11

Aspen

DAY TWO

My visit to the hospital was quick. I got dressed and by the time I was done, Brooke was already waiting for me. He was a guard and looked as stern as his boss. Brooke was a tall man and he looked like a person who already had years of training.

We went to the hospital and he waited by the door of mom’s room while I went in. They moved her room and unlike before, she was now in a single room. The soft beeping of the machines filled my ears and I sighed heavily, slowly walking to her side.

“How are you doing today??” I asked her and my heart felt very heavy as I watched her lie on that bed. Things would have been so much better for me if she had woken up after her surgery. I needed a friend in my life. I needed someone to talk to.

“Your surgery was successful and very soon, you will be back on your feet.” I smiled, slowly stroking her face. She was sleeping peacefully. “I really miss you Mom and at this point in my life, I really wish that you were here with me. I really do.” My voice turned soft and tears filled my eyes.

“I miss you so much. So get well quickly. I love you and I can't wait to see you. Aspen loves you so much. And I'll be waiting for you to get well. I promise to visit this hospital every day. I'll keep coming until you recover. I really want to hug you.” I said to her but though I was met with a long stretch of silence, I felt heard.

And I wanted to strongly believe that my mother was going to wake up soon. “I have to talk with Doctor Luke. I will be back soon.” Planting one kiss on her forehead, I hurried out of the room. I had planned to talk to the doctor and I kept repeating to myself that I had just one hour.

I took a look at my watch and realised that I had over 35 minutes left. I did not get to go to his office, as I bumped into him on the way. Doctor Luke was a young doctor. From the sources I gathered around, he just finished med school and graduated as the best in his class. He was 30.

“Aspen, it's so great to see you here. I was actually expecting you to come. I know your mother will be happy.” I smiled at his words.

“I hope so. And I came here to thank you. You have been so helpful and supportive to me. I really want to thank you for everything, Doctor Luke.” I appreciated him. I would have been driven out of the hospital if it were not for him.

He believed that I would be able to raise the money and was very patient with me. Once he bought me lunch and offered to buy oxygen for Mom. I was so broke and she would have died if it were not for him.

When I attempted to pay back the money, he refused.

“It is fine. I’m glad I was able to help. I'm glad that you won in the end. I always believed in you Aspen, and Luke is okay. Call me Luke.” I offered him a warm smile.

“Thanks again,” I repeated, taking a look at my timer on my phone. I had 20 minutes left. “Um…I should go back to the room. I'm supposed to leave soon, so I'll go and see my mother one last time.” I informed Luke and he nodded.

“It would have been nice if you stayed longer, but no problem. I hope that I can see you again. And now that your mother is in a stable condition, I really hope that I will be able to take you out for dinner. What do you say?” He suddenly asked and I blinked.

That would be impossible and I was married. I was not going to tell Luke that. My marriage was a sham and the contract stated that nobody should know about it. I was not even wearing a ring. Kill bought me one. But I tossed it aside. His ring would never come on my finger.

“I'm sorry if this is too sudden. But it's just dinner as friends. It's not a date.” He jokingly said and we both laughed.

“Umm…as far as I'm concerned, dinner will not be possible. But we can go for lunch someday.” I’d use my one hour to go for lunch with Luke. He had been so helpful and I did not want to refuse him.

“Sure. I will set up a date and I will be texting you.” He said and I smiled at him. “Take care of yourself, Aspen.” He placed his hand on my shoulder reassuringly, but his touch lingered on for too long.

“I will, thank you.”

“I'll see you soon.” He smiled and then he walked away in a hurry. After Luke had gone, I released a heavy breath, and looking ahead, I realised that Brooke was just watching me. He was still standing by Mom’s door, but his eyes were on me. Intently.

“Your job was to accompany me here. Stop looking at me like a freak. It makes me uncomfortable.” I told him as I walked back to the room.

“I'm sorry, Miss Aspen. But the Boss's words were to watch you. In case of any threat.” I scoffed.

“Fuck your boss. And you can see Luke is a doctor. Stop looking at me like that. Do not look at me if I'm talking to anyone. Who knows? You might scare them away.” Because Brooke looked mean and scary.

“I will grab my bag and we will leave in five minutes,” I informed Brooke who nodded his head. I went into the room to get my bag and that was when I noticed something unusual for the first time.

There were flowers in the room. It was not by mom’s bedside and I was not the one who dropped the flowers there. It was the first day of my visit since her surgery. If I did not bring the flowers, then who did?