Oceans {Joji Miller}

Chapter 11

    Hours seemed longer than days as I sat there in the  hospital, nervously flipping her phone around in my hand. It had all happened so fast. I stood up and paced the empty, white hall illuminated by a flickering white light and the setting sun. I walked up to the window and placed my hand on it. It was cool to the touch and soothing for my cold, clammy hands.
     I didn't know if she was alive or dead, but the thought of it made my heart race in impatience. I nervously checked the time. 7:13. Just as I locked the phone, someone was calling her. Sophie was the contact name. I answered shakily. "Hello?" I assumed it was her best friend calling her to make plans or something, unless she knew somehow.
     "George?" The voice immediately said. It was a high-pitched, soft voice, like that of a child. But not quite. "Yes. Who is this?" "This is ______'s friend Sophie." The voice said quietly. "Can I talk to her?" She asked. "S-she's in the emergency room." I stuttered, remembering the whole event that only happened a few hours ago. "Why?" Sophie remained calm, almost as if she had known about the suicide attempt, and was asking why ______ wasn't dead instead of why she was in critical condition. "Because she tried to commit suicide." I answered anyway.
     I was a bit shocked at the tone of her voice when she asked me, but I decided to think nothing of it. "Oh." After she said this, the line was silent for a few minutes. "Hey, you can come over if you want." Sophie suggested. I was shocked and a bit disgusted at this girl's idea of 'friend.' She wanted me to come over when the person she claims to care about is dying.
     I suddenly frowned. "Fuck no." I said a little loudly because of the anger her statement caused me. "Are you trying to fuck when your 'best friend' is in the hospital at the brink of death? It wont happen either way, cunt." I hung up before she could say anything, covering my face with my hands and sighing.
     Hours passed, I was falling asleep and humming to myself. The quiet radio playing on the speakers was fading in and out, like my sleep. "In oceans deep..." I closed my eyes. "...My faith will stand."
     I woke up. It was dawn, and an older woman was shaking me awake. She was dressed in a doctor's gown and looked worried. I woke up, rubbing my eyes. "Sir?" I squinted my eyes, sighing sleepily. "Yeah?" I asked, my voice raspy. "So, fortunately we were able to stitch her up. If she had cut one inch farther, she would've been gone." The woman stared.
     I nodded. "Good." I whispered, licking my dry lips. "Can I see her?" I asked. "Yes, you may see her in about..." The woman checked her watch. "Four to five hours." I nodded again. She was about to leave, but I stopped her. "Hey." I cleared my throat. "Hum?" The doctor turned around. "Thanks for saving her. Without her, I'd be nothing."