Tap... tap tap, I hear knocking from the door. It's the same knock I've been hearing for the past 9 years of my life. No, almost 10.
"Come in mom" I reply.
As I reply, my mom walks through the door.
She has a happy look on her face today, much happier than any other day.
Today felt like a calm summer day, just like any other day. I hear the birds chirping just like yesterday and the day before. The soft breeze continues to blow into my hospital room, like any other day. Something must've happened today.
"Good morning." I say as I wave my hand at her.
"Good morning dear, how's your day so far?" she asks.
"Like any other day. You? You seem quite happy today. What's up?" I ask as I sit up on my bed.
She sits on the sofa placed to the right of my bed and replies "Well, it's almost your 18th birthday Noah. I have something special planned to commemorate you turning into an adult. Now, isn't that exciting. My dear son's going to turn 18 in a few days. You've grown up so much since you were a little baby."
As she says this I recall that my birthday is close. I've almost forgotten. These dull days at the hospital really numbs one's mind. I've been here for practically my whole life and there's not much to do.
Though I forgot about my own birthday, I play it off as if I do. "Yeah, I'm turning into an adult now. Just a few more days huh…."
"Well time sure does fly by. It feels as if just yesterday you were born."
I don't know about my mom, but for me it's been an eternity. Days barely go by in the hospital.
"So you said you have certain plans in mind right?" I question mom.
"Oh yeah about that, I've chatted with the doctors looking over you and they say that it'll be okay to take you out from the hospital for a few days. I know it's been a few years since you've left the hospital grounds and I wanted to get you out and celebrate this birthday elsewhere." mom says with excitement in her eyes.
I'm left completely speechless. It indeed has been a few years since I've left the hospital grounds. I can barely recall the last time I was outside. Looks like luck was on my side this time, I finally get to leave this damn place. Even if it's just for a few days, I'll get to leave.
"Wait really? I'm leaving this place for a bit???" I say excitedly, matching my mom's vibes.
"Get dressed man, let's go get something to eat." my mom says as she stands up.
"Mmm, yeah." I nod
She walks over to my bed and gives me a big warm hug. It felt just like yesterday's and the day before.
"I'll be waiting in the lobby." mom says to me as she picks up her handbag and leaves the room.
As she leaves, I slowly make my way out of bed. Just like any other morning, I head over to the sink. I'm still as pale as a vampire huh? I chuckle. I quickly brush my teeth and take a quick shower as usual.
I then quickly pick an outfit and make my way to the lobby.
I quickly leave my room and lock the door behind me. As I walk down the hospital corridors the nurses greet me. They've been with me for practically my whole life so we're pretty close now.
"I get to go out today." I tell the nurses as I make my way to the elevator.
"Oh yeah, we know. You're finally smiling too. Have fun out there kiddo!" the nurses joking reply.
"Will do!" I chuckled as I made my way into the elevator.
I pressed the 1 button on the elevators. When I first came to this hospital it was basically as good as new. Now the ink on the buttons have peeled off and the lights in the elevator are barely illuminating the elevator. Have I been here for that long?
The elevator quickly rings, notifying me I've arrived on the first floor. Slowly, the doors squeak open. The chattering of people fills my ears. There's so many people. Are they looking at me? Gotta find mom…
I scan the hospital lobby, looking around for my mom. Where is she? I can't find her.
Then another nurse walks up to me. I've never seen him before however because I usually don't leave my floor. He smiles at me and asks me, "Hey, are you looking for someone here buddy?"
My palms start sweating and I can barely look at him. I can feel my heartbeat getting faster and faster. Ignoring him, I walk over to the entrance of the hospital. Maybe she's out here?
I walk out the hospital doors and see my mom sitting on a bench beside the hospital doors. After a decade of being cooped up the outside world feels so different. The gentle summer breeze flowed through my hair and the warm sunlight hit my pale skin. It is truly a breath of fresh air.
"Wait here okay, I'll go get the car." mom says as she quickly gets up from the bench and heads toward the parking lot.
Instead of waiting for her I decided to follow her and walk around a little. The feeling of being outside is truly like no other.
As I follow her I stumble on someone's bag. Seriously? Who leaves their bag on the floor? My own excitement blinded me and now I'm going to fall in front of everyone. How embarrassing. As I fall however, I notice something. I'm not falling. Maybe it was because of the adrenaline or something, time seemed to be moving slowly. I havent hit the ground yet. I slowly look in front of me to see that I'm falling straight into a truck parked on the side. I'm heading straight into the bumpers of the truck. Oh shit. I can't do anything to stop the fall.
I brace my core and shut my eyes tightly as I prepare to hit my head against the truck. A few seconds go by, I still haven't fallen. Something's off… A fall isn't supposed to take this long right. It's supposed to be a matter of seconds. I'm too scared to open my eyes. Maybe I've already fallen and just scraped a knee or something. It could've been a light fall right? Damn. Only one way to find out.
As I re-open my eyes. I feel my body hitting the ground. I didn't hit the truck. Lucky me… However, the ground feels much too soft. It's not the concrete I imagined myself to fall on. I look at the ground. It's not concrete at all, It's grass. I get up from my fall to see where I've landed. I take a quick glance around me, all I know for sure is that this is definitely not where the hospital is.