Opposites Attract - ON HOLD

Chapter 19

The next morning, Vivian woke up and didn't feel rested at all. It felt to her that she only slept for half an hour. She took a quick shower and prepared for Kent to pick her up. She paced in worry thinking what Harley may be going through. She tried to keep herself from thinking something awful had happened. At eight o'clock on the dot, Kent was outside.

"Mom, I'm going back to the hospital," called Vivian as she walked out the front door.

She didn't wait for an answer. She stepped into Kent's car. His face showed exhaustion.

"Didn't sleep?"

"Nope," he said as he started driving to the hospital.

"Did you see him last night?" asked Vivian.

"They wouldn't let me see him until three this morning. He hasn't woken up yet. The doctor said that was normal and he wouldn't wake up until sometime this morning."

"How bad is it?"

Kent stayed quiet for a moment then said with a choked voice, "It's not good."

Kent stared at the road and gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white.

"They told me to make arrangements," he said quietly.

Vivian felt like her heart stopped. Arrangements? That means funeral. That means death. That means the world would be without Harley. Vivian put a hand on her head as the thoughts rushed her mind. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Vivian?"

Her vision blurred and everything turned black.

******

"Vivian, Vivian."

She felt someone shaking her slightly. She opened her eyes and saw Kent beside her. She was in the car and they were in the hospital parking lot. He had her car door open and he was leaning in the car over her.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You passed out. I think you took the news worse than me," he said.

He watched her for a moment then asked, "Are you okay? Maybe you shouldn't be here."

"I'm fine. Just let me see Harley."

He helped her out of the car and walked her in the hospital. They walked down the white hallways and Kent stopped in front of a white door that had 117 in black numbers. He opened the door. Harley was attached to many lines and cords. He was asleep and the only sound in the room was the soft beeping of his pulse. She felt her breath hitch in shock. Vivian wanted to run away from this nightmare but stopped panicking when her eyes fell on the tattoo of an eagle with widespread wing. She smiled a little at it, it fit Harley perfect.

"They had to give him a transfusion he lost so much blood," Kent said as he sat down in a chair next to him.

Vivian walked to the bed and sat down in a chair beside Kent. A few minutes later, Harley was slowly waking up. He opened his eyes. His vision was blurred. He looked to his side and saw someone stand up and take his hand. Vivian was above him and Kent standing next to her.

"Vivian? Kent?"

"How are you doing, buddy?" asked Kent.

Harley looked around the plain, white room. He slowly remembered what happened the night before. He looked back at Kent's worried face.

"I–I guess I'm okay if I'm alive. What did the doctor say?"

"They are taking care of you. Time will tell now."

Harley looked at Kent for a moment and said, "You're not telling me everything."

"Yes, I am."

"Kent, I know you too well. What are you hiding from me?"

"I'm not hiding anything."

"Something's wrong. Your tone is different from normal."

"I'm just worried about you. That's all."

Harley watched Kent for a minute with suspicion then looked at Vivian.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I guess."

"You guess?"

"I'm scared for you."

Harley looked at Kent and Vivian and said, "I'm fine, really."

"Until you're out of that hospital bed you're not," said Kent firmly.

"What am I going to do about work?"

"I'll take care of that."

"How long am I going to have to stay in the hospital?" asked Harley.

"I don't know."

Harley saw that both Kent and Vivian were tired.

"I'm okay. The both of you need to get some sleep."

Kent and Vivian shook their heads.

"Vivian?" said a woman's voice at the doorway.

Vivian turned toward the doorway and saw her mother and father at the doorway.