Dusting Off A Heart

Chapter 4

The ride was not awkward like Lauren thought it would be. Aaron was a friendly person and also a chatter. The ride to Lauren's house was filled with friendly chats, laughs and chuckles. It was until they finally stopped at the front of Lauren's house.

"Here we are!" said Aaron with a high pitch note in the end, turning his head to look at Lauren on the backseat. Lauren sighed in relieved as she's already home.

"Thanks, Aaron" she smiled, she turned to Poppy, the red headed 5 years old, and ruffled her hair. "Thanks to you too, Poppy." The little girl replied with a giggle and a muffled bye.

Lauren exited the car, and closed the door behind her. She waved at the car and continue her way to her house. She unlocked the door and went inside to see the light still on.

It's usually was off when she came home after her shift. She searched for the sign of his dad in the living room, but found him nowhere.

"Dad?" she searched again, "Dad?" she began to worry as she remembered her father's condition. She ran her way to her father's room just to find her father is not there. She checked her room to find her brother, but he's not there either.

Panic begin to rise within her, her insides churns and her palms are sweating. She grabbed her phone from her pocket with her shaky hands and dialed her father, hoping that she would heard her father's voice in the other line.

The sounds of the line ringing in her ears. After a few seconds, it's connected.

"Dad? Where are you?! Are you okay?" She shouted at the phone.

A squeaked voice answered her instead of her father. "Dad is in the ER. No, I don't think he's very okay."

The panic begin to peel off a little bit. "Alby... thank goodness it was you." It could've been a stranger. "Where are you now? Tell me the name of the hospital."

"Err...It's the hospital near the diner we used to go with...mom." He said with a bitter note in the end.

The mention of her mother bothers her, the anger starts building up inside her. But her mind drifted back to her sick father.

She ran to her room to grab a few bucks from her piggybank and an emergency credit card, then she continued to turn off the lights and lock the doors.

The night wind touches her skin as she stepped outside. She straighten her hoodie and ran to the nearest bus stop. As she arrived at the bus stop, she checked the dimly shined clock. Its shows 09.20 pm. The last service of the bus is 10.00 pm.

"Darn it!" she grumbled through her gritted teeth. She looked left and right, searching for any sign of the bus. She found the bus is nowhere to be seen. Not even the blinding light she used to see.

She sat on the bench with her face in hands. The thought of his father flooded back to her mind. The pain he's probably feeling. The image of him writhing and gasping for air. The image of him laying still on the bed of the emergency room. The image of him leaving her and her brother forever.

Her stomach churns and her chest tighten as if a thick rope was around her and pulling her down.

Tears began to form in her eyes as she stood up. Facing the black of the night and the fact that the bus probably would never came. Worry filled her up again. Worrying that she's probably too late.

As the worry stayed, she saw that two lights were seen at the end of the street. Coming towards her direction.

Relief came to her as she ran towards the source of the light. A yellow cab with the light shone on its roof indicating that the cab is empty.

"Clemons Hospital, please" she said as she opened the door.

The driver replied with a nod. As the taxi drove, she found herself worrying again. It's a thing she's been doing a lot lately.

The condition of her father, her scholarship, their financials, and possibly her love life.

She shook the thought of her love life and push it aside. It's not about her now. It's about someone else, something else. It has always been.

The taxi pulled up in front of the ER room, as if the driver already know that it's urgent.

She handed the driver the payment and said her thank you. She exited the car and went to the emergency room. As she walks in, a row of chairs greeted her. A little boy with his muddy shirt was sitting on one of them.

"Alby?" Lauren jog to where his brother's sitting. Alby immediately turned his head when his name was called.

"Laury?" Her brother said whilst sliding down the chair.

Lauren hurriedly crouched down and hugged Alby tightly. Sharing their worry.

"Where's dad?" Lauren said whilst pulling away to see her brother's face.

"There." He pointed out the ER's huge doors. Lauren turned her head to see the doors. She turned back, when she heard someone clear his throat.

He stood up. His eyes were fixated on his wristwatch, then he crouched down to Alby. Lauren stood silently after she look at who it is.

Her mind suddenly remind her the past conversation she got with Cindy. It's amazing how the person you just talked about -and the one you want to see last, magically appeared infront of you.

He doesn't bother to notice your existence, though. A voice in her head say. She scoffed inwardly at the silliness of her own thought. I wouldn't care less. If you told that to me -six months ago, I would probably die of stress.

"Alby, I think I better go. Your sister have arrived." He said to Alby, smiling to the little boy afterwards.

Alright, he did noticed, a voice in her head said. But he didn't glance at you. Lauren rolled her eyes. Seriously?

"What?!" Alby said with a shriek, "No! Don't go. We haven't take you to the diner yet! The food is really, really good there! Please just wait with us for another minute. Dad will be out soon!"

And Lauren still stood silently while the two boys chats.

Dane smiled again. Oh, look at the smile you used to adore!

She rolled her eyes again -for the second time today. Her mind really need some beating.

"I would love to, kiddo. But, sadly I got some other things to do." He ruffles Alby's black hair, "We'll catch up with the plan later, alright?" Alby replied with a huff. "Alright" He mumbled.

"Bye Alby." He said as he got up from his crouching position and ruffles Alby's hair once again.

He glances at the Lauren but then looked away. How fast his face changes when he saw Lauren.

Changed into an emotionless one. A cold one.

"Bye Dane! And thank you for driving us here." Alby said as Dane walked away.

His head turned, and he waved Alby a goodbye and giving him a smile. His eyes once again found Lauren's. And once again he looked away.

And Lauren still stood on her ground. Still stunned -and annoyed by her silly mind.