We reach the door only to hesitate turn the knob.
How conflicting? To open the door or not open the door?
"Anthony, this isn't Schrodinger's cat?" Thomas grumbles before knocking and opening the door.
That's right, Tom's a gentleman.
Inside are two young woman. One is lying on the bed attached to machines and an IV drip looking pale and drained of life. Across from her, in a chair by the window is a woman with the same face, but bright skin and filled with energy.
Lillian walked over to Melissa, the Melissa by the window, and begins to ask, "Now are we worthy for you to tell us your secret or are we still outsiders?"
Melissa looked at all of with a slightly troubled face before sighing and turning back to the girl in the bed.
"Just look at her charts first and then I'll tell you. It's not such an elaborate tale anyways."
Tom and I exchanged looks. We slowly approach where Lily is and receive the charts from her hand.
When I saw the date of admission to the hospital that's when I realized that same day was back when I brought Melissa to the hospital. Nearly a full year has passed since Melissa was admitted into this hospital and it has been half a year since she joined our class.
We all look up to Melissa as we wait.
We wait to hear her story.
________________________
"No need to overreact," Melissa coolly explains. "A year ago, on the day of the school orientation(1), I came down with a fever. I wasn't willing to stay home and so I ended up passing out on a train. I woke up in a hospital and immediately ran to school. I made it to school around the end of orientation and spoke with my teacher in charge of my class to express why I was late. She was very understanding, but probably because I was a top student. Don't give me that look. This big sister ranked second in the school ("Your only older than Lillian(2)" I interject.).. Mhmmm anyways, as I was returning home I noticed my mom grabbing my clothes as if to leave and as I called out to her… she walked right through me. Like I was a ghost."
"I obviously followed my mother and ended up at the hospital looking at myself. The end."
"Not the end. How can we see you, but your mother can't?" I question.
"How should I know? All I know is whether it be my family, or all of my friends from before my accident, they don't see me. I'm also slowly forgetting anything that would be considered basic knowledge. I feel myself slipping away…" Melissa whispers towards the end.
Lillian rushes over and hugs Melissa while crying, "I misunderstood you, dummy. You have us, but Anthony is still off limit!"
As expected, Lily can really make the mode less strained and awkward.
"What do you think could be the problem?"
"I wasn't able to grab her hand previously."
"Well Lily, you can clearly hug her now."
"Maybe it's based on different factors like who is interacting with Melissa, Melissa's emotional state, as well as other things. Urgghhh, this is too complicated," Tom complains.
"Pfft, hahaha," Melissa laughs at us. "No need to get all wrapped in a ball. Seriously, I'm fine right now."
It was quite the sweet moment. She looked as if she was finally able to release a bit of the tensionin her shoulders that she had since we walked in. Her posture truly looked as light as the fairies in animes.
"Oh then why didn't you come to class?"
"I couldn't remember how to get there."
"..."
"..."
"..."
With Melissa's proclamation of being directionally challenged it was decided to also need to pick her up after me. Wait, why am I being picked up? I previously pledged to be out as much as possible.
Yet, school has become fun.