing? You just don't faint like that and wake up about an hour later and asking me to just let you go home." Dr. Keith told her.
Maine looked down to her hands as she began to tear up. "I had an accident almost two years ago. I almost drowned." She quickly wiped her tears, embarrassed that the men, especially Richard, saw her like this. "I was in coma for a month. I had no live memories of how I ended up in the hospital even though I was told. Actually, I cannot remember a lot of things prior to whatever accident that happened to me," she looked back to the doctor, trying to avoid Richard and Paolo's look. "I still see my doctor at South Springs for regular check-up."
Dr. Keith nodded. "Alright. Tell me the name of your doctor there so that I can give him a call. I trust that you feel better now, like what you said, and I will let you go. But I will make sure that your doctor will know about this and will have to check on you to know what happened. Alright?"
Maine bit her lower lip. "Yes. Thank you." She gave him the details about her doctor and later, she was already at the backseat of Paolo's car and on their way home. Richard was sitting in front with her friend. Nobody was talking. When she moved and closed her eyes, she wished that everything would end – the headaches and the nightmares. She wished for her old life back.
Someone turned the radio on and she heard the first few notes of the song...
What if I never knew? What if I never found you? I'll never have this feeling in my heart...
Eyes closed, she saw a picture of her and someone in the park. They stopped in front of a man with his violin. She requested a song and her wish was easily granted. Her companion offered his hand and they began to dance to the lovely melody being played in the background. The moment felt good. It felt right in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder and she sniffed.
"Maine?"
She sniffed again when she heard her name being called.
"Maine?"
She opened her eyes. Richard and Paolo were looking at her.
"We're here." Richard said, looking concerned. She looked out at the window and saw the familiar row of townhouses. They stopped in front of the one with the red mailbox. She scrambled to gather her bag and her scarf.
"Thank you for taking me home. Please come inside and I will prepare you something to eat."
The two men only nodded and she went out of the car.
