Monday, 17th of January
"Constance Martin"
"Constance Martin"
"Yes ma'am"
"You're up to see Mona Whyte."
As the words of the nurse that called out my name finally sunk into my head, I stood up in the midst of all the sick patients, walked up to the nurse and whispered a quick thank you as I proceeded gently into my best friend's hospital room.
Mona had gone through a lot these past weeks, ranging from last year December when this ghastly Illness got a hold of her and when the symptoms started to roll in.
She started with rapid weight loss, and then pale skin. Everyone that was close to her, even her parents thought that it was just a mere fever that she would overcome in a few days at bay.
Days turned to weeks, and more symptoms like her not being able to walk around her house or even eat came. Then her parents, after a long while finally took her to the hospital.
Immediately she was diagnosed with prolonged leukemia. The nurses began administering all sorts of medication for her and eventually they gave up. The doctor told Mona's dad that if she was even to be maintained with more medication, she wouldn't last more than a year.
Shortly after, Mona's long silky auburn hair started to fall out and she would just feel her dry scalp and her hair separating as if they never coexisted.
I visited her everyday, slept most nights by her side, fed her, laughed with her until the god forsaken illness that had by now consumed her entire body organs, started to mess with her till she could barely talk. Things had become fatal and I was told to leave her alone for the time being till her condition would be stabilised.
Then the day came when we were told that Mona had just few days to spend with us. All the memories of the good times we had spent started flooding in and tears trickled down my cheeks. I knew that I at least owed my best friend at least a last visit, even if that last visit had the tendency to scar my mental self.
Soon enough, I was forced to go out of Mona's hospital room because her pulse started to waver again and the nurse just had that look on her face that spelled regret in letting me in there.
"Wait. Constance is it?"
She said abruptly calling me back.
"Yes ma'am"
"I know what you're feeling. This nostalgic feeling that makes you feel like what Mona here is going through is all your fault."
"It's okay, Mrs Smith. I get the message I'll leave if that's what you want."
"Well I was wondering if you could come by later before she goes to bed to wish her a good night?"
First off, the fact that Mrs. Smith the notorious nurse that was know for being absolutely mean and rude when it came to patients was telling me to come by later? That aside I really had had enough of seeing Mona writhing in pain, because I started to feel like I could have had a part to play in the hands of her illness. Or I could've even prevented it. Things like this is what I try my utmost best to avoid.
"Well thanks for the offer ma'am, but I have lots of homework to do and I also need to clear my head after bearing the weight of what's been happening. Hope you understand though?"
She stared in disbelief.
After a moment or two, she came to a final conclusion on what to tell me.
"Okay then. If you say so. Do have a good night darling. " She said while flashing a fake smile along with it.
Finally after striding out of the hospital, I picked up my phone and called Alex.
Alex Juren has probably been the oldest and only boy I have actually known and been friends with ever since I was little. The way I met Alex is probably the most weird thing that has ever been heard of. Even thinking about it makes me want to hurl into a fit of laughter.
Alex was being beat up in an alley around the school premises in the first grade. Obviously every human mind would believe that they were male bullies that just wanted his lunch money or something. But they were male and female middle schoolers that Alex was owing and refused to pay. It was weird enough as you all are thinking, and I'm sure the questions circulating your mind are:
"How did a first grade kid manage to owe middle schoolers when they don't even attend the same school?"
But then, just in time I managed to swoop in to plead with them and even give them out of the savings I raked up so they could stop beating the pulp out of him. Indeed they stopped and left.
I started hysterically at how dumb he looked and suddenly burst into a fit of laughter.
"Hey. Girl. You didn't have to do that though. I was fine all on my own" Alex said pouting his little white face.
"Oh really? I seemed to me that someone was about to get his ass handed to him because of a couple of bucks." I said, also pouting.
Then we looked at each other in clear silence and started laughing too. Then Alex picked up all his books that were sprawled all over the floor.
"And yeah I didn't get your name." He figured to ask for the name of his saviour.
"I'm Constance. Constance Martin. "
"Cool. Would you like to come over for dinner, Connie to compensate you for the help?"
"Connie?" I said staring in shock because nobody else had called me that except my dad.
"Um.. yeah? Constance is too long though." He said putting on a "duhh" look on his face.
"Well I have to tell my Mom first before I can come over you know." I said shyly.
"Okay then. I guess I'll follow you home for permission from your Mom then."
And just like that, a wonderful best friendship started between I and Alex.