.The day finally arrived when it was to.e for Amanda to leave the hospital. Its not that her stay was unpleasant, the staff were kind to her amd Opal came by from ti.e to time to take her for short walks around the corridors but when you had visitors who came by from work and kept feeling sorry for you and the situation you were in it turns into a very heavy burden. They made a twisted ankle look like a sign that she might never walk again or that her life with a few now healing scratches was in unimaginable. Leaving meant no more of that and as Amanda packed up the last of her belongings into a duffle bag that her sister brought over for her stay here she hummed a tune unconsciously.
" Well someone seems happy to be leaving. Here I thought you and me had such a close connection already, all along this was a one sided love story."
The voice came from the doorway from Opal she had her hand over her chest in a gesture of being heartbroken and her face feigned the act well.
"Oh come on Opal you know it's not you I'm getting away from just the place your in," Amanda's face showed uncertainty at her own words," But you know you're welcome to visit anytime and I'll drop by your place too whenever we are both free."
Amanda had found out that you should never make promises you couldn't keep this way it wasn't unrealistic considering their different lines of career and all. Over her stay here, Amanda and Opal had developed a friendship easily, not that they told each other everything but it was easy to talk to someone just her age around here as Opal was. Amanda thought it through for a while and realised that most if bot all her friends were exactly her age funny how she was drawn to those of her own age group so easily.
" Don't worry I know, I know. I'll just miss having your company and not being scolded for bot working because you were a patient- dont get me wrong I'm happy that your okay now- I mean who wants to stay sick right?"
They both laughed heartily at that and Opal walked Amanda out on a wheelchair.
"I'd this really nesesary?" Amanda asked feeling a little dumb sitting in the chair as Opal pushed her down the slope leading outside the hospital. She felt as though everyone was looking at her.
"Sorry can't let you off until you are at the exit, it's the law." Opal answered easily unaware of her friends uncomfortable behaviour.
Amanda said her goodbyes to Opal and walked through the parking lot, into the crowded walkway and went on to the busy train station. Looking at her watch however and remembering the time of the trains departure to near her area she estimated she would have to wait at least ten to fifteen minutes before she got onto one. Just when she was about to take a seat the announcer called for a train leaving for her destination was about to leave.
Her face contorted in confusion didn't she have to wait about fifteen minutes before that left? Sewing the number of people getting on she rushed forward to atleast mange to get a seat before it filled. She overheard a few people talk behind her.
" It really has been good of them to consider changing the train's boarding time to not be too far apart hasn't it? My life has been made so .much easier."
"Yes you're right. The trains leading to sector J were too few and as a result always so full."
The peoples conversation continued besides her. Amanda had found d a seat rather easily and was surprised to have see a few others empty those who stood did so at will.
When did this happen.
---+
Amanda walked off the train platform and headed in the direction of her home but stopped short in her tracks as she noticed the place looked different. Her neighborhood was known to have old graffiti on the walls of one or two buildings and always full dustbins, as she stood and looked around she began walking back to the station figuring that she'd gotten of at a stop too early or late.
" Amanda dear is that you? Oh my have I missed you, even though you are usually not even around enduring your work days it is a pleasure to atleast say a good morning or night to you when I can....."
The voice of her landlord and the interval barking of her wired breeder dog came from behind her. Amanda turned and saw Mrs Clocks worth walking towards her with some shopping bags and a smile as wide as ever on her face. She had continued talking all the while Amanda was lost in thought.
"Amanda dearest? Are you alright? I heard you were in hospital from your sister the other day she came by t pick your things, that you would be out soon, seeing you like this now is making me worry though wether you were discharged too early."
amanda snapped back and quickly acted to get that thought out of her landlord mind. Anything but the hospital.
"Let me help you with your bags." She offered quickly without waiting for a response from the old woman who was still weighing the offer, she gently took a few bags from her after swinging her duffle bag onto her back.
They were called towards home and all the while the old woman talked nonstop and her dog snarled at Amanda, she had no idea why it never liked her. She usually gave it treats too but to no avail.She was finally able to bring up the question that had been playing on her mind when they reached the flats and had stepped into Mrs Clocksworth's kitchen to place the goods.
" Mrs Clocksworth, when did you manage to renovate the building?" Amanda had noticed ed in her way up that the bottom floor had been going through some major upgrades and the top had reached new wallpaper and the floor was being fixed up too.
" Oh you didn't hear on the news?"
The old woman spoke as she placed her perishables in her fridge and Manda put the caned food onto a shelf.
" Some companies nearby for.ed an alliance of the sort and decided it was time to do some good for us locals so they have been cleaning up the streets, building and even helping charity. It's so kind of them don't you think?"
" Mmmmm it sure is."
Amanda was out of Mrs Clocksworth's flat a while later bea cause she had stayed for tea. As she walked over to her place.
So much had changed over the past three and a half days. It made her feel as though she had been out for longer. Amanda sat on her living room couch with her trusted blanket and a tub of strawberry and chocolate ice cream. After a few spoonfuls she sat and stared at the television the headline was on exactly what Mrs Clocksworth had mentioned the reason for the upgrades.
The mayor of city Y was commissioning the works on sector J two days ago. After a few words of how they were happy about the development and the companies that had contributed so greatly ribbons were cut and a cheer arose from the crowd. A news reporter mentioned a list of companies that had joined hands to do the work, when she mentioned RJ Corporate Amanda nearly choked.
" Have I been gone that long? Long enough to actually give such a company the time to change their ways?"