My mother walks through the hospital room door and I quickly release Dan's injured hand.
"Abby, I got called into work. Apparently they need me for paperwork. So, will you be okay here with Dan?"
"Yeah mom, go ahead. I'll be fine."
"Okay, honey, I'll be back at the hospital sometime late tonight. Don't wait up for me."
We all laugh, and then Dan and I watch my mother hurriedly speed walk out the room.
The room then grows dramatically silent.
"So.." Dan jokes to break the ice.
"So.." I repeat.
"Okay Abby, any secrets worth my time?"
"Okay Finnick Odair," laughter fills the room, "But, yes."
Dan's full attention is latched on me as he raises his head up even more and slides his chair up to the hospital bed, more than before, then smiles widely.
"Like what?" Dan giggly asks.
"Okay, well if I tell you Dan, you have to promise me you'll never tell anyone."
"I promise." Dan remarks.
"Alright. My name isn't really 'Abby' per say."
Dan's eyes grow large and his facial expression becomes serious as he waits for more information.
"Per say? Well, then what is it?" Dan now sounds stern.
"My real name is truthfully, Aja. Pronounced 'Asia'."
Dan sits as still as a statue in shock, then randomly, smiles.
"Can I be honest?" Dan asks.
"Of course." I reply.
"I prefer Aja, rather than Abby. Aja is a beautiful name."
I almost cry again. My emotions are literally everywhere and I can't control them.
"Just promise me you won't tell anyone or you won't call me that."
"But why?" Dan kiddingly nags.
"Honestly, I just don't really enjoy it."
"I don't understand why you wouldn't, but okay, I won't tell anyone or call you by 'Aja'." Dan answers, sounding disappointed.
The room once again gets dead quiet as we stare at the blank walls.
"What about you Dan, any secrets?"
"Um, well," He slowly hesitates, then continues, "I have quite bad anxiety."
The problems I have, now become worthless.
"I'm sorry to hear that Dan."
"It's fine Aj- I mean Abby. Let me think, what else? Hmm, well I am a sixth child out of nine."
"Nine. Nine children. Oh my. Where are they?" I curiously ask.
"Most of them are grown up, but the other young ones are staying with my grandparents till my parents come back from their business trip."
"That's interesting. I'm in shock. I mean, nine kids? Anyways, okay, so what do you want to be when you grow up Dan?"
"I guess I want to work with the FBI."
That's a huge shocker from my perspective. Out of all his musical talent, FBI?
"What about you Abby?"
"I have absolutely no idea." I answer ever so seriously.
~
Moments soon pass in peace with little talks.
"Abby, can I please ask you something?" Dan non jokingly questions.
"Always Dan."
"Can I please call you Aja?" Dan giggles and asks.
I sit in the bed and begin laughing continuously, thinking Dan was going to ask a serious question.
"You know what? You can call me Aja, Dan." I say while chuckling.
