Academy One Shots

You Are My Sunshine

       Humming softly under my breath, I strolled through the mostly empty hospital halls.

       "Phil!'

        I tucked my hands behind my back and turned to see Dr. Green scurrying down the hall after me. His appearance was beyond disheveled. He was a mess of curls, crumbs, and wrinkled clothes.

       Once he'd caught up, he clapped a strong hand on my shoulder.

       "Hey, what are you still doing here? I thought your shift was over for the day," he said, a little out of breath. Maybe he needed to lay off the pies for a bit.

       I nodded down the hall. "I wanted to see Martha before I left."

       Sean's green eyes dimmed in sympathy. He removed his hand after a firm squeeze. "Okay, you take care."

       "You as well, Dr. Green."

       He headed back down the way he came, grumbling the entire length of the hallway about how I never call him Sean.

       I continued humming my song as I weaved through the rest of the halls until I came to my destination. Nodding at the nurse behind the desk, I knocked on the patient's door before I entered.

       Martha sat on the armchair by the window, her attention focused on the sunset. The sun brushed pinks and golds over her white hair like it was a canvas.

       She turned to face me, the color of her eyes like opals. After all these years, the color hadn't dulled.

       "Who are you?" she asked and I did my best to hide the wince at her words.

       Some days she remembered, others she didn't.

       I put on a brave smile. "Hello, Martha. I'm Dr. Phil Roberts."

       She eyed my hospital garb, almost suspiciously. "You're a doctor?"

       I chuckled because she'd always been a skeptical one. "Yes. I'm just making my rounds and wanted to see if you needed anything."

       She shook her head and returned her gaze back outside. "No, I just want to go home."

       Padding over to stand by her chair, I gazed out the window with her. It was nearly dusk and the sun kissed the tops of the Angel Oak trees growing outside. I pulled out a strawberry candy and offered it to her.

       Her eyes brightened. "Oh! Those are my favorites," she exclaimed, gladly accepting the candy.

       I wanted to say, "I know, that's why I keep them on hand", but knew I couldn't.

       We were quiet for a several minutes, basking in the evening glow. I hadn't even noticed I'd started singing again until she pointed it out.

       "I love that song," she said, her lips curving up into the first smile I'd seen in days. "You are my Sunshine, my only sunshine," she sang, her voice just as breathtaking as the first time I'd heard it forty-five years ago. "You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you."

       Tears descended in silent trails down my cheeks as she continued, her opal-colored eyes scanning the horizon.

       "Please don't take my sunshine away," I whispered alongside of her soprano, my voice full love and brokenness.