That was the Summer

7) A Purple Hospital Flower

The TV drones on in the corner of the room. I look towards it but I don't really watch. Nothing interests me. I don't like the channels; I don't seem to like anything here. First, the room isn't really a room with only one wall, which is actually just an ugly mustard yellow colored curtain. Second, I don't appreciate this bed either; it's all covered in clean but rough sheets. But what's worse is my gown, third. It's really just a sheet of powder blue fabric tided around me with strings with the exception of one button. It isn't quiet here either, no, the sound of nurses clattering down halls or my moaning neighbors and the over active intercom really breaks the silence.

Mom sits in the corner on an uncomfortable looking chair. She scrolls aimlessly through her phone propping her head up on her knuckles. She's tired, obviously.

"Dad and the boys will be here soon," She says, bouncing her leg with impatience, "And the Yasakawas will be visiting later, Honey."

"Mom, what happened?" I ask her and she looks up at me with a simple smile.

"Are you going to remember?" She asks like she's already told me before, "Alright, you and Shotaro were surfing yesterday evening and you wiped out and got slammed by your board, so said Shotaro, who bravely carried you up the cliff steps. Paramedics were called, so was your father and I. A bunch of stitches and a whole lot of pain medicine later: here we are. You have a concussion, dear, so lie back down and take it easy, okay?" I do as I told and slowly ease myself back down on the bed, careful not to tangle myself in the IV tube injected into my arm.

"Marcie!" Three voices call at once, upon sliding the curtain open. I smile when I see Dad, Dustin, and Talon ready to greet me with hugs, "You feeling any better?" Asks Talon as he runs to my side, "I like your bandages," Dustin teases, "It's a real fashion statement."

"Shut up," I smile with eyes closed. They stay and talk, keeping me company until I get too tired to respond or listen.

"We're just going to head to the cafeteria," Mom says, "it's lunch time. I'll see if we can't bring you back anything." And just like, that they all filed out of my space through an opening in the curtains. I fall quickly asleep only to be woken what seemed like moments later.

"Marse," Shotaro's nickname for me is called before I feel his weight settle on the bed beside me when he sits. I open my eyes and just look at him for a bit; taking in every detail of his face.

"I look like a mess, don't I?" I say thinking of my bandages. Slowly, I reach my hand over towards his and he doesn't pull away, "...I hear you carried me up off the beach to where the ambulance could get me. I guess you are stronger than a normal skinny Asian guy." He chuckles breathlessly and lets a small smile bloom on him lips, "What was I like? I don't remember anything."

"Hmm," He looks to the ceiling as if the events of yesterday happened years ago, "Well, honestly, you were terrifying. You were bleeding a lot and after you were finished being scared you began to slip into this dysfunctional kind of weird daze," He laughs for a moment, "I actually came with you here last night. You kept asking me, 'what about our boards?' and I'd always say, 'I left them on the beach, they're not important right now' but you'd ask the same question again moments later." He chuckles, "it was kind of funny. Concussions can be hilarious and horrifying at the same time."

"Oh, gosh, I'm sure," I moan as I try shield the embarrassment in my eyes with my hand.

"So, Kibun wa dō?" Which I recognized to really mean; 'how are you feeling?'

"I can't say I feel anything physically painful," I look to my IV drip, "Just a little depressed I won't be able to do anything fun while. That for sure makes me feel the worst." Shotaro smiles sympathetically at me.

"Oh, Marcie, I'm sure you'll be fine. You've always got Netflix and video games," He says, pulling away and standing. He walks to the table on the far side of the room and picks up a little purple flower I hadn't noticed earlier.

"For you," He says, turning back to place it in my hands, "It's a..."

"Hospital flower," I finish for him. It's a beautiful little thing, I recognized it easily, knowing exactly where it came from, "Shotaro, it's not like I'm dying or in a coma. I'll be going home in a day or two."

"No, but you won't be on the beach for a while. So I brought you a piece of it when I went to down to get our boards. This is from the patch of little flowers you always comment about on our way down and back to the shore." I blush, twisting the stem of the flower in my hand.

"Shotaro?"

"Hmm?"

"There's something I need to tell you." My eyes flick up towards his.

"What is it?" He wonders obviously already intrigued.

"When you and I go the beach again, I'll tell you."

That was the summer Shotaro visited me in the hospital and helped me decide when to confess to him, with one simple flower. I knew it then, I finally had chosen the perfect moment and I'd be prepared for it.