Hospital Visits

Zoe

This wasn’t Arman Anders. It couldn’t be. Arman was always filled with life, there was always a bad boy grin on his face that stole the heart of girls. Arman looked like he had already embraced head.

I had seen this over and over during my time in the hospital. Many welcomed death even before death came knocking. Most times, they were people that had nothing to live for. People that were tired of living.

Not people like Arman. Arman was so full of life. He had millions of lovers all over the world.

But today he was alone. His whole head was bandages, his eyes were closed and an oxygen mask covered his nose. He was weak. And alone.

Not one fan stood by his side. Why did it have to be me? me the last person he saw that night? did he met someone else? Was it my words that made him lose concentration on the road he was driving on?

“Don’t!” M.J.’s voice was harsh. Harsher than I’ve ever known. “Don’t weep for him.” It came in his command tone. The one I had never disobeyed. Until today.

I held on to Arman’s hand as tears dropped down my face, “Wake up. Please. They love you so much. You have a lot to live for. Wake up. Wake up, Manny.”

I didn’t hear M.J. storm out of the room.

***

It had been two weeks.

And I made sure to Visit Arman every day of it. and not empty handed. He wasn’t looking any better, neither was he responding to treatment. But I did not have the heart to stay away when I knew his bedside was always empty. No one came to see him. I had not even seen Bridget. Not once.

“You have an interview this evening. You should prepare for it.” M.J. informed me.

I winced, ever since the reporters saw me swooning in the hospital, the reality of my life before I began acting spread like wild fire. Everyone wanted to know why I left my career. It had been requested upon requests for interviews, but this would be the first live one.

“Send a car to pick me from the hospital.” I told M.J.

“You do not have to go there today. You’ve been going to see him everyday, he hasn’t woken up yet.” M.J. Sounded like he was scolding me.

“Neither has he died.” I said quietly. I hated moments like this, when I had to talk back at M.J. I hated that I’ve been doing it a lot lately, because of Arman. But I still didn’t see why my manager does not want me to visit Arman in the hospital.

His fans loved it, I was benefiting from it. My followers were increasing everyday. My Dm’s were filled with errands to extend love and well wishes to Arman. Mine and his agency loved it.

But what I loved, were the moments where I sat beside his bed, held his hands and spoke to him. I apologized for every harsh word I had said to him. I told him how handsome he usually was, I told him how people loved his new movie. I read every message his fans had written for him aloud so he could hear. I begged him to wake up.

I knew I would disappear once he did. But till he woke up, I would be by his side.

It had now become a ritual, I put on my mask just before I entered the hospital. I was not familiar with some of the staff.

“Miss Merida?” I stopped at my name. It was an older nurse. I’ve seen her around the hospital a lot.

“Yes?” I responded. They began calling me Miss Merida on M.J.’s orders.

“Were you really a doctor?” She asked me.

I sighed. “I didn’t finish. I was only a student.” I replied humbly.

“What were you studying to be?” She asked, The doubt was written all over a tone.

“A cardiologist.” I told her.

She looked shocked.

“Why did you leave?” She asked.

I gave her the most honest answer I would ever give anyone. “I thought I would die if I didn’t. I had no option when I stayed, but as soon as I got a way out, I bailed.”

She frowned at me like I had spoken in parables.