Sleeping Beauty

Chapter 8

Shawn

I go to the hospital everyday now. I know most of the people that work there and some of the patients. Sometimes, I stay for fifteen minutes and sometimes I'm there for hours. It all just depends on my schedule and what kind of shows I'm playing that day. I'm really starting to get noticed. My mom made me hire a body guard which I told her I didn't need, but he's actually turned out to be pretty handy. A couple weeks ago, when I was walking into the hospital, a girl came up to me and asked for a picture. I said yes, of course, but then there was another girl, and one after that, and soon enough, I couldn't even see the door that I was standing in front of just seconds ago. So Zach, my bodyguard, pulled me through them and got me in the front door. I felt bad that I couldn't talk to all the girls, but I understood that it would've gotten out of hand. So I went up stairs for about forty five minutes and sure enough, they were still there when I walked downstairs. We went out the back door and there were still some photographers there, but we got back to the car without being noticed. Then, girls started to figure out that I came here. They would wait outside the hopsital for hours, so I would walk in through the emergency care unit where all the ambulances came in with glasses and a hood over my head. Most of them started to give up when I stopped coming through that way. I guess they thought I stopped visiting at all, which is something I would never do. 

Then yesterday, there were articles published in almost every magazine about me coming to the hospital. They all wondered why I was coming. Was a family member sick? Did he go see his best friend at work everyday? (which didn't make sense considering I was only sixteen) Was it an escape from the world? (sort of) Is he sick?

Today, I received about fifteen letters and every single one was asking if I was okay. I got a stuffed bear, cupcakes, and soup, which I all threw away, except for the bear. I took it to the hospital along with some balloons. 

After I snuck in and made it up the elevator with Zach, I walked into her room by myself. He always waited out in the hallway. I walked in and set the  balloons on the ground and the bear on the side table by the lamp. Then I took the guitar out of its case and set it on my lap. I had posted a cover of "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran last night. It's one of the best songs I've ever sang according to my dad. Nobody has any clue why it sounds so good. It just is, they all thought. 

Well, nobody wasn't really everybody. I knew why it sounded good. 

I put my fingers on the first chord, but couldn't start. After a little while, I set the guitar down and walked around the room. I pushed my fingertips through my messy hair and kept them at the base of my neck. Then I moved over to the window that was always closed. I peeked through the blinds and saw the streets under it. Thousands of people pass her window everyday and not one of them has any idea who's sleeping in this room. It doesn't cross any of there minds. I move the blinds to the side a little and a crack of light pushes through the room and shines on the end of her bed. I move them a little more and the room is lighter than it was originally. 

In one fluid motion, I push the blinds all the way across the window and my eyes have to adjust to the brightness. Then I take the balloons I got her and move them in front of the window. Color fills the  room. I turn off the lamp by her bed and the lights on the ceiling.

I take my guitar and sit back in the chair next to her bed. "This is 'The A Team' by Ed Sheeran. I don't know if you like that kind of music, but...

"When you wake up, I'll play whatever you want."

I play the whole song for her and I'm sure it sounded ten times better than the cover I posted on YouTube last night, as if that was even possible. When I was done, I told her I opened the window in her room so It didn't look like a prison anymore and that I put the balloons in front of the window so it wasn't just white. Then I put my guitar in its case and wrapped the straps around my shoulders, but I couldn't leaves. I hadn't been with her long enough. 

I take a step closer to America and intertwine my fingers with hers. They're soft and frozen. I rub my thumb against the palm of her hand. Then, without thinking, I say, "I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you." I lean over and gently kiss her for the first time. "I promise I will always be here for you, America. Nothing could stand in my way." My voice cracks on the last word. I pull my hood over my head. When I walk out, I slip the black sunglasses over my eyes, but I know Zach saw my swollen, red eyes, even if it was for just a second. 

That's why the cover sounded so good to everyone.

I walk into the elevator.

I wasn't just singing it just to sing it. 

My feet press against the parking lot's pavement.

It wasn't just a meaningless song that I sang for practice.

I slip into the car and gently close the door. My eyes stay glued on the window.

It was for her.