70's Jazz

Hospital

The next morning I went to the hospital to visit my dad. I walked in his room. He was plugged into all the machines and bandages wrapped around his head. I cried. I held his hand even though mine shook. My mom hasn't left his room since he was admitted. She was sleeping. Ever since we found him he hasn't opened his eyes. The doctors say they don't know when he will wake up. He had damage to his skull and it might have impacted his brain. I hummed his favorite song. I kept hearing his voice. "Believe in yourself." That's what he wanted. He would have wanted me to keep my belief. "I believe in you, Dad." I whispered. I rested my head on his shoulder. Let the tears fall. My mom woke up. "Hey hun. I didn't know you were here." She groaned sleepily. "Go get some coffee. I'll watch him." I insisted. She smiled, patted my head and left the room. I held his hand. "Believe in yourself, Dad." I mumbled. "You can do it." I encouraged. My mom came back in and I went home. My brother was on the couch. "How's dad?" He asked. "The same." I replied. I sat next to him and laid my feet out on him. He rubbed my leg. "He'll be okay." He assured. A tear fell from my eye but I quickly caught it. I nodded. "How is Madeline?" I asked. "She is pregnant." My brother answered. I looked at him. That was not the answer I was looking for. "Are you sure? Is she sure?" I asked. He reluctantly nodded. "Are you ready?" I asked. "I don't think you ever are." He responded. "But yeah. I know the responsibility and Madeline and I are promised so I think it'll be okay." He explained. That was Ghram. He always like to bring up positivity in issues. "Thanks for looking out for me." He commented. I grinned. "Of course." I affirmed. "I'm going to go check on mom." Ghram announced. "Mhm" I muttered. He took his keys and left. I relaxed on the couch for a bit before I heard a knock at the door.

I groaned and reluctantly got up to answer it. "Hey." A guy greeted. His voice. His face. He seems familiar. I know him. Eric. Coffee guy. "Ugh. What do you want?" I whined. "I was hoping to see you again." He confessed. "It's not a good time; my dad is in the hospital and I'm trying to finish this song-" I started. "You're a singer?" He interrupted. "No." I replied. "A trumpet player." I answered. "Maybe I can help over coffee?" He offered. I looked at him and scoffed. He seemed hurt. "Look, I guess you're a good guy and all but I'm just trying to focus on my music and not guys. Kay?" I confirmed. "I see." He noted. "You're playing hard to get." He chuckled. "No! That's not what I'm doing. I'm actually trying t-" I started. "Let's hang out around 3 tomorrow at the café. As "friends"." He grinned. He showed himself out. He is so creepy. I'm defiantly not going to meet him tomorrow.

"You have to meet him tomorrow!" Elise exclaimed. "Huh? Did you not hear me at all?" I questioned. "Yes but from your description he is so into you and not that bad on the eyes, yes?" She teased. "I cannot with you." I giggled. "Fine. I'm only doing this for you so you want bug me about it later." I groaned. "Yay!" She shrieked. I laughed and hung up. I glanced at my trumpet. I picked it up and drove to the plaza. I played a couple pieces and looked in the case. $100. Great. Something. It came time where it was time for me to go meet that Eric guy. I walked in. He waved frantically with a big grin on his face. I regret this already. I sat in font of him. "Hey! I didn't think you'd come." He enthused. "I wasn't going to. My friend convinced me to." I confessed. "So why did you come?" He asked. "I was nearby." I lied. He cleared his throat thinking of something to change the subject. "So you said that your dad is in the hospital? What did he do? Overdose on crack or something." He joked. Are you serious? Why would he make a joke like that? About my dad!? I made a disgusted face and he just laughed. I gathered my things and started to walk out. He chased after me and blocked the door. "Wait, c'mon doll face. It was just a joke." He pleaded. "Don't call me doll face." I warned. I looked up at him. "Move." I snarled. He slowly removed his arm from the door.