“What the hell is this?” You ask her as you grab her arm. A tear drips down her cheek. She doesn’t want to tell you. She doesn’t really have to. But she does anyway.
“I’m so sorry . Not long after you ended u…I put you here, I did something very foolish. I was so distraught about what I had done to you that I tried to slash my wrists. Just as she did for you, Alicia saved my life that night. She got me the help I needed to go on.” She buries her head in her hands and sobs. You pat her head to comfort her.
“How did you do it? The scars don’t look that deep, were you actually trying to kill yourself?” You ask.
“I used the piece of glass that the doctors took from your arm. I wanted to end my life the same way I ended yours.” She answers as she looks up at you. She looks like she is about to say something but the words die in her mouth. This pause prevents her from saying anything else as at that moment, a doctor walks in with a nurse and two security guards.
“Nurse, what is going on here?” The female doctor asks in a stern voice that sounds vaguely familiar.
“Nothing doctor. I was just checking on the patient. He asked me some questions about the things he’s missed, so I answered him.” She responds in a submissive voice. The years have really been unkind to . Not only do you not recognize her physically, you cannot catch even a hint of that fiery personality that you were so drawn to for all those years.
“You look like you’ve been crying. Your colleague here has informed me that coming into this room after you finish your rounds, is a common activity for you. She suspects that there is some form of impropriety on your part. I am inclined to agree with her. Being that I am the new attending physician here, it is my responsibility to make sure that the patient is protected from this sort of behavior. I am afraid I am going to have to have security escort you off the premises.” The doctor finishes. You swear you recognize this woman. The professionalism and the assertive voice remind you of someone from school.
“Doctor please don’t!!! I…I LOVE HIM!!!” shouts.
“That is the very reason why I should do this. I cannot have a patient’s well-being, and this hospital’s reputation put in jeopardy by the actions of an overly-flirtatious nurse. If his family found out, there could be a huge lawsuit.” The doctor exclaims.
“His parents won’t sue the hospital.” says. This sounds better, more like the you knew years ago.
“How can you be sure about that?” The doctor asks.
“I’m the reason he is in here, and his parents didn’t sue me.” informs the doctor.
“Oh, really. I would love to hear you explain this.” The doctor points to the security guards, then to and then the door. Now you know who it is. There’s no doubt about it.
“Alicia? Is that you?” You ask, even though you know it is.
“My first name is Alicia. Do I know you?” She apparently doesn’t remember either one of you. The years have changed your physical features as well as ’s.
“I think you would remember saving my life three years ago. The night I fell through a glass table in my apartment.” You say. Suddenly it hits her. She double-checks your chart to be sure.
“?” Then she looks at the nurse she has just fired. “?”
You both smile at Alicia. This day just keeps on getting better and better. First you wake up from a coma, then you are reunited with the girl of your dreams. Now you’ve just caught up with one of your other friends. She dismisses the security guards and the nurse, who was in the middle of wiping a tear from her face.
“OH MY GOD!!! I’m soooo sorry you guys. I didn’t recognize either one of you. You’ve changed so much since I moved to Seattle almost three years ago.” Alicia apologizes. “The doctors at the university hospital updated me on your condition for a while, but then they said they couldn’t transfer you after the earthquake. They had no idea where you ended up. They sent me an email saying that you most likely were left behind and died when the power went out.”
“Well, here I am.” You say with a smile on your face.
“And what’s happened to you girl?” Alicia asks . “You got so damn skinny!”
“I just said the same thing. Do me a favor. Take her out to the nearest Italian restaurant and help this girl put some meat on!” You say.
“I have a better idea. We’ll order in and the three of us can eat together.” Alicia says.
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