The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Chapter 3

When I got to the hospital, I frantically asked the receptionist what room Alex was in. She said that it was after visiting hours and I wasn't allowed to see her. I explained to her how urgent the situation was. I said I was her best friend and her mom personally requested me to come. After a lot of begging and pleading, the lady finally gave me the room number. 706. She also sarcastically told me good luck, that I would be caught by the doctors, and that they would tell me to leave. I said that it wasn't likely and thank you for the number. She rolled her eyes as I made a break for the elevator. 706 was on the 7th floor. I passed a restroom on my way to the elevator, but I stopped quickly when I started to get a plan forming in my head. I dashed back to the restroom and went inside. Someone was in there. Lucky for me, the person left their lab coat on a hook on the wall. I grabbed the coat and silently slipped out. When I passed the supply closet, I stole a clipboard to make me look really official. I made it all the way up 7 flights of stairs without any suspicion. 706 was at the end of a long hallway. I sprinted the whole thing while dodging angry doctors, patients in wheelchairs, and nurses pushing stretchers. After going through what I deemed as "The Most Sterile Obstacle Course Ever", I screeched to a halt right outside the room. I knocked on the door lightly. Mrs. Myers came out to meet me.

"Oh Doctor. Thank you. Alex has..." Mrs. Myers rambled.

I cut her off and said, "Mrs. Myers, it's me. Sorry about the disguise. I wouldn't have made it up here without it."

"Oh. You made it. Thank goodness you came. Alex was in a car accident," Mrs. Myers explained. I could tell she was holding something back.

"Can I see her?" I asked quietly. She nodded. As I turned around, I felt her hand delicately touch my shoulder. I turned back around to face her.

"There's something you should know. Alex is..." she stuttered, "Alex is... well... she's in a coma."

What? No no no no no! How could this happen? I thought to myself. I pushed the door open and walked inside the room quietly. There she was, bruised, broken, and battered. She looked peaceful even if she was hurting. The rhythmic movement of her slow breathing seemed to calm the pace of my rapidly beating heart.

"Hey," I whispered as I picked up her hand and held it in mine, "I'm so sorry this happened. I know you can't hear me but I love you. Please come back. I have a surprise for you when you do. Come on. Come back. Until you do, I'll be right here. I'll stay right here waiting for you."

I woke up the next morning, on my knees beside her, my arm resting on the bed. For a brief moment, I didn't know where I was. But it all came flooding back when I stood up. Alex. Hospital. Coma. All of last night's events came pouring back into my memory. I looked around. There was no one in sight. I figured her mom must have gone to work. I pushed the nurse button on the wall. A young, tired-looking nurse rushed in a moment later.

"Can I help you?" she asked politely. It was so polite I was sort of confused. It didn't seem like it came from her.

"Um... yeah. Where's the cafeteria? I've only been here once for a motorcycle accident but that was a while ago. I sort of forgot my way around," I explained.

"It's downstairs. Take the first left. Go all the way down the hall. Take a right. It's on your left," she replied.

"Ok. Thanks," I said.

"No problem," she said as she hurried out the door.

By the time she left, I had already forgotten what she said. After a good 30 minutes, I finally managed to find my way to the cafeteria. The clock on the wall said it was 10:21. I called my mom to explain what had happened and why I didn't come home. She was understanding and said I could stay as long as I wanted. So I did.