Life's Fear

Chapter Twenty-Four

Scarlett's room. Jason by my side. He said his mum had to work because she had some paperwork to fill out. I wonder if she knew about me and/or that I was visiting Scarlet today. I'd told my mum I was seeing Max to finish some homework with her, so I had to take my school bad with me, but I dumped it at Jason's house before we walked to the hospital together.

The HOSPITAL sign was the first thing to greet me. Well, it was what I noticed first. Not some of the patients standing outside smoking (I always hated the stench) or just sitting in the wheelchairs with a doctor by their side, chatting idly to placate the patient. Not the ambulance out front unloading what could only be described as a horrific accident for someone. Not the double doors that were open more than they were closed. Not the curtains drawn still in some rooms.

The crimson HOSPITAL sign.

"She likes you already, so you can relax," Jason murmured.

Before Jesse went to the hospital to work this morning, I told him Jason told me about his sister. Jesse actually seemed sympathetic for Jason momentarily. But then he began channelling his role of being the protective, older brother so the sympathy amended to caution with his preamble.

"Guys do crazy things when they're overcome with emotion, Blair. That's why you should stay away from Jason whilst his sister is on the brink of death. He'll flip out when she passes, and you don't want to be caught in the crossfire. Doctors don't know how long she has left, but with her respiratory problems, it's not long. She might not even make it to the new year."

"But that's all the more reason to stay," I argued back. "So he has someone to rely on and there for him when it all goes wrong."

Jesse was uncertain. "Blair, trust me when I say that he's not right for you."

"What's he done at the hospital?" As soon as I asked the question, I wanted to cringe. I was becoming so defensive but I didn't want to give any personal details away about Jason and I through the tone of my voice. I wanted everything kept between us... even if that meant keeping details from Max, though I doubted she would like to know about Jason and I in that aspect. She already didn't like him.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.

"Jesse," I prompted.

"Sometimes he's been verbally abusive towards doctors."

"Isn't everyone when someone they love is lying in a hospital bed and they're unsure if they will live another day?"

"I've warned you, Blair. So if it doesn't go your way, don't come running and crying to me."

And with that he marched away downstairs.

And then somehow time passed by so quickly, it felt like only seconds until I was standing outside Scarlett's door. Like now. Somehow Jason and I had engaged in conversations whilst walking here and he was telling me all about her. Her favourite colour is green, she likes watching TV shows such as Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl, she hates to read, and she gets to walk around outside in the gardens whenever she wants, providing that she has nurse supervision.

"Are you nervous?" Jason whispered to me.

"A little," I admitted, feeling my hands get rather clammy. Was it warm in here? I was beginning to sweat. Or was that just me?

Without prior warning, Jason opened the door to Scarlett's room and I was greeted by air freshener... and flowers. Her room was brimming with flowers. All she had picked from the garden, I suspected. It made it bright and colourful and diverted your eyes from the heart monitor machine and the usual contraptions that Scarlett shouldn't be bound to.