Keys to Happiness

37. Key

After my third day spent by Aliah's side, the hours started going by in a blur. Frequently I forgot what I was doing or where I was. In the mornings I would wake up sprawled across the cot a nurse had brought in for me on that first day, my back sore from the hard mattress. Likewise, today had been the same.

The sun was high in the sky but I had no idea what day of the week it was or how late I had been up the night before. Like every day recently, my eyes felt gritty and painful as I blinked, the after effects from crying for long periods of time with little rest in-between. I lay back on the makeshift bed, trying to postpone the inevitable movement that would bring Aliah's bed into my line of vision. For an instant, despair and hope fought a battle inside me; at least until I looked up and saw her still body.

Aliah's condition had improved medically speaking but her body as unmoving and unresponsive as ever. I turned my head to look at the woman I loved and her face was peaceful and relaxed as if she only slept. Like always I watched her for a little longer, hoping against hope that this would be the moment she opened her eyes.
With disappointment eating away at me, that moment passed just like all the others. As the scratches on her arms had visibly begun to quickly heal, I had hoped that her brain would as well. But each day it felt like she was drawing further away from me and I didn't know how to bring her back.

I rubbed my hands over my face and let out a groan, wincing at the feeling of prickly scruff all along my jaw. I hadn't shaved in days, hadn't really even left the room unless it was to speak to my members or a passing nurse. The hospital staff brought food and I ate it without tasting anything. I felt lost, adrift somewhere out at sea with nothing anchoring me in place. Maybe it had been wrong for me to give everything I had in me to the girl now laying in the bed beside mine, but I'd had no choice. With Aliah, it had been all or nothing and despite the current situation, I couldn't find myself regretting a single moment of happiness.

As if I had conjured them with my thoughts, the guys walked in as a group with Onew holding breakfast in his hands and MinHo carrying a book bag presumably full of a change of clothes and toiletries for me.

"We have a problem," JongHyun stated without preamble, his tone holding none of the gentleness that had been present in all of the member's voices when they spoke to me since Aliah's accident.

I snuck a pointed glance at Aliah and gave JongHyun a watery half smile.

"I don't think it could get too much worse hyung."

JongHyun winced but his face set back into stern lines quickly. Onew handed me orange juice and a muffin as MinHo grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. An anchorwoman popped up on the screen almost immediately, a frozen smile in place as she sat the table large in front of her. As she began to speak, her image faded away to one of a hospital, with people crowded around the exterior of it.

"We're here outside Chaeil General hospital, where the idol group SHINee has been visiting on a daily basis in the past week. Concerned fans noticed the activity and tried to question various members on their presence at the hospital. No injuries to the members had been reported and fans have instead lined up outside the building demanding to know why their idols were inside."

"SM has released no official statements. However, one lucky reporter was able to question TaeMin, the youngest member of SHINee, in a private location."

All at once the scene cuts to a cafe and TaeMin is in line looking harassed and tired.

"TaeMin-ssi, is everything ok? SHINee members have been seen going to and from the hospital. The fans are worried about you and your member's health. Will you not give a statement?"