Most Lovely Words

Chapter 7: Meet Again

I sat by his side for hours, refusing to move. I watched the nurses come and go as they checked up on him now and then. And through it all, he didn't move or wake. I watched over him even as I noticed the light from the window start to fade. I didn't want to leave, especially when a small nurse came into the room and asked me to.

"Sorry, but visiting hours are ending," She explained with an understanding smile.

"Ok," I replied numbly.

I got up, walked toward the door, and turned back to look at him. He looked far too pale in the dim light. I could feel the resistance in my feet, begging me not to go. My heart yearned for more time with him. But I had to listen, otherwise I'd be kicked out of the hospital anyway.

I wandered down the corridors back to the elevator, trying to find peace. My emotions were starting to choke me again as I reached the elevator doors and hit the down button. That's when I saw the small sign beside me on the wall. 'Chapel, Floor 1'. I wasn't a regular churchgoer, nor could I consider myself entirely religious, but I did believe in God. I let my legs guide me after I reached the first floor. They took me to the chapel that was near the front of the hospital itself, with glossy wooden doors that had a crucifix carved into them.

Opening the doors, I breathed nervously. There were a few people in the pews, sitting in silence with hands crossed to pray. I sat in the back, leaning my arms against the pew in front of me as I interlaced my fingers in prayer. For an hour, I prayed. I kept my eyes closed and sent messages to Heaven and God and anyone who would hear my silent thoughts. I was riddled with grief, yet the silence and warmth of the chapel was somehow calming. It almost felt like someone was listening. Just please save him. If not, let him go in peace. Help me let go of him. Please.

"Hey, you alright?" A male voice asked from beside me.

I jolted, opening my eyes and quickly straightening up. A man with sandy blonde hair was sitting beside me, an almost knowing look on his face. I took a breath, brushing a piece of dust off my pants. "Fine, sorry, is this your seat? I didn't know it was taken,"

"No, I just couldn't help but notice that your hands were turning a little purple there." He eyed my knuckles, and as I looked at them, I saw that I'd been squeezing them far too tightly.

I released my grip, sighing and looking around. The chapel was dark, with candles lit on both sides of it. There was a large cross in the front, and I noticed that the people who had once been there were now gone. A sense of loneliness filled me, yet I knew I wasn't alone. Another feeling, a slight touch of ease, was trying to drown my emotions out.

"I'm sorry for your loss," The man spoke quietly, his tone somber. "It's tough, losing someone."

"Haven't lost him yet," I let out without thought. I shook with embarrassment as I registered how that sounded. "I'm sorry... that was... geez, sometimes I get too personal. Guess you came to pray too?"

"Yeah, for my grandpa. But, he was old and in pain, so... what can you do." He said it as a statement, not a question.

"Sometimes, I wish we could see them again, or at least know that they'll hear what we tell them, you know?" I responded solemnly.

"What says they don't?" He asked. "They could be right there, just out of reach, but they must hear us."

"How old are you?" I asked, mostly because he spoke like he was 60 and looked anything but.

"26," He said. "Oh, sorry, I didn't even tell you my name. I'm Kevin, Kevin Grady."

"Kallie. I'm sorry for being so nosy. You just seem like you must know a lot about this stuff," I admitted.