Kevin
"Miss Cassandra….." I called out to her, as she looked over her shoulder to hear whatever I had to say, her face showing that she probably doesn't care about what I have to say, but her eyes they tell a different story, the look in her eyes is what I choose to hold onto.
"I… erm…I—" I stuttered, my phone ringing distracting me from talking further. I slide my hand into my pocket to bring out my phone to see the name displayed on the screen.
"Fuck!" I cursed underneath my breath, I have to pick this call.
"I'm sorry ma'am, I have to take this call" I said, walking away. I turned to look at her one more time, hoping she would look back at me but she didn't, I watched her as she directed and supported Candice into the house.
I went towards the side of the house to pick the call.
"What's up, why are you calling me?" I asked, the sound of voice laced with impatience.
"Your mom just slumped, we're are the Maryland hospital" he said from the other end of the phone and ending the call immediately.
"Shit!" I cursed underneath my breath.
I called the boss and informed him of the present situation. He gave me a week's permit. I informed the other security guards that I wouldn't be available for a while and they should be on the lookout for Miss Cassandra.
Upon entering back into the house, I found Cassandra lost in thought, her figure a solitary silhouette against the backdrop of the balcony. Her chin rested in her hands, an expression of profound contemplation etched upon her face.
I wanted to walk towards her, but I stopped, knowing that she might want to be alone right now and I didn't want to be much of a burden on her.
I packed a few things and was on my way. I walked to the bus stop and waited for the bus to come. I waited for about thirty minutes before the bus arrived, by then my patience had run out already, but it was mom in question, i had to go see her. It was about a three hour journey by bus back into the town Shadowbrook. I took a taxi to Maryland hospital. I walked up to the nurse by the counter.
"Good morning, please I'm here to see a patient that was admitted here yesterday" i said politely.
"What's her name please?" She asked, her gaze fixed on the computer.
"Angela miller johnson" I replied, waiting for an answer as I watched her type the name into the computer.
"Are you family to her?" She asked, looking at me.
"Yes I am" I replied.
"She's in room 205" she said, her gaze meeting mine.
I looked down the hallway in confusion, wondering how I was going to locate room 205. The hospital was pretty big, so searching for the room wasn't what I was ready for. I turned to look at the nurse in utter confusion, I guess she understood by the look on my face, she chuckled lightly.
She stood up from her chair, leaning on the counter and pointing down the hallway.
"Just go straight down the hallway, the first turn by your left, go down that path you'll see room 205" She said smiling at me and sitting back on her chair.
"Thank you very much" I said, walking down the hallway, following her instructions I was standing in front of my mom's room.
I heaved a sigh, opened the door and walked into the room.
The soft rhythmic beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room, a stark contrast to the bustling activities outside. My mother looked smaller and frailer than I remembered, her skin a translucent pallor against the white sheets. A lump formed in my throat as I took in the sight.
The door creaked open, I turned to see who was coming, my gaze met with Pete, my best friend from day one. He had been staying with my mom recently because he was searching around for jobs in the neighborhood.
"Hey, what's up man?" He said, giving me a brotherly handshake before he went ahead to take a seat.
"I'm feeling overwhelmed, man. What about You?" I asked, giving him a gentle nudge.
"I've just been stressed out, getting a job out here ain't easy man. I'm fucking tired" he said, expressing himself.
"I know exactly how you feel, but you just gotta continue, I know you'll get a job soon" I said assuring him.
I also knew how it was getting a job here in shadowbrook, it's pretty tough. I only got the job I had right now, because I didn't stop searching.
"Yea thanks bro" he said, smiling.
"Yo, I had to call you as soon as your mama fell down, I was panicking, man, I was so scared," he said, narrating and explaining how he felt.
I turned to look at my mom, I watched as her chest was moving up and down as she was sleeping so peacefully.
When I got the call from Pete, I was so scared that I'd lose my mom just like I lost my dad. I was not ready to lose my mom just yet.
"I really appreciate you taking care of my mom Pete. If you were not there I wondered what would have happened" I said, my voice laced with sadness.
"I'd do anything for you my brother. You both gave me a room that I could stay in, taking care of your mom is the least thing I could do, I'd do so much more so long as it's within my power" He said, confidently with a smile on his face.
"And I don't want you worrying, the doctor said your mother doesn't have a serious issue and she's going to be out of here in no time, your mama is going to be fine okay?" He said, his gaze stern and unwavering as he expected a response from me.
I nodded in response. There's no way in hell that I wasn't goddamn worried. It's my mother, the one who took care of me literally my whole life after my father died while I was just six years old. I was more than worried.
I turned to look at Pete, I was even more grateful for him, I couldn't imagine if he wasn't there, she could have died.
"Thanks bro!" I said, as tears clouded my eyes.
"Nah it's alright" he said, waving me off.
"What did the doctor say is wrong with her?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.
"Didn't give details, but there's a nurse that would fill you in" he replied, his phone buzzing to life. His eyes widened as he read the message.
"Bro…!" He shouted out loud, quickly placing his hand over his mouth when he was reminded that my mom was sleeping.
"Bro!" He shouted silently, his face glowed with so much happiness.
"What is it?" I asked, curious to know what got him all worked up.
He rushed towards me showing me the message. I didn't quite understand the whole message.
"What is it?"
"I was selected amongst those who will go through the final interview, the top three," he said happily.
"It's one of the biggest tech companies in Shadowbrook," he added. I don't think I've seen him this happy before but I was so happy for him. He deserved it.
"When is the interview?" I asked keenly.
"It is today by 8:00am, I would have to leave you here in the hospital, I've got to prepare" he said.
"It's fine. Good luck bro" I said, hugging him tightly. I watched him scurry out of the room, he was finally going to get what he has always wanted, a job.
I was alone in the room with my mom. I looked up at the clock and it was 7:00 am already, I realized I hadn't slept throughout the night. Damn, I walked out of the room to get a soda and ended up bumping into a female nurse dressed in a blue scrub.
"I'm so sorry I didn't see you" I apologized.
"It's fine. The patient in this room is my patient and I don't recognize you." She said, giving me a questioning look.
With that look on her face she looked awfully familiar, but I can't pinpoint.
"Oh I understand, the other guy is a friend of mine that stays with my mom, your patient is my mother" I replied, clearing her thoughts.
"Oh… You are?" She asked, with the questioning look on her face.
"I'm Kevin miller johnson" I said, stretching my arm forward for a handshake as she took in my hand and shook my hand.
"I'm Doctor Anastasia Parker…." She said, trailing off, giving me a weird look.
"Did you by any chance attend Greenwood high school!" She asked, looking at me inquisitively.
That's it, it was in Greenwood high school, I knew the face was awfully familiar. She was my high school crush, she had changed so much and she look totally different in that blue scrub and lab coat.
"Yes, I did" I replied, smiling at her. I could feel the sweat gathering up on my forehead, i was getting nervous.
"You're the Damsel of greenwood high school, right?" I asked, acting as though I didn't know her.
She laughed out loud.
"Oh, please!" She said, still laughing.
"And you were the most quiet in class and people would just go on to call you a weirdo" she blurted out.
So she did recognize me in class, I always felt like nobody ever saw me in class, so I was all alone by myself. One certain time I summoned courage, waking up to her and wanting to ask her out to a date and just when I was about asking her, the high school basketball sensation Ethan beat me to it. She recognizing me felt like it was healing my inner broken-hearted teenager that was desperate for love.