Dating the Dead • lrh

42. the white room

"Luke! Are you okay?" Ashton placed a hand on my arm. "What are you doing on the floor?"

He lifted me up, slinging my arm over his shoulder while he supported my back.

As much as I wanted to follow the nurse after she got off the lift, the ground beneath me seemed to collapse. And not because the lift descended. I pressed my back against the wall for support and somehow slid my way to the floor.

"No," I said weakly when Ashton tried to lead us outside the lift, planting my feet firmly to the ground. "Can we go somewhere else?"

"I can't do that. Not when you don't look fine."

I looked at him straight in the eye. "Please."

He seemed to be considering his choices. A few seconds passed and he sighed heavily. "There's a Seven-Eleven right across the street," he said then quickly added when he saw me about to retort. "I don't wanna force you to stay here if you don't want to but I need us close to the hospital in case something happens. You choose."

I uttered a weak 'fine' and he punched the button for the ground floor. None of us said a word. I was standing on my own before the lift's door parted.

As we walked across the street towards the convenience store, something tugged at the back of my mind, feeling like I have forgotten something. I glanced at the hospital's pristine facade and then remembered the nurse. I need to talk to her next time.

What was it that she said to me again?

"You okay, mate?" Ashton held the door open for me, looking concerned.

"Yeah," I said, flashing him a weak smile as I walked past him.

We took the nearest unoccupied table, sitting across from each other. He was still eyeing me worriedly. "Are you sure, you still look pale. Do you wanna go back?"

I shook my head slowly. "No, I'm good. Just shaken up."

"What really happened?"

"Some nurse I was in the lift with, she said something to me. But I couldn't remember. I pretty much spaced out until you came along."

He furrowed his eyebrows and I could feel the questions coming. "What-"

"Can you get me some Tic-Tacs?" I blurted, not really wanting him to ask things I, myself, don't have the answer to.

"Yeah-yeah, sure," he stammered, obviously caught off guard. "Anything else?"

I thought for a second, considering what I'm allowed to eat and what I think is available in the store. "Bread?" It was the only thing I could think of. But then that day I almost choked came to me just as quickly. "And water, please. Thank you."

He gave me a once over with his concerned eyes. I forced up a smile to let him know that I was fine. Even though I'm not. He smiled back, looking unconvinced, but stood up to get us food.

My gaze fell on his back for a second before I turned my head to stare at the hospital. An ambulance came into view, nurses running to assist.

With my attention to the commotion outside, I wasn't really expecting the forceful clang of the store's glass door hitting the bell. I jumped slightly on my seat. It took me a moment to regain my composure.