The Concession

Chapter Four

"I told you I hated pickles, William."

He heard a sigh. The sound, the smell...

She was cooking.

The eggs sizzled on the frying pan as she hummed to herself, dancing to the sweet tunage.

He felt a calmness that was hard to explain. She turned to him. Her face was blurry but that smile...

It was bright, brighter than the sun.

"Don't just stand there silly, help me out." She giggled.

She dropped the frying pan and turned to leave.

Will panicked.

"No wait, stop—" He hand reached out for her.

Her yellow gown flowed behind her, trailing after her with the soft caress of the wind.

"I'll see you later William." Her voice echoed out in the void

"Don't go. Wait!"

He opened his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was the tightness in his chest, then the smell of sterilized floors and medical equipment.

He was in a hospital. It sure looked and smelled like it.

He looked around him, eyes wide.

I must have fainted.

An unsavory image flashed across his vision and his stomach immediately twisted into knots as everything he'd seen came back.

What was that thing?

Have I finally lost it?  He gripped his head.

His blue eyes were wide in fright. It was a nightmare, a sick nightmare.

How long had he been out?

His eyes widened some more,

"Hope."

As though she'd somehow heard her name, she came in a second later accompanied by the doctor.

"Oh my God, are you okay?" William felt her wrap her arms around him in a hug.

"You scared me. Don't ever do that again." She said.

Hope leaned back and he was surprised at the concern he saw in her eyes.

His eyes softened and he suddenly forgot what had made him anxious in the first place.

"Hop-" But he didn't finish his statement.

"What were you thinking?!"

Huh?

He felt a painful slap to his arm.

"Ow!"

"You know you were unwell and you didn't go to the hospital. Do you have a death wish? You are so irresponsible!" She kept yelling worriedly at him and William didn't know why he found it so attractive.

He just stared at her in awe, awe at the petite woman in front of him who wasn't afraid to give him a piece of her mind.

In his daze, a smile had escaped and it had immediately shut her up.

"You sound so concerned for me right now," he said quietly, making eye contact, "good to know."

William saw the blush that took over her cheeks but she quickly looked away to conceal it.

William smiled cheekily.

A throat was cleared and both their eyes widened, finally noticing the doctor they'd been ignoring all this while.