Jade

chapter 4

I hated nights like these. The hospital was silent. They must've lost one today while i was asleep. I'm glad i missed it this time. It was always horrible when the little ones died. I would hear the code blue being called, then the running of doctors and nurses down the hall. They'd do everything they could to get the heart beating again, and sometimes they could, but more often than not, it was to late.

I looked around my room. The curtains were a pale shade of blue. The walls were white. The floors were too. It was like living in an institution, except for the old box tv hanging on the wall. Sometimes the nurses would come and turn it on for me but none had come by tonight. They didn't trust me to do it, I had a tendency to shout at the tv, so they'd only give the remote to Liam when he was here.

I hadn't seen him for a few days, ever since his last visit when he'd cried in front of me. A part of me thought he was trying to distance himself, to make it hurt less when I died. He was to much of a guy to realize that wouldnt work.

The other part of me thought he was just embarrased and was hiding away to lick his wounds. Either way, being shut up in this room for four days with no human interaction was taking its toll on me. Liam was my only friend and the only person authorized to take me out of here, since he was the one forking out the money for my medical bills.

I closed my eyes, thinking back to when I'd first met him.

~

It was a sunday. I know because all that was on the tv set was broadcasted church services. I remember rolling my eyes at the "Annointed" speakers.

"Yea, anointed with their paychecks." I'd said it aloud, talking to myself which was what i often did since i didnt have anyone else to talk to. See, my parents had died the previous year in a car accident. My dad had been driving when a drunk truck driver crashed into the side of their car, sending them careening over the side of the road. They'd been on their way to visit me.

The hospital had used the money reserved for my treatment that was in their will, but unfortunatley there wasnt any left at this point. I was scheduled for removal from the hospital at the end of the week. Even I didnt know where they were gonna' put me.

Anyways, like i was saying, i was arguing with the tv, flipping through channels. after deciding there wasnt anything to watch, i just left it on a random channel. I was in the middle of ranting at the man walking across the stage when i heard a low chuckle come from the doorway. My head swiveled in that direction and i saw a tall teenage boy leaning against the doorframe. I thought he was cute, brown wavy hair, blue eyes.

It had been so long since i'd talked to another human being i was kind of desperate to find out who he was.

"I agree. They do read their sermon off a teleprompter."

 He smiled a pretty smile, then stepped into the room. I pushed myself into a sitting position, tucking my hair-which at this point hadn't fallen out yet- behind my ears and managed a little smile back.

"Hi, I'm Jade."

My voice had shaken a bit but i'd managed to say it. His smile grew wider, and he walked over to me, extending his hand. I carefully shook it, looking up at him with obvious curiosity on my face.

"My names Liam. I'm the new janitor. Im on break right now but i heard you yelling at the tv and i couldnt help myself."

 I laughed.

"Sorry, im a very oppinionated individual. I dont like liars, and this crap is very dishonest."

Liam had looked at me with the most peculiar look. His break ended a minute later but he'd left with the promise to visit me again.

He did the next day. By the end of the week he had made a deal with the hospital to take his paychecks as payment for my care. He hadn't even talked to me about it, he'd just did it. When i'd asked why, he'd simply said,

"Because I can."

~