In Need of You

Chapter Two

The entrance doors to Harbor Memorial Hospital slid open. A spring breeze blew her curls in her face as she walked inside. Pulling the strand of curls behind her ear, she approached the front desk, hoping this was the place Elisha was being cared for at. After making about fifty freaking phone calls to several police precincts in Kentfield, Sabrina finally got a somewhat pleasant receptionist to tell where he was. 

"Hi," Sabrina said. She looked at the receptionist who rolled her eyeballs upward to peep at her through the top of her glasses, then back at her computer monitor.

"Can I help you, ma'am?"

Sabrina smiled. "I'm here to see Elisha Brysen."

The woman glared at her for a moment. Her fair toned wrinkled skin was covered by too much red blush and eye shadow. A frown sat upon her brow. "Are you part of the family or something?"

Sabrina frowned. This bitch had some nerve. "No," she responded. "He's a friend of mine. I wanted to give him a get well gift."

"Do you have proof or anything that you know him?" She cleared her throat, then looked back at her monitor.

An older woman walked toward the reception area. Grey and silver streaks were scattered throughout her black hair. Her dark brown skin shined under the light as she approached the desk. She glared at the woman sitting in the chair and rolled her eyes at the back of her head. 

"Marylyn," the older woman spoke. "Stop giving that young woman a hard time and let her see her friend."

"She doesn't look like a friend of the family, Evelyn. You can clearly see that"

Evelyn placed her hands on both her hips. "Stop being an ass, woman," she said. She turned and looked at Sabrina. "She's just lonely, you know. She needs comfort. He's on the third floor in room 325."

Sabrina smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Evelyn."

"You're welcome, sweetie," she said. Evelyn turned and looked at Marylyn. Her smile faded to a scowl. "You gone get punched in the face one day."

Walking toward the elevator was nerve-wracking. Sabrina pushed the button, summoning the traveling room. Goose pimples emerged on her arms. Her stomach rose near her chest. She entered the elevator and took a deep breath. It wasn't that crucial, she thought. Why in the hell was she getting so out of her character over this guy? She didn't even know him.  

As the doors slid open, Sabrina stepped off and took the long stroll down the beige and white wallpapered hall. Pictures of Picasso styled paintings hung on the walls. Every step seemed heavier and heavier for her to make. Stopping in front of room 325, Sabrina took a deep breath.

She walked inside Elisha's hospital room with a stuffed teddy bear and a get well soon card in hand. She set the items on the stand next to his bed and looked at him. His chest moved upward and downward as he slept. His color had come back to him.

A scar lined the side of his beard. She didn't see that one when she first saw him lying on the street.  A bandage covered the gash near his hairline. Taking her index finger to his face, Sabrina trailed the contour of his cheekbone. He was so beautiful; he was so--what the hell was she doing? 

Sabrina jerked her hand away from his face. She sat down in the chair next to his bed and ran her fingers through her hair. Granted, she was grateful for the man saving her daughter and best friend's lives but wanting to touch the man was just too much. He was only just doing his job. She didn't need to drop her panties to return the favor.  

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled the device out, seeing she had a text from her older brother, Edward. It was a selfie of him and Madeline slurping spaghetti. She smiled. Because of this man lying in the bed before her, her daughter and her sister from another mother were alive and well. She was thankful for that. She was just finding it hard to separate the emotions of gratitude and longing to touch him.