Published: January 29th 2022, 10:49:30 pm
( please ignore any weird mistakes, my brain is a little numb haha also because I write this on docs then coop and paste onto here the formatting is all wonky. I’m looking into trying to share it with the proper format)
Chapter 3
For the next two weeks I go see him every day. I would get off work and for the two hours before visiting time was over I’d just sit with him. Sometimes Brennon would come in and other times Silvia. She would come in and we would talk then eventually check her watch and sigh saying “ sorry to break up the fun but it's time to go “
It just became routine.
One evening after I had finished my last dance class I’m cleaning up when I hear the studio door open. I look up from where I’d been sweeping up a small dust pile to see that across the room is Casey; a strange look on his face. He strides across the room to me and comes to an abrupt stop; he looks mad.
“ Can I help you Casey “
“Stop going to see him “
I freeze then turn to him, my brows raised.
“Excuse me? Who are you talking about “
Casey crosses his arms shifting on his feet anxiously “ Kaia you know who. Sophia told me you’ve been going to see someone. Kaia I could get you out of the south side, we could start a studio an- “
Before I know what I’m doing I shove the broom into Casey’s chest.
“ I am leaving. Casey this is my home, my mothers home and her mothers. I grew up in this studio and somehow got the chance to teach at it. I will not take you speaking of it like it’s a trashy south side corner store.
I spin around and storm to the door. I stop in the doorway and say over my shoulder.
“ And as for who I see. That is no concern of yours. Finish the clean up. “
I slam the door in his face as he tries to speak.
I don’t get angry often but who is he to tell me who I can and can’t see, and where I can and can’t go.
I look down at my phone, biting the inside of my lip to keep it from shaking.
“ I need to hurry or I won’t be able to go to the hospital “
I sigh as I open the heavy front doors that lead out to the parking lot. As I walk I feel a rush of frustration hit me so hard that I just can’t help but tear up.
Who does Casey think he is? He is kind and who knows maybe I could be happy somewhere else but it would never be home. My home is here, my family is here. I shove my bag into the car and get in as tears start to fall.
When I arrive at the hospital it takes me a moment to compose myself.
I flip the little car mirror to me and check my eyes; A little red but not too bad. I sigh softly running my paws under my eyes trying to look a little less puffy. The last thing I need is Silvia asking questions.
I take a few long deep breaths before getting out of the car. A shiver travels up my legs as a cool breeze blows past. The weather has been changing and now most of the trees look like bare skeletons; they seem to shiver right alongside me.
Quickly I wrap my arms around myself and dart across the lots to the entrance of the hospital.
Like usual Silvia greets me at the door smiling and happy to see me. But unlike usual she pulls me to the side looking around as though to make sure no one else can hear
“ Guess what “ she whispers, looking extremely eager.
I raise a brow feeling my confusion show on my face.
“ What, has something happened? “
She grins and nods holding up two padded fingers “ two things. Caiman got fired. The higher ups couldn’t stand him! “
I raise a fist “ finally! He was the worst. But wait what is the second thing “
Silvia smiles and points to the room down the hall.
“ he’s off the machines “
I look to the room then back to her bouncing on my toes in excitement.
“ He's not awake just yet, that will take a bit considering his injuries. Hurry go on i know you want to go see him, it unlocked for you “
My ears flush a bit pink as I nod bouncing from one foot to the other. She steps out of the way; a little smile grows on her face as I half run half walk to the hospital room. I open the door quietly and slip inside.
Mitch is laying like he always is but for the first time his face is relaxed. He looks like he is really just sleeping. Without all the machines and whatnot I can see all of him.
I giggle softly as I sit down in my chair at his side. “ I thought you might have a pink nose but I wasn’t sure because of all the stuff “ I wave a hand around my face.
“ We match. I know you can't see me but I have a pink nose too. That’s probably where our similarities end, huh big guy “
I pat his paw softly; he reacts at my touch ever so slightly. I smile pulling my paw back letting both my arms rest on the edge of the bed. I lower my chin onto my forearms and just enjoy the warmth of the light now flowing through the far window. It’s golden and makes the room feel a little less dreary.
As I sit there I find that the sound of his breathing begins to make me sleepy. It’s warm, it's been a hard long day, and now I feel it all catching up with me. I fight the sleep creeping in for a long while but eventually I succumb to my drowsiness and drift into a peaceful sleep.
