A beep beep sound woke me up. When I opened my eyes I saw two worried faces looking down at me. A man and a woman. Really creepy that I almost jumped out of fear.
"Whoa whoa! Take your faces off mine." I said.
"Oh James, Thank goodness you are awake. I was so worried." The woman fussed.
First of all, who was she? And how did she know my name?
"Why am I in a hospital?" I asked.
"Because…you…" she began explaining.
"I know . I know. I got hit by a car. I got that memo from the pain my head feels right now. I'm asking because I have no insurance whatsoever to cover or foot any bill…." I said
"Yeah, we're trying to cover that by ourselves. You don't need to worry." The man said.
"Just get the fool who hit me to have it covered….and why are you guys here? I know you guys from somewhere, I just can't tell where." I said.
"Umm, I was the one driving." The man said.
"You were the one driving? So why is the lady…" I paused. I had to control my thoughts. Obviously they were in the car together, why did I want to ask meaningless questions?
"You were the people who hit me..." I started.
"Technically I hit you. Just me." The man said.
"Oh enough with the unnecessary explanation…" my patience was running thin. Since I didn't die, I might as well begin my search for a place to lay my head. I definitely had no time for unnecessary explanations.
"I'm exhausted, please call the doctor to discharge me." I said and got up.
They rushed to lay me back down on the bed and that was when I realized who they were.
"Ria? Ria, is that you?" I asked and turned to the man, "Daniel! Daniel…where have you been man?" I half shouted.
Ria immediately attacked me with a hug. I put my arms around her and it felt good to receive a hug. I couldn't remember the last time I received one.
"James, I have looked everywhere for you." Ria said and sobbed.
"Where the hell did you go to?" She said and hit my chest several times in awkward punches.
"Babe, babe… take it easy on him. He is not strong. We hit him, remember?" Daniel said and tried to pull Ria away from me but she held on. I didn't want to let her go too. I missed her so much.
"Babe?" I inquired, surprised. They were in a relationship?
"Yeah…" Daniel responded awkwardly.
"This is interesting. And I'll love to know more but first, please tell these people to let me out of here. I hate hospitals for fuck sake!" I said to them.
They finally got a doctor to attend to me.
"I know you may want to go home, seeing as you've been out of consciousness for a long time. But I'll give you a list of dos and don'ts that will help you recover fast." The doctor said and I was elated.
Relief washed over me as the doctor agreed to discharge me.
"Let's drive you home," Ria offered.
"No" I immediately resisted.
"Are you sure? You aren't exactly strong." She pointed to the list of recovery instructions the doctor provided. My gut tightened. Needing help wasn't exactly in my "homeless and jobless" plan.
"Look," Daniel interjected, "give us an address. We can drop you off."
"I'll walk," I mumbled, the sting of humiliation pricking my eyes.
Ria's concerned frown deepened. "James, you—"
"I said, I'll walk!" My voice cracked, betraying the storm of emotions brewing inside.
A single tear escaped, rolling down my cheek. Shame. Anger. Relief. And a flicker of something else… a longing I couldn't quite place.
"I'll walk. You guys shouldn't bother yourselves. Ria, a hug before you go?" I asked or pretty much begged.
Ria rushed over, engulfing me in a hug. My body trembled as I held on, the familiar scent of her hair triggering a million memories. Memories I'd spent years trying to outrun.
***
They ended up insisting on taking me back to their place. I hesitantly agreed, pouring out my story – a symphony of misfortune that culminated in my current predicament.
"Why don't you join us at the place we work?" Ria suggested.
"Yeah, that's true. There's an opening for a gardener. Can you do that?" Daniel asked. Hope flickered in my chest, quickly doused by fear.
"Yes, I can," I croaked, clinging to the fragile thread of possibility.
"I'll talk to Mr Smith, the butler and housekeeper. I'll speak to him tomorrow ." Daniel said.
I thanked him and hoped that my unlucky aura didn't show its ugly head this time. A full time gardening job will be heaven.
"You can stay with us until you find your feet." Daniel said to me and I thanked them once more.
***
"I missed you babe, you finished early, I didn't even get to see your ass around today." I heard Daniel kiss and say to Ria as she greeted him welcome at the door.
I sighed, it was ages since I loved.
They did a bit of their 'loving' at the door before they came into the kitchen where I was seated sipping the juice Ria had served me.
"Hey Man, what's up? I hope you're better because I've got news." Daniel said as he sat down.
"News?" I asked cautiously and took another sip of my juice.
"Yes, news." he said as poured himself a beer.
"This news, is it good or bad?" I asked.
"Good news of course. Will I pour myself beer if it was bad news?" He asked and chuckled.
"It depends." I responded.
"Nah, if it was bad news, I'll be giving you the beer." He laughed.
"I spoke to the butler, Mr Smith. And he said you can begin work once you are strong." He announced and I got up and hugged him.
"Nice to have my best friend hug me again," he muttered.
I gave him an awkward smile and retired to my room.
***
This place was magnificent. A sprawling estate that dwarfed any mansion I'd ever cleaned. Today was the day, the day I finally reported for my new gardening job. Nervousness gnawed at my insides as I waited in the foyer, fiddling with my worn cap.
"Are you James Black?" A voice, crisp and authoritative, cut through my anxiety.
I looked up to meet the gaze of the butler, Mr. Smith. He was tall and impeccably dressed, his face etched with an air of quiet command.
"Yes sir," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
He invited me into the foyer.
He scrutinized me from head to toe, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. My already tattered confidence began to fray at the edges.
I fidgeted.
Just when I could bear it no longer, he spoke.
"I don't like how you're dressed," he said, his voice a low rumble.
My heart sank. Had I blown it? Was I about to lose the job I hadn't even begun?
I mumbled incomprehensible words, desperately searching for an explanation for the rumpled state of my shirt.
But before I could elaborate, Mr. Smith leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"That's not the real problem, Mr. Black." He paused, his gaze flickering to the worn leather gloves clutched in my hand.
"It's those gloves."
My heart sank.