There She Was

We Could've Been Something More

v

       The ambulance came soon after rushed her to the hospital, I followed in my car, but because of the traffic, she got there first than me. She was rushed to the emergency room, on a stretcher with multiple people, doctors I assumed, following her.

3 hours

I had been waiting for 3 hours when a doctor came out of the ER. He explained that, her condition was...complicated. She apparently had Pneumonia but there was something else that he saw.

       "No," she said, her hand pointed up, before I could even speak. She knew what I was going to ask her about. "It-it's not like you would care," her voice was shaky. I put my hand on her shoulder. We were in one of the hospital rooms, she was attached to an IV. "Hey, I'm here for you. This time I mean it." She grew silent, she stared at me, her eyes gleaming like a child's.

       I look back at the time I first met her, 5 years ago, when I was lining up once at a Starbucks. It was an especially rainy afternoon. I was about to have my turn when a woman burst inside, dripping from the rain. She managed to catch the attention of one of the people working there. "Um, ma'am? Would you like something?" I found that comment extremely idiotic. Someone just stumbled into your coffee shop, cold, soaked, and probably hungry. All you ask is 'would you like something?' I ordered two cappuccinos and a croissant. I called for her. "Hey! You!" Probably not the best approach, I know, but that was enough to grab her attention. I motioned for her to follow.

      We sat upstairs and I told her to wait while I get something. When I returned with the food she didn't drink at first, so I pushed the croissant towards her. Her eyes opened. "Your...not going to...eat that?" She asked. "Well, why would I order only one? If I'd eat a croissant, I normally have two. Go, ask the cashier, I come here regularly." She blushed. She took out a bite of her croissant. She didn't like coffe she explained, so I brought it home after she finished her croissant. I waved the cashier goodbye and the rest was history.

vi

       I snap back to the present, she was still staring at me. I broke the silence, "Hey, would you like a croissant?" She seemed confused for a moment then realized what I meant. She chuckled,"Sure, but don't you dare bring a cup of coffee in this room, or else you're not allowed to visit anymore," she said jokingly. I returned 10 minutes later with a croissant from the hospital cafe and coffee, for me, of course. "This was the best I could get without having you wait." "Oh it's ok, I wasn't going to eat it anyways." I was stunned for a second, "Wait, what? Why?" "I never got to return the favor, but now I regret it since you didn't get one from Starbucks so now you're gonna have to eat some low grade croissant. My bad, heh," she said regrettably. I kinda felt bad for having to make her feel this way. I took a bite out of the pastry and actually enjoyed it, "Mm, this isn't thay bad. This could be the one and only Discount Starbucks Croissant!" I exclaimed. "Haha, yeah right," she seemed to eye the croissant. "You want some? C'mon, I know you do." "Ok, fine." We finished the croissant together and I finished drinking my cup of coffee.

       I had to go out to buy myself some lunch, or  dinner. It was around 5, and I hadn't had lunch yet. I think I'll call it 'linner: lunch and dinner' I smiled at the thought. I went to the nearest fast food chain, which happened to be KFC. I got myself a snackbox meal and a burger. I took my time eating.

Man, KFC is good.

       By the time I had gotten back to her room, her parents happened to be with her. "Oh, hello. I think we've met before? It's okay if you don't remember me, it has been 3 years," I mentioned. Her mother was the first to speak, she did seem to remember me, but she seemed like she didn't want you, "Oh yes, I remember you. You were that guy who dumped my daughter 3 whole years ago." I gulped heavily, "Umm, ma'am really I-" I got cut off. "It was me, mom! I left him, without rhyme or reason,. I made myself sad!" Apparently she never told the truth to her parents, but that didn't bother me. Her mother's gaze immediately switched to her daughter. Her father's eyes widened in surprise. This was the first time I saw her parents, certainly not the best first time one can have if you ask me. I told her parents, "Sir, ma'am? I-I-I'm okay with leaving if you want me to." Her father immediately rejected my statement, "Oh no, no no no we don't mean for that. I'm sorry for any misunderstanding." He held his hands up in protest, smiling forcefully, like he was obliged to have me as a visitor, even if he too was a visitor. A nurse entered the room, a tray in hand. I saw that it was already dinner time. We let her eat in peace. I was only able to share a glance with her parenrs before they left.