I find myself slipping into a dream, a good dream. I’m laying on my mothers lap as a child. She is speaking to me quietly; telling me something but I can't quite hear her. The room around me swims in warm light and the smell of freshly baked muffins. My mother is always baking something.
Her warm paw brushes over my cheek as she whispers. It feels so real, her touch, her voice, even the smell.
The touch feels too real, I can feel pressure. There is a voice but it isn’t my mothers now; it’s too deep. A voice like gravel finds my ears. It's rough, nothing like any voice I have ever heard. The touch moves to my cheek; my eyes flutter open and I feel my heartbeat quicken.
“ miss, are you alright “
It’s Mitch, he’s looking down at me with a slightly concerned look on his face. His paw pulls back as I sit up, my eyes unnaturally wide.
“ Your… awake “ I say feeling disoriented like I’m not quite awake yet. I put my paws on my face patting my cheeks trying to wake myself up more. Mitch watches me his head tilting slightly to the side. He tries to sit up; but after weeks of laying down and being dead to the world it proves to be more difficult. He winces a bit, realizing quickly he can't sit up all the way. I straighten my shirt before looking back at Mitch, my eyes meeting with his. Those big orange and yellow eyes. Nothing like I’d imagined, but strangely fitting. He stares at me for a long moment before a small smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. I feel my ears flush pink and I look away quickly
“ sorry I can’t believe I fell asleep like that… so embarrassing “ I say shaking my head mumbling the last bit.
“ No, no it's ok. Sorry for my starin’, it’s just I feel like I know you. And it’s just not everyday I wake up with- “ His words die in his mouth as his eyes drift past my head to the room he hadn’t yet taken in. His ears go a bit pale and pin back as he soaks in what’s happened, it all seems to come back at once.
He swallows audibly before looking back at me; trying failing to look like he’s calm.
“ What happened? “ he asks softly; looking down to his arms where IV’s cling to him.
“ I-it really isn’t my place to sa-“
He looks back up to me, his expression serious.
“ What happened? “ he asks firmly.
My paws knit in my lap as I try and find the words.
“ You were in a car accident. You were banged up pretty badly in the wreck. Now your in the hospital “
I can’t help the shake in my voice as I see him trying to process it all. He takes a slow breath, scratching the top of his paw.
“ how long have I been here “
I clear my throat scooting forward in my chair.
“It’s been almost a month “
His heart rate quickens on the monitor next to him as his breathing quickens.
“ Here, I’m going to go get a doctor. Just lay back and I’ll bring someone “
He goes to say something but by the time he opens his mouth I’m out the door. I can’t stand it, that look on his face.
Silvia looks up from her computer at the sound of the door shutting being me.
“ have a nice v- “
“He's awake “ I say, clearly a bit panicked.
She stands picking up the phone, quickly typing in a number. She ushers me over with a well manicured nail. I come to the edge of the desk raising my paw to my lips biting a nail nervously.
Silvia gets a hold of a doctor and it's only a few minutes before Brennon is speeding down the hall to us.
“ He's awake? How is that possible? It usually takes a few days for someone to be fully awake “ Silvia asks Brennon as he comes to the desk and riffles through a bunch of clipboards until he finds what I can only assume is Mitch’s.
“ It happens but it’s not common. Kaia, why don’t you wait out here. It can be very disorienting and upsetting when patients first wake up “
I nod, pulling my nail from my teeth tucking both behind my back. My heart sinks as Dr Brennon turns from me and slips into Mitch’s room.
“ It's late Kaia. Why don’t you come back some other day. “ she leans in and says in a low voice
“ I’ll give you a call if anything happens, ok? “
I run a paw over my face looking to the room down the hall.
“ I don’t know if you’ll need me coming back. He’s awake. “ I look down at my paws knitting together. Silvia puts a silver furred paw on my shoulder.
“ Come back anyways. If not for him, for me. I’ve really enjoyed having you around, so has Dr Brennon“
Silvia and I have become good friends over the last few weeks. Something I hadn’t expected.
I look up to her big gold eyes and nod slightly.
“ please do call me if anything happens “
She gives my shoulder a little squeeze before releasing me.
“I will, you don’t worry too much. I’m sure it will all be ok “
As I'm driving home I'm overcome with a strange guilt. A guilt fueled by a single thought. For a moment as I had been walking out of the hospital I wished he had stayed asleep a while longer. So selfish but yet… It was nice. It had been nice to just sit with him. Even if he doesn’t know me now, he never did but what does that matter. Maybe I will be able to get to know him, once he's feeling better maybe i'll be able to talk to him