Nameless

4. My Guardian Angel

 I felt the emptiness from Chris’s absence in the room. Staring at the ceiling, I wondered where he’d gone so suddenly, but, oddly enough, I wasn’t concerned about him not coming back.

“…you’ll love her.” Chris’s voice floated through the door a few minutes later. The door opened, and he walked back in, and was instantly back by my side. “Mom, are you coming in?” he asked the hallway. The person in question took a shy step forward into the room.

Chris’s mom was gorgeous. She was short—probably around 5’2”, and had long blonde hair that she had swept over her shoulder. She was thin, but curvy, and was dressed very professionally in dark blue dress pants and a lavender dress shirt.

“Hi, sweetie,” she smiled softly at me, showing her straight white teeth, “How are you feeling?” her voice was light and kind of quiet, and her hazel eyes held a sincerity rivaled only by her son’s.

“Alright, considering the circumstances.” I answered earnestly. Mentally and emotionally I felt more at peace than I had in a while, but physically, it was all I could do not to lose my loose grip on the pain.

“Do you need any pain medication? I’m pretty sure Dr. Sullivan left some for you,” she asked politely.

“Yes, please.” I conceded gratefully.

“Okay honey, I’ll be right back.”  She nodded and then left to find the pills. I turned to Chris, who was grasping my hand again. Something buzzed. I jumped; Chris sighed, and he reached his free hand into his back pocket. It took me a moment to register that it was his phone that had made the noise. I watched him as he moved his thumb and squinted at the device. I’d never been so close to a phone before; the only reason I knew what one looked like was because I’d seen kids at school with them.

“Terrance has been texting me nonstop, asking me where you are and if I’ve seen you.” He growled. I flinched at his tone.

“Texting?” I repeated the foreign word slowly, trying to wrap my head around it.

“You don’t know what texting is?” Chris looked at me incredulously.

“No, I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Well,” he started, eyebrows furrowed like he really had to think about how to explain this to me, “It’s like writing a letter, but faster. You type the message on the keyboard, like this,” he took his hand from mine and showed me as he pressed the lettered keys with his thumbs. “And it shows up on the screen.” He pointed at the white space that had words in it: I haven’t seen her. Your guess is as good as mine. “And then you press this button, and it sends immediately, right to his phone.” He sat back and placed my hand and his again.

“That’s so cool!” I squealed enthusiastically.  I was amazed that something like that was possible. “You just click the buttons and it writes a letter? That’s incredible!” Chris smiled at my excitement.

“Yeah, I guess that is pretty unbelievable.” He agreed, nodding.

Mrs. Aarons returned with a glass of water and her hand cupped around the pills.

“Do you think you can sit up and take these?” she asked me.

“Yes ma’am.” I answered politely. Without being asked, Chris stood and helped me sit up, adjusting the pillows for me. The effort of dragging my body up was immensely painful, but for the relief I knew the medicine would bring me, I pulled myself up. Mrs. Aarons handed me the two prescription pills and the cold glass of water. “Thank you, Mrs. Aarons.” I whispered before downing my medicinal savior.

“Please, just call me Susan, and you’re welcome.” She smiled sweetly. She then turned to her son, “Chris, honey, it’s late and you’ve got school in the morning, so you need to go to bed soon. Lori, dear, the doctor said that you’re to be on bed rest for a few more days. You’re more than welcome to stay here, if you’d like.” Her offer was too kind; I couldn’t intrude in her life and be any more trouble to her or Chris than I already had been. I looked over at my friend, and he was giving me the most pleading face I’d ever seen.