Mileven Stories

Lost Track of Time (1996)

Hello! My apologies for not posting for the past month, but I'm finally getting some much needed free time! This is just a quick little one shot that I'm posting. Please stick around because I'll definitely post more in the upcoming weeks!
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Time has a tendency of overlapping itself trickily. There never seems to be enough time in a day to remind the ones we love just how valued they are. Considering there are nearly fifteen hundred minutes per day, it's understandable that the time we are given may become a bit hazy and jumbled.

Spring snapped into it's habit of molding its way into the summer heat just as two important events arose. Mike was anxiously awaiting a particular Thursday afternoon where he would receive news as to whether or not he was being accepted as a client for a world renowned publishing company. The agency's mission excited him deeply and he felt as though this particular publisher would be the one that would release his first novel into the world.

Yet, it seemed that he had been so thrilled by his upcoming meeting that he had forgotten that particular Thursday afternoon also held something of value for his family.

Little did Mike know that his failure to keep track of time would cause his wife immense frustration and thorough disappointment.

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Doctors offices and exam rooms placed El's senses on edge. The sterile environment and strictly certified uniforms made her mind trap itself in graphic visions of her traumatic past. Her fingernails forcefully dug into the plastic cushion of the chair she sat in as she waited for her husband to arrive. Mike never was late to her appointments and she felt herself unhinge as he failed to appear before she was taken back to a private room.

El's knuckles turned a sickening shade of white as she draped herself in a familiar hospital gown. She laid herself down onto the thin sheet of protective paper that was laid on the table and awaited for her stabilizing partner to arrive. She busied herself by painstakingly counting the ceiling tiles in hopes of distracting herself from the horrors that lived in her mind.

A knock came at her door in the midst of her silent panic and her doctor's friendly face peeked in, "is it okay if me and a visitor of your's come in to get this party started?"

Eleven nodded enthusiastically as she realized Mike had finally arrived. The door gradually opened itself up further as a familiar, but unexpected, figure appeared.

Her eyebrows that had peaked excitedly fell in mild disappointment, "Dad? What are you doing here?"

Hopper came all the way into the room and sat on the chair beside his daughter, "you told me about this appointment a few weeks ago and I made sure to mark it on my calendar," he paused to grab onto her clammy hand, "besides, I want to be here when you find out if I'm going to have myself a granddaughter or a grandson."

"Thanks for remembering," she muttered coldly.

Hop squeezed her hand as the doctor began applying a cool gel onto her slightly protruding abdomen. A second later, he lowly dared to ask, "where the hell is Wheeler?"

El felt her shoulders tighten as disappointment and concern swam through her veins. She was worried that her beloved was somewhere in danger as it was truly unlike him to forget something like this. And as bad as it sounds, her hormones made her feel like she was not sure which reason for him missing this moment would hurt her more.

She failed to even respond to her father's question as she repressed the negative emotions channeling within her veins. Suddenly, the figure of her and Mike's upcoming joy wiggled upon the screen, successfully wiping away all of Eleven's existing distress. Her ears unmuted the dull world as she picked up on her father's heavy breath, allowing herself to fully relax as they anticipated the news.