I Choose You

Chapter Fifteen - Back At the Hospital

I bounced my knee, looking around the room. The walls were white, and there were chairs everywhere. I was at the hospital again, only for someone else this time. I had already spoken to three different investigators, and they all seemed to want the same thing. In other words, I told the same story three times.

Jessie had been in there for three and a half hours, getting tests done. I was getting tired of waiting but I had to stay. After all, it was my fault she was in there. I short lady appeared in blue scrubs, with a clipboard tucked in between her elbow and hand as she looked around. She went over to a man sitting across the room and asked him something making him shake his head. She looked back at the board and walked to the receptionist. He pointed at me. the nurse followed his finger, and then looked at me. She walked over and introduced herself as Jessie's doctor's assistant, Nurse Nancy.

"Jessica is doing well," she began, "There are rope burns where the rope made contact but nothing serious. We'd like her to stay overnight for observation. You can see her in a few hours. Her parents will be here soon."

I nodded, glad to hear she was okay. Maybe her parents won't fully hate me. The nurse left quickly, probably having to go back and help. I observed all the people in the room, knowing I'd be here for a while. I got up and walked to the receptionist. "How may I help you, Sir?"

"Do you have any paper I could use?" She pressed her lips together and nodded, then bended under her desk. She handed me five sheets of white paper and a pen. "Thank you."

"Welcome."

I walked back to my seat and began to write a script for the next video when my stomach rumbled. I sighed, realizing I haven't eaten. I never got to finish lunch, and its been three and a half hours since. There were people coming out of the hallway to my left. The sign on the wall had a picture of people eating, and words I couldn't read from the distance I was at. I folded the paper and put it in my pocket, then went to read the sign.

Cafeteria.

Slowly, I tip-toed down the hallway as if I would wake a baby. It was long, and both walls were spotted with doors with tiny windows and numbers. At the end of the corridor, there was a large room filled with long tables. People with tired eyes and drawn-out faces filled the room. On the left, there was a salad bar; in front of me, there was what looked like a hot-food place; on the right, there was a grill. A lot of movies and TV shows exploited hospital food to be gross, but maybe that was only for the patients. I walked straight ahead to the hot food place.

I stood as far away as possible without it making me blind and read the menu. I wanted pizza. I moved forward and stood behind a man with a bald head. A small girl with ten pounds showed up behind me. To my surprise, the line moved swiftly and I was next. "What's your order?" the lady asked dully.

"Um, two plain slices of pizza and a coke."

"Okay."

She spoke in a low, monotone voice which signaled she was bored with her job - or life. She rung me up and I paid, then she turned and screamed my order into the kitchen. Well. I moved down on the line and waited for my food next to the man. I watched as the little girl asked for a hotdog and water, handed the lady the money and skipped towards me. Grumpy lady even cracked a smile.

The little girl reached up and leaned her arms - tried - on the counter and hummed cheerfully. She was definitely improving the mood of the many sorrowful people here. It couldn't only be me.

After waiting for ten minutes, my food finally arrived. I grabbed the tray quickly and found seat tucked away in the corner, next to a window. I sort of felt like a loser because the table had one seat, which I was occupying but I guess it was better than sitting alone at a table for three or four.

A bit scared, I lifted the food to my mouth and bit it. it actually wasn't as bad as hospital food is depicted to be. Either that, or I was very hungry and didn't care what it tasted like. Worried that Jessie's parents were waiting, I hurried and finished my food, then walked through the corridor back into the waiting room.

There were more people in there than before, and it was hard to find a seat. Instead, I asked if her parents had shown up. The receptionist said they have not. I found a seat that had four together and sat down, waiting for someone to come forward about anything. No one did, until Nurse Nancy walked up to me with her clipboard again.

'"Alex," she said, worrying in her voice. I sat up, anxious to hear any update on Jessie.

"Yup?"

"Bad news." My heart almost jumped out of my body and there me there, cold. Bad news, repeated in my head. Now I was scared; her parents would surely hate me.

"Which is..?" my voice was hoarse. I coughed in an attempt to pull myself together.

"Her blood pressure is through the roof, as well as her heart rate. We don't know what it is. Looking into it now. Let her parents know when they come? We'll inform you on any further updates."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. How could they not know, they're doctors; they have to know!

A wave of worrying wash over me as a thought, Would she be okay?