The Invisible Silver Lining [CURRENTLY BEING EDITED]

Chapter 2

RE-EDITED.

-CFF

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So much of the color white greets my eyes when I open them that I must be in the place I just left hours before. A hospital. At least, I think blinking, I think it was only hours before. Natural light is everywhere, so it only makes sense that it's the following morning.

I lay in a hospital bed, though I don't know which hospital I am in or how I had gotten there. Odd. Blinking again, I try to figure out exactly how my body was transported here. I remember introducing myself to the man named Xander, but from then on out my brain is fuzzy.  My eyes widen. Xander! Who was he anyways? Just how long had he been watching me? The thought of a man that I didn't really know watching me for however long he might have been felt creepy. A shiver goes down my spine. It was possible that he could be anyone, some type of creepy stalker. Or something. But then maybe he was just someone who enjoyed late night strolls and just happened to find me? My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of someone lightly walking into my room.

I turn my head to see an older, white-haired nurse. Her name tag reads 'Betty'.  How sweet. As she speaks to me her joyful voice bubbles up from her belly. "How're you doing hon?" I smile softly, glad to have a caring nurse. "I'm fine."  I bite my lip, thinking hard, "Where am I?" 

Betty grins. "Southern Cruise Hospital. " She says cheerfully. The name strikes me as familiar. This is the same hospital Liz's body was transported to earlier, the exact same place I saw her for the last time. "We did some tests and the closest thing we can figure out why is exhaustion. Have you been sleeping well lately hon?" I shrug my shoulders, brushing the question off with a gesture that tries to say its unimportant. Until last night, the only restlessness I had was excitement for attending university.

The nurse is standing patiently next to my hospital bed, waiting for her answer. Shifting in the sheets, I comply, "Yeah. Miss, do you know how I got here?" Her eyes sparkle like she's forty years younger. She sits down in a maroon faux leather seat to my right. Her dimpled chin comes to rest on top of her wrist, mouth opening, "Well, you see, this young man, and I heard he was handsome on top of that, came into SCH carrying you in his arms." 

Her tone was similar to girls at high school that made it their life goal to know everything about everyone's personal life. Gossipers, I chuckled to myself. A wrinkly hand was animated as she continued telling the story. "And you were just a' laying there, limp as one of my old rag dolls. I wasn't behind the desk at the time. But I heard it from Bianca who heard it from Angela."

I cover my smile with a hand as Betty continues, oblivious. "It certainly sounded romantic. Tell me though, do you know the man?" I shake my head. "No, I just met him last night." She clasps a hand to her chest dramatically. "Oh how mysterious. Delightful!" She smiles at me, adjusting wire-rimmed, rectangular glasses that sit upon her dainty nose. "Who knows," she continues. "Maybe he's your Prince Charming." I laugh. Oh dear. The idea is absurd, especially as I've given up on my love life. Single shuttle is my preference, please. But the nurse has spunk, and I can't help but like her.

The sweet old lady continues, slipping back into her role. "Your parents have been called already, telling them where you are." I smile, glad that they wouldn't be too worried now. "Thankyou," I tell Betty as I stifle a yawn. My hand does nothing to cover my mouth as Betty comments, standing up slowly, "Well I won't bore you with my gossipy tongue any longer. You simply must be bone tired." I try to protest out of politeness, but my drooping eyes help Betty's firm resolution. "No, no. You need your rest."

And with those words she tucks the blanket around me as I welcome sleep.

Shortly after noon my parents come to pick me up. The hour drive to home is silent. What is there to say? Once my parents found out from the hospital that I was alright, they slipped back into their stunned shells. I look out the window and see the Los Angeles buildings pass by in a blur. Each has been built with enormous mirror-like windows. Reflections of cars and the sky high above rush past the traveling cars.

Reaching into my jacket pocket for my mp3 player, the earphones go back into plugging up my ears. Taylor Swift's Love Story fills my head with lyrics I'm already very familiar. A tear slips down my cheek at the beginning notes. Liz used to sing this song all the time. But I don't change the song, though that seems like it might do me some good. It seems like it's the only way I can hang onto her. Simple things such as listening to songs she loved. I'm no where near ready to say goodbye to my precious little sister. I don't know if I ever will be.

The words of Love Story play round and round in my brain, even though that song is over and another takes its place.

"See you make your way through the crowd and say hello. Little did I know. That you were Romeo. You were throwing pebbles..."

Betty's words come back to me. "Maybe he's your Prince Charming..."

An unwanted image of the man from last night pops into my head. Xander's slightly spiked dirty blonde hair, soft blue eyes gazing at me, his leather jacket cutting his figure well. He could look like a modern Prince Charming I mused.

My eyes blink rapidly and I force the idea away. Why am I even considering this?! I have no desire to get back into a relationship, let alone romanticize the idea of one. University is my focus from now on. Boys are out of my life. I don't want another Dylan to come my way. I'm better after the incident, of course, but I know that parts of me are still broken. And with the death of my sister? Its going to take much longer for me to heal completely.