"How did you get to the hospital Nora?" Luke asked.
"I called Tina, she was on Bacillus street. Then I heard a loud noise, as if something collided, I heard her scream, then the line cut off. I rushed there but I didn't know where exactly she was. By chance, I saw a police car speeding to the spot. The ambulance had already left when I reached there. I hoped that it wasn't Tina every moment but..." She trailed off.
Luke didn't say anything but continued driving, he stopped at her dorm, he looked at her, she hadn't moved an inch, she was leaning against the window her eyes fixed on the road. "Nora, we're here."
She jerked and looked around, "Thank you." Without saying anything she stepped out and headed to her dorm, she didn't turn but walked straight ahead.
Luke watched her enter the building. He leaned in his seat and stared at the ceiling of the car.
***
As soon as Nora reached her room, she shut the door and slumped down on the floor and the tears started falling again, she put her head between her knees and cried until her tears dried out. That day her vision was different, it was frightening. It was a gut wrenching scene, a dark, cold place with blood spilled everywhere. There was a heap of dead bodies, women, men, children. It was a massacre. A group of people were forcefully pulling out persons out of their homes into a square, then were killed mercilessly in front of others who cheered at this brutal sight. Nora shrieked. The group of people started turned her heads to her, and smiled the most evil smile and started towards her. She ran but it was an endless road. They continued following her. Her vision broke when her hook came off, the fall saved her somehow.
She got up, her legs were numb. She stumbled on her bed and laid there staring into space.
Her phone ring woke her up, it was an unknown number, "Hello?" She said in a groggy voice.
"Hey sleepyhead. Wake up." The person on the other side said. Nora's eyes fluttered open, it was Tina. "Tina. Tina, you're awake. Are you okay? How do you feel? When did you wake up?"
"Easy, easy, come over I'll answer everything." Tina said softly.
"Yes. I am on way. Wait for me." Nora was already on her feet, rummaging through her stuff to get ready.
She took a cab to the hospital and rushed inside, bumping into almost everyone that came in her way. She slammed through the doors, breathing heavily.
"How long?" Tina asked.
"17 minutes 46 seconds. To be exact." George said.
"I won. Now I can get a cup of coffee." Tina grinned. Nora looked at them confused, she looked around, Nick had passed out on the sofa in the room and Sophia was busy checking the machines in there. She paced towards her, "Are you okay? Does it hurt? Do you need anything–"
"Calm down Nora. I am fine. Just a little dizzy though." She pointed to her head.
"Do you know how scared I was? I couldn't even believe what happened." Nora said.
"I know. They told me everything, but look, now I am okay." She spread her hands.
"Please leave. Check up time." Sophia said.
Luke was standing outside the room with cup holder in his hands. "I was in an urgent need for caffeine." George grabbed a cup.
"Hold this. Nora there's juice for you in there." He handed the holder to George and went out again and came back with another bag and gave it to Nick, "Breakfast." He said.
They sat in the waiting lounge, waiting for Sophia to return. George and Nick dug into the food. "You should have one too."
"No Thank you." She took a sip from her cup, her face puckered, "What the heck is this?" She put the cup back on the table. Luke grabbed the cup and opened the lid. "You took the wrong one." He exchanged them.
"Coffee is supposed to be hot." She said gulping down the juice.
"I wanted cold coffee today." He shrugged. Nora turned to look at him, he took the cup and placed his lips where hers were. She stared at him sipping his coffee, he caught her gaze and raised his eyebrow, she immediately looked away.
Sophia came in with a file in her hand, "So guys everything seems normal but she stays in the hospital for the coming week. We cannot discharge her now."
"A week? So you'll probably miss your final exams." George said.
"Don't worry we talked to the Dean. They will handle it, she can give them when she recovers completely." Nick said.
***
For the coming week, Nora ran between the university and the hospital. On the final day she completed her exam and went to the hospital. Tina was now shifted to the normal ward, her parents came to visit her but had to leave due to urgent issues. They also thanked everyone and invited all of them to their place.
"Nora look." Tina was giggling as she was taking small steps with Nick's hand wrapped around her shoulders. "I am coming back now. You have to look after me."
Nora looked at Nick, "You didn't tell her?"
Nick sighed, "Tina you're not going back to your dorm, you're coming at my place. Nora cannot look after you the way I can."
"Don't you dare underestimate her." Tina snapped.
"I said that myself. He can look after you better than I can. So you're going with him. No questions asked." Nora said. Tina took her in a hug, "You grew up." She pulled her back and looked her in the eye, "Fine I will go but you are supposed to look after yourself. Do not die." Tina said sternly. Nora smiled and nodded.
Nick helped Tina into his car and shut the door. "Get in Nora." Tina said poking her head out of the window.
"No I have to go somewhere. The public library, I have some work." She said. Tina looked at her, "Really?" Nora nodded. "Okay then. Be safe." Nora stood at the gate until the car disappeared off sight, then she stopped a taxi, "Downtown Sorane." She said and got in.
She stood at the entrance of Harbour Heaven. She called Luke, he didn't pick up. The second time he picked up on the first ring, "Yes?" He said.
"Luke can I meet you?" She said gathering up her courage.
"Nora?" He sounded surprised. "Yes you can."
"I'm outside Harbour Heaven right now." She said.
"Wait there I'll send Jerry to get you." He said.
Jerry appeared out of the doors within the next few minutes. He lead her into the underground parking where Luke was busy putting bags into his SUV. He looked at her, "What brought you here?"
"Um..." She said, Jerry moved away from them.
"Comfortable enough?" He asked shutting the trunk.
"Thanks. Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes." He shrugged, "Don't dodge my question. You need anything?"
"I… actually..." She fell short of words seeing him stand in front of her. "I don't know." She said in a small voice.
"Come again." He said. She looked up at him, her cheeks burning, "How long. I said how long will you be gone."
"3 - 4 weeks."
"You'll miss your graduation?" She asked surprised. He smiled, "Probably –" he was cut off by his phone, he picked it up, "Yeah I'm about to leave. Five minutes at most. Yes I know." He nodded and hung up.
"I'll leave or you'll be late. I just came to see you, it wasn't anything important." She waved her hand, "Have a safe trip."
"You came just like that?" He quirked his eyebrow, "Okay. Thank you then, it was nice seeing you." He shrugged.
Nora looked at him and then turned around, embarrassment was creeping up her. Luke stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He turned her around and tilted her chin up making her look in his eyes, which shone like two bright sapphires. He bent down and gently kissed her on her cheek, "Good bye Nora."
Straightening himself he said, "You should leave. It's getting late, I'll ask Jerry to drop you." He walked away when his phone buzzed again. Next came Jerry who lead her to another car. She sat in the back and within a second she was out of Harbour Heaven. She leaned on the window and closed her eyes trying to calm her heart down which was now beating at an unbelievable rate. "4 weeks," She murmured, "it's a long time."