An Act Of Kindness

IX

12.11.2014

How could I have died?

That thought continued to repeat in my mind as I lay on the ground, crying.

I knew that it was going to happen,

But I didn't expect it to be so soon.

But that was the thing about death;

It was usually unexpected.

As I cried, I began to feel warmth on my hand.

I dismissed it as heat from the tears,

Until I felt the same warmth on my forehead.

Suddenly, everything around me was slowly getting covered by darkness.

"What's going on?"

"Someone help me!" I yelled as the darkness began to surround me.

I inched away, trying my best to escape it,

But it was useless.

In the blink of an eye, it engulfed me.

"He's waking up," I heard a female voice say.

"Finally, my son has come back."

My eyes fluttered open and I was instantly surrounded by bright light.

I blinked rapidly to adjust and looked around.

I was back in the hospital room.

"What happened?" I croaked out, trying to sit up.

"Don't sit sweetie," my mom said, gently pushing me back down.

"You were in a coma Leo."

My eyes bulged for a moment as I looked from her to the doctor.

"Is-is that true?" I stuttered.

"I'm afraid so; you were gone for almost six months."

Six months?

How was that possible when I felt like I had just woke up after a short dream?

But I pushed that thought aside as I looked around to find the clock.

It was well past 3 o'clock and Alice wasn't here.

"Where's Alice?" I frantically asked.

"Alice?" my mother asked in a reminiscent tone.

"She stopped volunteering here," the doctor said, looking at his clipboard intently.

"What? Why?"

"She said she couldn't take it. Seeing you in bed for six months must have been too much for her."

As I heard his words, I felt tears pricking my eyes.

I didn't feel betrayed by her for leaving;

Instead, I felt like I had betrayed her by allowing her to see me like this.

That thought filled me with the need to find her.

She had done so much for me,

And the least I could do was to show her how much she had changed my life.