David and Steffi (Part 3)

Part III

(Read Part I here, and Part II here)

Steffi

I rushed to the hospital. All the while I was thinking that David was all right. Trying to reconcile what happened last night and what I knew now. Maybe they had the time of the accident wrong. But then again, David wouldn't have left in the middle of the night. When he stayed over, he usually stayed until breakfast.

It couldn't have been a dream because it had felt so real.  I was sure David had been with me last night. I remember the feel of his arms around me. I remembered my bed's neatness where David should have slept. I felt a chill run through me. I was sure, but I was scared. If it had been a dream, what did it mean? That wasn't a ghost or a spirit was it? If it was, why visit me? Why me? No, David was fine. Last night wasn't some spooky supernatural thing. David went to my apartment, we talked, we slept. He left. He left? But why would he leave in the middle of the night?

I was turning into the hospital's parking lot when my phone signaled an incoming SMS. It was Tanya telling me they were at the ICU and asking me if I was sure about going to the hospital. Crap, ICU meant it was serious, didn't it?

I  entered the hospital lobby and asked directions at the concierge. It wasn't until I got to the hospital proper when I realized I hated hospitals. The muted lights of the lobby gave way to the harsh white lights common to hospitals. I felt my body grow cold and my palms were damp. I really hated hospitals after having spent the worst two years of my life in one.


I walked through the seemingly endless corridors to the ICU. I saw Tanya and Mike standing outside the ICU. Tanya saw me coming and rushed to meet me.

"Are you okay?", Tanya immediately asked me. She grabbed my hand and shook her head. "Your hands are cold. C'mon, you don't have to be here."

Tanya knows how I feel about hospitals. I said, "No, I'm fine. I mean it's David. He was with me last night. I don't know what time he left my apartment but --"

"No, that's impossible, Stef. David came from the office last night. He texted Mike that he was just leaving sometime past one."

Mike came over to us. I gave him a hug, "How is he?" How are your parents?"

"He hasn't woken up yet, Stef. A cracked skull, broken arm, broken ribs. Doctor said it was lucky no organs were damaged."

"Look, I don't know. I think I might be going crazy, but he went to my apartment last night. He wanted to sleep over but I guess he left."

"No, Stef, that can't be. He texted me when he was about to leave the office. That was already past one in the morning." Mike searched in his phone inbox and showed me the text from David.

I shivered. Tanya and Mike looked at each other. I was pretty sure some wordless communication occurred at that moment because Tanya put her arm around me, "C'mon Stef, we can't do anything here right now. Let's get some coffee."

"Wait, I haven't seen David yet." I pulled away and went to the ICU windows. David was unrecognizable for all the bandages.  But I would know his face anywhere. He was that dear to me. I felt tears sting my eyes. I was confused. Last night felt real to me. But everything that Tanya and Mike told me proves that last night was impossible.

I turned to Mike and asked, "What's going to happen next?"

"Well, we wait. The Doctor said that he'll wake up on his own in a few hours. Mom and Dad were here a while ago but they went home to prepare some stuff. They'll come back later. You go with Tanya and get coffee."

To be continued here.