Focused

The Hospital

I stayed with Jay. We talked about what happened. He didn't remember most of it. He mumbled to himself a few times and looked confused. It reminded me of me when I first woke up from the accident. I had no idea what was happening or who I was. Luckily, Jay wasn't doing that. He was mostly himself. Other than, the scratches, bruises, broken arm, black eye, and something....that I couldn't determine. He smiled at me and fell into a deep sleep. I kissed him on the forehead and sat in a big blue recliner in the corner. I leaned my head back and tried to sleep. I shut my eyes and suddenly heard whispering right outside Jay's room.

"No, he has to stay here." The voice sounded like the nurse. Then another voice said, "He needs to come home." Then there was crying. "He's....he's my baby." Then I fell asleep.

    I woke up and it was 9:08 A.M. Someone had put a scratchy hospital blanket over me.

"Good Morning Marley." I turned my head and saw Jay sitting up in his hospital gown. I stretched and yawned.

"Hey." I got up and walked over to him.

"Why did you stay here?" He grabbed my hand.

"I just want to be with you." He smiled and dropped my hand.

"How are you Jay?" I saw the nurse walk in.

"Oh hi, I'm...better." I could tell he was lying, and apparently the nurse could too.

"Jay, you can tell me?" She laughed and grabbed the same 2 pills and more water.

"To be honest, I don't really know how I feel."  I laughed and said, "Too many pain pills?"

I tried to laugh, but the nurse sort of scowled and Jay half smiled. "Well, Jay I will tell the doctor and we...will think."She grabbed her clipboard and shut the door as she left.

"Are you hungry?" Jay drank some more of the water. "I guess I could eat." Jay smiled.

"Marley, I'm fine. I'm not going anywhere." He stroked my arm.

"Oh alright." I grabbed my purse and waved at Jay as I left the room. I walked down the golden yellow hallways of the hospital. After I had walked around the big hospital for 10 minutes, I FINALLY found the cafeteria. I walked in and looked at the room. There were some nurses and and a few doctors at a table. The next table had a man and 2 young children. Then I saw another table with  2 ladies at one end and an older man at the other end. I got in a line of 3 and saw what they were serving. Scrambled eggs, half a waffle, an orange, and a sugar cookie.  My stomach was screaming for food. I got a tray and looked at the food as they gave it to me. The food looked okay. Almost like school food. I smiled at the last lady and gave her money. I decided to sit at the last table on the side where the older man was sitting.

    I sat diagonal from him. Then I heard him try to speak to me.

"Why are you here?" He cleared his throat. It was really hard to understand him.

"Oh uh my boyfriend...he got..hurt." I looked down at my tray and ate a bite of scrambled eggs.

"Oh, I see." The man smiled and looked at a newspaper I didn't even see him get.

"Uh..why are you here?" He looked up and stared at me for a minute.

"My wife." Thats all he had to say and all he wanted to say.

"Oh...I am so sorry." I leaned on the table. He tried to shake it off and smile.

"Thank you, dear." I smiled and finished eating my scrambled eggs. It felt good to really eat.

"You should enjoy every moment you spend with your boyfriend." I didn't know he was going to say more.

"I do and I will." I smiled.

"You are very pretty." He smiled showing his teeth. Well, what was left of them.

I smiled back and said, "Thank you." We sat in silence for another 15 minutes. I finished my food.

"Goodbye sir." I smiled at him.

"You too sweetheart." He smiled again and looked back down at his paper. I got up and sat my tray in a big cart so it could get washed. That old man was so nice, even though his wife just died. I walked until I found my way back to Jay's room.

"Hey." He yawned. "Your back." He took a bite out of his sugar cookie. His face turned sour.

"Did you like this?" I laughed. "It was okay, but it tasted different." I walked up closer to him.

"No, not different...gross." He started to laugh. I laughed too.

"I think you should go home and get some actual rest." Jay smiled and threw the cookie into the trash can.

"Jay, I'm fine." But I looked pretty bad. My makeup looked smeared from crying and I was really pale. I felt like crap.

"Marley, I'm not going anywhere. So go home and get some sleep." He sounded like my dad.

"Uh fine." I leaned over and kissed him. Then I slowly walked out of his room. I drove home and got inside to find a note from my grandma.

                     I heard about your boyfriend, Marley. I'm so sorry honey. I went to the grocery and then I will be home. I was worried when you didn't return home last night, but I understand :) I'll Be home soon punkin!

                Love and kisses, Grandma xoxo

I smiled to myself and went upstairs to go to bed. I woke up 2 hours later and got up. I put on yoga pants, a sweatshirt, and moccassins. I went downstairs and looked around. No sign of my grandma. That's weird. I went into the kitchen and found some chicken noodle soup my grandma had made. I got myself a bowl and put some in it.

After I finished, I went upstairs to pack a small bag. I packed for a night stay at the hospital. I ran downstairs and grabbed my purse and made sure to leave my grandma a note.

I decided to pack a bag and stay the night at the hospital with Jay. I will see you tomorrow grandma! don't worry about me. By the way, your soup was good!

                                 Love,                                      Marley xoxo

Then I ran out the door to get back to Jay. As soon as I got back to the hospital, I ran to the hall where Jay was. As I was turning a corner I accidentally ran into someone that I had seen before, but couldn't place.

"I'm sorry." I looked down at his spilled Starbuck's coffee on his shirt.

"No, you're fine." He looked so familiar. Then, I realized I was staring at him. He cleared his throat and walked off. I fixed my hair while looking into the rooms before Jay's. Then I saw the name: Carol Mathis. 

My grandma.