The Boy In The Train

A Broken Conversation

It was not easy for Samuel's parents to stay in the hospital for the night. After a lot of coaxing from the nurse and Samuel's best friend Adam did they go home to rest. Mrs. Fertado was expecting and it was not good for her to stay in uncomfortable places for long.

After the surgery, Samuel's​ parents were the only ones to go in there because as soon as they had their talk with him, he fell asleep. Initially, Chrissy was very bummed that she couldn't meet him but then realized that it would be best if he is well-rested before any human contact.

The paramedics had informed Chrissy and Adam, who stayed at the hospital for two continuous nights, that Samuel will most likely wake up on the third day. They had him resting most of the time to speed up his recovery.

It had been two days since the accident and Chrissy was getting agitated. She's​ worried for him. Although the doctors had assured her that he is fine, she needed to talk to him or at least look at him to calm the anxiety troubling her heart.

Anyone could see the effects of sleepless nights, her go-to diet becoming a cup of coffee and crackers to munch on. She was sporting dark circles under her eyes and her complexion pale because of her refusal to go out in the sun.

It was the morning of the third day and Adam had brought her proper breakfast to eat. She smiled up at him and silently thanked him while taking the boxes.

Just before she could munch on them, the doctor's call echoed in the waiting area for Adam and Chrissy. Boxes of food forgotten, both the teenagers ran to the doctors, eager to hear any news about Samuel.

"He's awake now. You can see him but please make sure you don't stress him too much" The doctor spoke hesitantly.

Adam nodded his head and asked, "Anything else doctor?"

"No. You will come to know but remember to be patient with him." The doctor said and left the teenagers when he got paged for an emergency.

Chrissy had a nagging feeling that the doctors were keeping something from them but she quickly kicked the thought away when she remembered her priority. 

She broke into a sprint to room number 221, where he was currently shifted to, Adam hot on her heels.

When she reached the door she suddenly stopped. A thought came into her mind and no matter how painful it was for her, she knew that it is the right thing to do.

Abruptly turning around to Adam, who was standing behind her completely unaware of what was going on in her head. He, however, caught the look on her face, and before she could say something he cut her off.

"No, Chrissy. You should go. God knows that you have been in pain to see him. Go ahead." He said smiling lightly slightly nudging her towards the door.

Giving him a smile and muttering a silent thank you, Chrissy pushed the cold handle of the door and entered the room. What she saw made her heart stop beating for a moment.

He was lying on the hospital bed, with tubes attached to his wrists, his complexion ghastly pale, eyes closed but a slight crunch on his forehead. She remembered the day he was whining about how much he hated that complexion because it reminds him of a vampire, his least favorite supernatural being.

She took tentative steps towards him and flinched and let out a hiss when she stubbed her toe to the mini-stool, which she did not notice earlier, the sound of the contact piercing the silence that hung in the room.

The boy in the bed suddenly jerked up, alarmed, and frantically searched the room till his eyes fell on her.

Chrissy's breath caught in her throat when he gave her a slow dazzling smile, the one she was so accustomed to. One smile and it felt as if a huge load of worries, doubts, and anxiety was lifted off​ her. She felt light and giddy, just like she does whenever she is with him.

She stood up straight and was surprised when she felt tears running down her face, quickly bringing up her sleeve to wipe them off. The boy's grin faded into a concerned one. He had no idea why she was crying.

Hesitantly he asked, "Hey, are you alright?"

Just listening to his voice sent an immense sense of relief through her body. Suddenly, all the trouble since the past two days seemed worth it. For him. His smile. His voice. His well-being.

He was okay.

Despite herself, she let out a laugh.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? You are the one in the hospital after all."

Internally relieved that she had stopped crying, the boy gave her his best smile and replied with a sly look, "But you didn't even ask me."

Chrissy​ rolled her eyes playfully and leaned on his foot of his bed.

"Alright, your majesty. How are you now?" She asked in a soft tone.

"I've never been better. Just a little tingling feeling in my right leg but I know that it will go away. The doctor was pretty adamant about it." He said with a grin.

Chrissy felt like old times. When he would hide his pain to not worry her. When he would make sure that she wouldn't freak out on the smallest of his wounds. When he knew that he was caught the moment he spoke his lie. When he knew that she always knew how he felt.

It was a practice for him. To reassure himself that he is fine. To boost his willpower to get out of the pain sooner. But Chrissy saw through it.

She let out a sigh and muttered, "I'm just glad you're okay. You had everyone worried sick for you. Don't do that again okay?"

She watched as a soft look crossed his face and he let out a deep breath.

"I promise. Thank you for being there for me." Something in his voice struck a chord in her mind. She frowned.

He seemed almost too​...formal. This was not him. He never thanked her because he knew that she doesn't like it when he does. It was a mutual understanding between them.

"We will never thank each other for helping each other no matter how dire the situation is."

She frowned at him hoping he would realize what he said, but when it got no positive, her confusion increased.

But what he asked her after this was something she would never forget.

"I'm sorry. I know I'm bringing this too late in the conversation but," He hesitated, his eyebrows furrowed, "But, do I know you?"

That morning a heart broke and the other was awfully quiet, mourning for a loss that it never recognized.

-•-

A little bit teary-eyed here, honestly.

Two more chapters to go (including the epilogue) and this book will be done.

Please let me know what you think about this chapter. I would love a review.