"What? He what?" Maddy gasped. If she heard right Nathan was wheelchair bound for over a month now, and she never knew.
The boy who saved her life, His kind smile whenever she came to visit, his sarcasm, his everything. He acted as if nothing was wrong when she was around.
Over time she thought she could come to terms with what happened. Maddy had thought Nathan had come out just fine and only had some fractures as he had told her before.
Maddy's legs caved in on her as guilt flooded her thoughts. Her eyes welled up as her sister knelt down beside her hugging Maddy.
The nurse Carmen could only sigh and hope Nathan wouldn't be too angry with her.
Meanwhile Nathan was going up the elevator back to his room. The ambient music was playing in the background like one of those action movies.
In his head all sorts of thoughts were floating about. Emotions were building up within him, but he refused to let them out.
No matter who he had turned to in the past, they abandoned him soon after.
So instead of worrying those around him, he hid his feelings and let everyone see his smile and his cheerfulness. He hated being a burden, so he did his best trying not to be.
Since then another two weeks had gone by after Maddy and her sister had seen Nathan in that state. They had stopped visiting him all together. It was rare to have any visitors even from his own family. Only his older sister Danielle would drop by and that in of itself was rare. She had said it was their father's decision but after work sometimes she'd stop by just to check up on Nathan.
Today Nathan asked to go for a walk. There wasn't much to do but interact with other patients and staff at the hospital. It was even worse since Nathan's family had abandoned him so this was the only way to pass the time.
As Nathan pushed his wheelchair forward towards the outdoor area for patients he caught a glimpse of someone familiar. When he focused his eyes he remembered who it was, and immediately turned his chair around.
Unfortunately he wasn't fast enough as the figure turned and also caught a glimpse of him.
"Nathan!" A feminine voice called out.
Hearing the familiar accent he chuckled as he thought that something similar happened just two weeks ago. Apparently fate wouldn't let him keep his secret.
Nathan pretending to not hear the voice just kept on moving along trying to act like he was supposed to be there. Behind him he heard footsteps turn into running and a pair of hands gripped the handles of his chair.
If one looked they could see a girl in her twenties holding a guy's wheelchair preventing him from moving. For a moment it seemed like only time stopped for the two of them as they stayed their motionless.
Instead of turning around to face the person, Nathan kept looking forward, straight faced.
The girl who called out his name earlier was a friend of his as well as his sister's friend.
She was his first friend, and one he would call his best friend.
Aggressive but also shy in her own way, his first meeting with her was highschool.
After some silence Nathan spoke up "Its been awhile hasn't it? Kristen."
Kristen stared at Nathan with a complex look. Her eyes seemed to be searching for answers, yet Nathan could only just silently stare back. Then Kristen started walking, pushing Nathan in a direction.
Nathan gazed up at the name up on the wall next to the door. It read "Nathan Allen". Kristen had pushed his wheelchair back to his room. Neither of them spoke but Nathan was sure of what Kristen was waiting for. An explanation.
She wanted to know everything. Why he's in a wheelchair, how he got hurt, and why this all happened. Her eyes didn't show it but her unsteady steps and her shoulders uncharacteristically lower than normal showed her mood.
Nathan knew why she brought him back too. So that their conversation would be as long as it needed to be. She refused the nurse on schedule that would normally accompany Nathan on his ventures within the hospital.
Although Kristen would hold back her words at times like these, her approach was direct, and left little resistance.
When they entered she put his arm around his shoulder and helped him into his bed. She could see the lack of resistance Nathan put up, and how his legs could barely support him. After setting him down in his bed Nathan lifted his limp legs on. She watched this happen with sadness in her eyes. Pulling up a chair and Kristen sat down beside him staring. Silence…
"So you gonna talk to me or what?" Kristen asked him seriously.
"There's really nothing to talk about. We aren't necessarily friends anymore right?" Nathan looked in her direction but couldn't make eye contact. It was a bad habit of his. Regardless who it was, close friend or not it was difficult to make eye contact for long.
Hearing his words Kristen was taken back a bit but still pressed on.
"Is that how you feel, because of a stupid little spat we aren't friends anymore. Are you stupid? Did you lose brain cells as well?" Traces of anger were evident in her voice.
"Then I guess I am, what are you going to do about it?" Nathan snapped back.
*smack*
Kristen's hand flew as fast as Nathan's words left his mouth. She did not even have time to regret her decision as she could feel the stinging pain all over her hand. Nathan had bit the inside of his cheek and could taste some blood in his mouth. His left cheek stung and he could see Kristen was feeling it too.
Nathan smiled coldly and continued "See this is just how it is. It's best if you head out, you shouldn't waste your time here." He rubbed his cheek feeling the warm rush of blood signaling the swelling.
Kristen was holding her hand with the other, looking at Nathan with wide eyes. She felt a distance much wider than ever between them and after he spoke those words she could sense the coldness he gave off.
Still she was persistant.
"Nathan…I haven't talked to you since senior year and now the first thing I hear about you is you're hospitalized." her eyes were glistening as tears were forming.
Looking at her, Nathan was speechless for a moment.
"Come on you, spill it. What cat got your tongue?" Kristen noticed his hesitation and light heartedly jabbed at him.
Caught unaware Nathan reflexively leaned back off balance and started to fall off the bed. His hand outstretched trying to grab at Kristen's hand reaching out to him.
Kristen was surprised by Nathan's sudden move and reached out only to get pulled down as well.
*thud*
"Uugghh you okay?" Nathan asked. His back against the ground aching he looked at Kristen who was still a little dazzled. She was held above Nathan, her hands trapped between them as Nathan's arms were wrapped around her protecting her.
When he lifted her head to see her face, tears were already falling.
"Nathan I'm sorry!" She cried. Kristen was clenching her teeth to no avail as her sobs continued. Nathan on the other could feel his own tears start to well. A sense of doubt and regret appeared in his mind but focused on not letting anything out and keeping his calm. If one thing was for sure, he would rather keep his thoughts to himself.
Holding it in somehow he held her close as they laid there, Nathan comforting Kristen in his arms.