§𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 | 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐬

1.0

§tain | chapter ten ~ "blood on her lips pt.2"

January 2, 1998

  Waiting was a cycle of eventual free of any time structure. Yet it was all Jade could do while sitting on the edge of one of the gray chairs, pedantically positioned along the white walls of the hospital's windowless waiting room. Pictures of breathtaking beaches scattered around them, showing stunning waves of blue and foamy white rolling on idyllic sand.

   Between them, the decorations of Christmas stayed on display. Bright and cheerful, the ornaments adorned the green potted fountain that sat on the reception desk, and the LED Santa, waving his gloved white hand automatically as his belly shook from his jolly laughter.

  He'd also beckon to whoever entered the room. Glittery candy cane stands occupied much of the space on the four brown rugged coffee tables spread across the corners of the room. A dull gray rug even covered the entire floor, and two wall-mounted TVs showing boring commercials or unengaging comedy shows that came before her time.

  Jade told herself that she would not glare at the black-framed wall bound clock and allow anxiety to simmer her insides like a stew set to boil all the while she scrutinized the second hand that seemed to linger longer than it should.

  She had become a bundle of nerves that had refused to eat or drink any edible substance for the last ten hours because of the fear kicking in her tummy. Although aim hunger pains begged to differ. Hospitals have always made Jade anxious. These were places only for the ill, critically injured, or, in her case, pregnant women who had gone into labor or had difficulties with their pregnancy, such as her mother. It wasn't safe to assume that she had managed it safely after such a stressful process.

   Time may have passed into long, drugged hours when she could not soothe her wild imagination from conjuring up a worse case scenario. She was just seven and plagued with a chronically wandering mind.

   Sure, she could be optimistic and let herself get lost reading 'Thirteen Ways You Can Do Gingerbread This Holiday Season' or entertaining in one of America's most beloved TV sitcom 'Friends,' while also feigning excitement for a sibling she'll soon have to love and share her years with.
 
  Fruitful reading and frivolous entertainment, though, was not an optimal way for Jade to go, to tame her beast of mind, or to prevent her knees from jumping every five seconds.

   Just before fear could deliver more kicks inside her tummy, where Jade could no longer withstand, Zul eventually returned from her trip to the vending machine. She was miraculously carrying two coke-cola bottles in one hand as she held a bag of nut butter cookies and pretzels between two of her fingers, without being so clumsily induced that she could trip herself up and drop the goodies.

   The young woman proudly strutted with a confidence which Jade could only dream of having. Black strands came loose from Zul's messy updo and fell right into her watery, green eyes as she plopped back in her seat beside the anxious young Carter then handed her the snack items.

  Momentarily, she could sweep her attention away from the haunted visions that inept her into silent panic-mode. Jade took them without question, but attempted to make eye-contact. Zul always thought that her spiraling was a tad melodramatic and excessive, but deserving of an Oscar nomination if she ever aspired to be an actress. Although her words breathed through a cloud of teasing and warm nonchalance, the young Carter felt pleased with Zul's company.

   Her presence has brought Jade some peace to mind. She still didn't meet her eyes, however she ripped open her cookies and devoured them slowly. But that didn't stop her nanny from gawking at her.