Just friends? [Norminah fanfic]

eight

  "I want to see her now," Normani demanded to the secretary at the hospital. It had been a day since she had seen Dinah, which was an abnormally long time.
  "I'm sorry, you are not listed as a primary relative, it is against the law for me to let you in," the lady's voice was monotone but still echoed throughout the room and Normani's brain. The girl sat down in the lobby.
  It was a nice hospital. Classical music played quietly. The walls were decorated with serene images of sunsets over lakes, children playing, and forests too green to be real. A fountain babbled in the middle of the room. There were hundreds of pennies, wishes of "get well soon" and "please survive". A cross hung on the back wall, with Bibles, Tanakhs and Quarans. Normani would have liked the peaceful space, if her girlfriend hadn't been in the ICU.
  Oh Dinah, Normani thought, please don't leave me now.
  As if on cue, Dinah's parents entered through the automatic doors, into the lobby. Normani hopped up to hug them both.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hansen! Am I so glad to see you," the girl felt her voice crack as she embraced the parents of her girlfriend.
  "Why aren't you with Dinah?" Milika asked, concerned, "She didn't..."
  "No, not that I know of. They won't let me back without primary relatives,"
  After signing in, the three take the elevator up to the third floor. As they walk into the brand hallway, Normani could smell the horrible scent of hospital. She froze, taking it all in. She could hear beeps and buzzing. She smelled the saline and soap, and finally, Milika grabs her hand and directs her towards Dinah. Their hands remained intertwined as they followed a sign reading "Intensive Pediatric Care."
Room 317. The number that Normani would always hate. She could never hear that time or solve an equation with that answer.
  When they walked in the room. Normani started crying almost instantly. She couldn't contain her gasp when her eyes fell upon her unconscious girlfriend.
"Dinah..." Normani's voice cracked again. She couldn't bear it. Dinah's body was limp, looking tiny on the large hospital bed, the gown big on her. It made her look small, weak and vulnerable.
  "You were so strong," Normani whispered, shocked to see the girl she admired for her strength and confidence, looking defeated and fragile.
Milika looked at Normani, "She is still strong. My girl is a fighter," but she sounded unsure of herself as well.
  "Would you like a moment alone with her?" Gordon asked the other girl, sympathetically.
Normani nodded and smiled a fake smile. After Mr. and Mrs. Hansen left the room, Normani squatted by the hospital bed.
  "Your mom's right, D, you are a fighter. Don't give up on yourself. I hope you know I never will, as long as I'm living,"
Dinah said nothing.
"Look, I know you can't hear me, and I probably seem crazy, like I'm talking to myself, but I'm staying her anyway. I love you Dinah Jane. With my whole heart. I never got to tell you out loud. I was so afraid..." She took a deep breath, swallowing her tears, "I was afraid you wouldn't say it back. I didn't want to move too fast, you know?
"Well, I'm saying it now. I'm in love with you, Dinah Jane Hansen. I'm in love with your voice, your touch, and the way you never cared-care- about what people think of you. You're so strong and confident. I have faith that you will get through this. We will survive. You have to survive!" Normani felt herself losing her composure. She was basically yelling at the end of her monologue to her girlfriend.
Dinah still said nothing.
"Come on, please Dinah," Normani felt herself getting louder still, "Say something, anything."
Dinah said nothing.
  "Dinah! Say something! Please! Don't die! Don't you dare fucking quit on me! Dinah!" Normani was in hysterics. Several nurses rushed in and one grabbed Normani's shoulders, commanding her to breathe.
"No! That's my girlfriend!" The girl shrieked, pointing at the lifeless figure on the bed.
  Finally, Normani felt someone picking her up off the ground. She screamed and refused, but whoever was lifting her still persisted. She managed to throw herself off the man and ran out of the room.
  Caught by Gordon and Milika, Normani started to feel her breathing slow back down to a regular pace.
  "Honey, come here," Milika pulled the younger girl into a tight embrace. The two of them stood there in the hospital hallway, both crying silently. Gordon put his arm around Milika and none of the the three of them let go until a doctor permitted Normani to go back into the room.
  "You're kidding. After I lashed out?" She was shocked, and now concerned for Dinah's safety.
  "You will need to be supervised by one of us, or the patient's parents,"
  "Thank you, I will go see Dinah now," Normani commented, upset about hearing her girlfriend referred to as "the patient."
The younger girl and Milika walked back into the hospital room. Dinah hadn't moved. Now that she was calm, Normani decided to take a closer look at Dinah.
  She had large amounts of bandaging around her head, an oval of red showing on the outside; blood was leaking through. She had oxygen tubes in both of her nostrils, and a menacingly tall IV implanted by a needle in her right forearm. Her forehead, where the wrap didn't cover, was swollen and was turning a purplish blue color. She had an EKG on her finger, which showed the number of beats, as well as her heart rate on a screen. The squiggly line appeared normal at the moment. Her legs were covered by a blanket.
  Another screen showed Dinah's body temperature. She was at 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Fevers were normal with dramatic amounts of blood loss. Normani remembered that from biology class, back in freshman year. Who knew it'd be helpful? The two girls were seniors now. Almost ready to enter the real world, free to explore.
"You have so much to live for," Normani whispered.

I guess this time you're really leaving
I heard your suitcase say goodbye
Well, as my broken heart lies bleeding
you say true love is suicide

You say you've cried a thousand rivers
And now you're swimming for the shore
You left me drowning in my tears
And you won't save me anymore

Now I'm praying to God you'll give me one more chance, girl

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe wanna be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
I'd steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what love can do
I'll be there for you

I know you know we've had some good times
Now they have their own hiding place
Well, I can promise you tomorrow
But I can't buy back yesterday

And, baby, you know my hands are dirty
But I wanted to be your Valentine
I'll be the water when you get thirsty, baby
When you get drunk, I'll be the wine

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I wanna be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
I'd steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what love can do
I'll be there for you

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I wanna be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
I'd steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what love can do
I'll be there for...

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
I'd steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what a love can do
I'll be there for you

The lyrics slipped out of Normani's mouth so easily. She didn't plan on singing, but the words wanted to be said. The message wanted to be let out.
  "You're very talented, honey," Milika stated, genuinely. Normani smiled in response, she had hope in her heart. For the first time since yesterday she thought, maybe things won't be so bad.

hey guys! sorry i haven't updated in so long. i was on vacation and we didn't have wifi.

i hope you like this update, i spent a long time writing when i should be studying and/or sleeping smh. (jk writing is my way of finding inner peace, i find happiness creating stories.)

i love all of you guys + there's almost a thousand of y'all reading this, that astounds me. thank you so much.

-ally

@laurensfries