139 FED
ARIEL’S POV
The hospital corridors were unusually quiet at this early hour, the only sound being the soft shuffle of my footsteps against the linoleum floor. I reached the lobby, where the fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow over the empty chairs and deserted reception desk. The automatic doors slid open with a soft whooshing, and I stepped out into the cool morning air.
The streets were just beginning to stir, and the sky was a canvas of pastel pinks and oranges as the sun peeked over the horizon. I made my way down the sidewalk, my breath misting in the crisp air. The city was slowly waking up, the hum of traffic in the distance mingling with the chirping of birds in the nearby
trees.
I turned the corner and spotted a small convenience store nestled between two towering buildings. The storefront was adorned with colorful neon signs advertising various goods, and a flickering “Open 24 Hours” sign beckoned to early risers like me. Yeah, that was kind of true.
The tantalizing smell of freshly baked pastries wafted out onto the sidewalk, making my stomach growl in response. So, stepping inside, I was greeted by the warm aroma of coffee and the soft murmur of a radio playing in the background.
The shelves were stocked with an array of goods, from canned goods to fresh produce; their vibrant colors were a welcome sight in the store. A friendly cashier stood behind the counter, a tired smile on his face, as he rang up a customer’s purchases.
“Good morning, Miss,” he greeted.
“Good morning.”
“How may I be of help to you?” He asked, yawning and stretching his arms.
“Well, I came to get myself some food,” I replied. “And you must be feeling tired, by the way.”
“Yeah, a job like this is so exhausting. You can go get what you want.”
“Okay.” I nodded with a smile.
I made my way through the aisles, selecting a few items to take back to the hospital. I picked out a ripe apple, a loaf of crusty bread, and a wedge of sharp cheddar cheese, each item carefully chosen with Luke in mind. He was going to love this, I think.
FRO
As I made my way to the checkout counter, I couldn’t help but linger by the rows of colorful flowers, their blossoms nodding gently in the soft morning light.
With my purchases in hand, I bid farewell to the cashier and stepped back out into the waking city. The streets were now bustling with activity; the once- empty sidewalks were now filled with people going about their morning routines.
I felt a sense of peace settle over me as I made my way back to the hospital, the sun rising higher in the sky with each step she took.
I pushed the hospital doors open and made my way back to Luke’s room, greeting the nurses around.
I budged closer to Luke, with the purchased food in my hand, and I sat next to him. This devotedness had just unfolded within me, and I couldn’t actually believe I was doing this. But I had to tell myself, “This isn’t a dream big head. Just keep on living the reality.”
“How are you feeling, Luke?” I asked, gently touching his hand. But I took my hand off his the moment he gave me a knowing look.
“I’m feeling okay, Ariel. You don’t have to keep asking me this.‘
“I was just being concerned.”
“Well, I’m alright, or should I say I felt like I’d been run over by a truck or something?”
“Uhmm, why would you say that?”
“I don’t know. Because you ask too many questions.”
“Ask too many questions?” I chuckled. “Okay, that’s a big lie right there. But anyway, I brought you some food. You need to eat to regain your strength.”
“I have enough strength.”
“You argue too much. The nurse wasn’t lying when she said you’re stubborn.”
Luke sighed. “Don’t keep mentioning that word. What have you got there, by the way?‘
“Oh, you want to eat now?”
“Well, of course.”
“I thought you said you had strength. Incredible Hulk,” I teased him. “Don’t start acting like a two–year–old. Just show me what you got there.”
“Okay,” I said, displaying the food I had bought for him. The ripe apple, the loaf
of crusty bread, and the wedge of sharp cheddar cheese. “It’s clear, right? Not hospital food, since you wanted something delicious to eat.“–
“And you think these are delicious?” Luke made an irritated face.
My smile vanished right away. “Yes. Why are you asking? You don’t like them?”
Luke gave me a serious face for a few seconds before he began to laugh. “I’m just kidding, alright. This all looks really delicious. It’s going to make me feel better at the moment. Maybe eat and then zoom off to work.”
“No!” I disagreed right away. “You are not doing that.”
“Why not? I’m physically fit to get the hell out of here.”
“That wasn’t what the nurse said.‘
“I don’t care about what she says.‘
I chuckled and grabbed the apple, taking a small knife to peel the skin off. “Here, let me feed you.” I held the apple up to Luke’s mouth, taking small bites and feeding them to him. He closed his eyes in pleasure, savoring the sweetness of the apple.
“Hmm, this is really good. I never thought I’d taste something as good as this again.‘
“Why exactly?” I queried.
“Because I thought I was going to die.”
“Please don’t say that.”
“Say what? That I thought I was going to die?”
“And you said it.”
“Look, don’t be scared of death. It’s something that comes to you when the time is right.”
“I know. But still, I wouldn’t wish for that to happen. When death comes knocking on my door, I’m not going to let it get in.”
“That’s not something you get to decide,” Luke told me. “When death comes, we have no choice. And it’s quite painful. Not everyone wants to leave this earth. But the painful truth is that we’ll all have to. Young or old.”
“I know,” I said underneath my breath. “But I hope that we don’t die any time soon. There are still a lot of things that need to be accomplished.”
“Things like what? I’m a billionaire; I already have the wealth. I don’t see anything left for me to accomplish.”
“Speak for yourself, Luke. Speak for yourself.”
The moment he finished the apple, I tore off a piece of the crusty bread and dipped it in some water to soften it. I then fed it to Luke, who eagerly chewed on the bread.
“Mmm, this is delicious,” he said with a smile.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” I said, and I took a small piece of the sharp cheddar cheese and fed it to him. “I knew you would love this.”
Luke nodded, savoring the tangy flavor of the cheese. “Well, I’m supposed to say thank you now, right?”
“If you want.” I smiled.
“Fine. Thank you,” he said softly. His words really lit the spark in my heart. It was quite lovely, and this was a moment that I thought would never take place. I would be really surprising to anybody. How did we attain this passion overnight
