|Linoleum Roses Z.M.|

Linoleum Roses Act II

"Serena we need you in room 239 stat."

"I'll be right back,Mrs. Illioś." Serena says quickly,running out of the room and up the stairs. She hurried to the third floor and into the room where a patient was-gasping for air. She quickly uses a long,narrow tube and inserts it inside his throat. The interns aligned around her keep his steady beat by clapping diligently.

She watches the screen anxiously-the flat line soon returning back to normal. "You saved me." Serena smiles at the man's words.

"Leave." She barks towards the young interns. They scatter away from the brunette quickly,afraid to upset their superior. 

"I-it's not a big deal." She replies,buttoning up his tshirt that she had to remove earlier.

"Of course it is. You saved me." Serena's eyes meet the stranger's hazel ones and her breath hitches inside her throat. His eyes were beautiful-mesmerizing-and she felt honored to have the privilege of being so close to them. His growing smile snapped her out of her trance-looking at her clipboard that said his name. Zayn Javadd Malik. 34 years old. Won battle over cancer twice. Re-diagnosed in May.

"So,Mr. Malik,you have..lung cancer and PTSD."

"Yes."

"And you have a surgery scheduled on the sixth of January to try to remove the cancer cells." He started to wince,hand clutching onto his side. "I'm going to put you on some antibiotics that will stop the pain for about an hour but that's the best I can do. I'm very sorry."

"Can you stay here? Talk to me? I have no one and I hate being alone."

Serena contemplated whether she should stay or not,chewing on her bottom harshly. "Okay."

She sat down on the chair next to him,trying to ignore his gaze that traveled among her body. She wore blue slacks-her hair up in a messy bun. Hideous,she thought.

"You're..quiet." Zayn noted,staring at her. He found her beautiful. Not in the normal way. She had hair darker than anyone Zayn had met with porcelain skin. Her lips were red and she looked..young. Much younger than Zayn. Her face was like a babies and her eyes were beautiful. She was beautiful.

"I like to keep to myself and so do you."

"You saved my life. We're bonded for life."

"If you don't mind me asking.. what happened?" Serena asked curiously.

"What?"

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

"That's another story for another time."

"Are you implying there'll be another time?"

"You're fascinated by me. Of course there will be another time." He says-and he was definitely correct.