FicWad

The beeping followed by the ghostly announcements of the hospital was a strange white noise which I honed into for most hours of the day. I could hear hums of machines and coughing from distant rooms, listening to these sounds was my only way of staying dry eyed. I lay on my side, facing away from my hospital roommate, away from anyone at the doorway or the hall. I slightly glanced up to the wall clock, I watched in a vacant mood as the hands crept closer to visiting time. This was my most dreaded time. Here I had been for three weeks and my punctured lung was almost healed, but I wasn't ready to return.

"Lunch Mr. Smith," Janey my nurse called, she was standing at my door pulling on a tray of food, "It's grilled cheese today, looks good."

There was a pause as she waited for me to move, but I didn't, like always I pulled my blanket a little higher. She walked in and placed my lunch on my bed tray, she turned to my roommate.

"Hello Janey," he said softly, he was in for a neck injury, "It sure smells good."

"Hi Mr. Brune, it sure does."

Mr. Brune sat up to eat, Janey left us with big glasses of orange juice and as soon as her footsteps ceased in my room I slowed sat up. The sandwich did actually look good, something I might enjoy for the first time in a while. I took the sandwich in my hands, I took a bit and soon finished the meal. Mr. Brune was quite a bit older than me and he was curious. To him I was some rockstar who survived a freak plane accident, I wasn't Spence... chubby Spence. I'd lost myself in that plane crash.

"Your name's Spencer right?" he asked me cautiously.

I nodded staring straight ahead, I let my eyes unfocus. There was a pager message but it was faded in my background of thought. I wanted to leave and go to the bathroom to shower, but my bandages weren't going to be changed for another hour, I didn't want to peal them off and sit for that long exposed.

"I'm Harry," he said again with the same cautiousness in his tone, "My family doesn't visit as much as yours does," He was hesitant, "It must be nice."

I lay back down, I wanted to get up and leave the room but my chest was hurting today. Slowly I turned my back to him again, he turned on his TV. The barrier was clear, no body was going to get through, nobody.

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I awoke several hours later, I glanced at the clock visiting time was over and nobody was at my bed. At first I thought maybe they had been here, but then I felt glad if they hadn't come. I never spoke to my family when they came anyway. I turned to sit up, looking over I saw Harry had gone to sleep. Their was a sense of peace on his face, maybe his daughter had visited today, I shifted roughly. My bandages had been changed while I was asleep. Cursing slightly under my breath I decided I wouldn't need to shower anyway.

When the note caught my attention my heart fell. A beautiful card was left on my nightstand; reaching to pick it up I read the cursive script of my father.

Spencer,
We stopped by but you were asleep, we decided to let you be.
The doctor says in two days or so you can come home, doesn't that
sound good!? I hope you will let your family in, I know we can help
you heal Spence. The twins are sad, they miss you they want you home badly.
Your mother says hello, get better, go for a walk.
Love Dad and Fam

I set the card next to some candy I knew the twins had left, I slowly lifted myself from my bed and went to the bathroom. The hospital was quiet, and slowing down slightly. I decided painful chest or not I would walk down to get some more painkillers.

"Hey."

I turned to see where the voice had come from. I met eyes with a girl, maybe my age. She was smiling, clutching her IV stand. I nodded, and then decided to continue walking.

"Wait up!" she called.

Her IV rolled along with her footsteps, she matched my pace.

"I said hey? Don't you talk?"

"Hi," I mumbled.

She smiled a very soft smile, she moved towards the outside patio and I was motioned to follow. My legs moved me to her, she was someone who didn't look the same way, something different from her perspective... I was almost human. She held the door and I caught it so she could continue through, I looked around and then stepped outside.

"That's nice evening air," She stated, her hair lightly blowing.

"Yeah," I said softly.

Some time past by us and I leaned against the side of the hospital, the sun setting was something I didn't notice tonight. The young woman looked down the valley, then she placed her hand to her chin curling the other hand under her elbow for support. Her smile was soft again.

"You don't remember me do you?"

I shook my head, but then she started to become familiar.

"Spencer Smith right?" She laughed, "It's Grace Prowler."

The memory of Biology came shooting back,

"Ah shit, that's right!" I had to laugh myself, "How are you?"

Her smile became somewhat pained,

"I'm good, yeah I'm good...," She moved closer to me, "I heard about what happened... I know you don't wanna talk about it, just know I'm here as support if you want?"

I nodded, the pain of the plane came back... but this time I pushed it back.