Under the Stars

38: Love

Caleb

Vanessa wasn't that heavy.
She was heavier than Rose though
since she's older.

Taking her out of her work

was kind of an easy task.
I had to get the reciptionist

to tell me where her office was.

Since Vanessa had protested
I decided to carry her
and go fetch Andrew.

"Why do we need to see Rose?"
Andrew kept asking

jogging close behind me
in his black suit.

I ignore him
and keep on running towards

the hospital.

"Caleb! I said put me down!"
Vanessa shrieked in my ear
making me cringe
but I ignore her protests

and keep on running.

We dash across traffic

and ignore the honks

and curses we receive from people.

My legs start to burn
just when the hospital comes to view

and my feet start to weigh

more than me.

I put Vanessa down
who stumbles into the arms
of her husband.

I watch them make eye contact

and look away
a slight tinge of red
coloring their hidden ears.

I turn back to the hospital
and walk into it
knowing that they're both close behind me.

We walk past pale hallways

and monotone nurses.
We walk past muffled rooms
and up some stairs

until we reach Rose's room.

I open the door
and the stench of medicine
fills my nostrils

along with the familiar scent
of vanilla.

I glance over my shoulder

at Rose's parents
who are looking around the room

with wide eyes
and I know
they've never visited her.

We walk deeper into the room
until we catch sight of Rose
in the hospital bed.

There are less blood packets here
and the monitor beeps her heartbeat
a slow and healthy rhythm.

Her parents don't move.
They stay put where they are
at the corner of the room

away from Rose.

I look at them
and their eyes are wide
with shock and horror.

Their eyes travel

to the stitches on her head
to the oxygen mask on her pale face
and to the many tubes
pierced into her skin
with the blood packs.

The stitches will for sure

dissolve and leave a scar

but will be hidden in her hair.

"...Rose?"

I stare at their shocked faces

and just stand there beside her bed.
Not doing anything

but just watching them.

Andrew gulps
but he moves towards Rose

like he is afraid he'd scare her.

Vanessa does the same.
Their movements slow

and careful.

I look at the notebook in her hand

and nod to it.
"You two should read that.
It's Rose's."

They look at me
and look down at the notebook.

Then they give each other a look
before opening the notebook.
Flipping through each page
with gentle and sure slips

but their hands are shaky.

Vanessa catches her breath
and her bottom lips trembles
and her eyes her glossy.

Andrew's jaw tightens
and his eyes are starting to water.

And when they close the notebook
and read their daughter's wishes

and hopes
and nightmares
that she had bundled up inside her

far too long

they look at me

with tears dripping from their eyes.

There's a light in them

that I've never seen before

and it catches me off guard.

And there's this feeling

blossoming in my chest

and fills me up with hope

and I cling onto it.

Andrew and Vanessa hold hands
and suck in heavy breaths

before looking at their

daughter.

"We'll allow the surgery. Rose deserves it."

And then
the world explodes
into vibrant sparkles of colors
just like Rose's closet.

I grasp onto a sparkle
and it slowly fades
just like the sun
but it warms me up inside
just like the sun.

Andrew calls the doctor

and signs a few papers

along with Vanessa

and they discuss things over.

And after an hour
a surgeon eases Rose
onto a different bed

and rolls her out the bedroom
and into the OR.

"You changed your minds?"
I ask with a boyish grin

and they look at me

with a smile.

Vanessa bites her lip

and looks down sheepishly.
"I'm selfish, but I know something for sure
about this life."

Andrew looks at her

and she looks at him.
I know for sure

that what ever affair they had
had never turned them on

as they have together.

"I'm sorry for all those affairs,"
they unintendedly said together

and burst into giggles.

I look around and was prepared to slide away
and give them their space

since they looked like they needed it.

"Ya know, all those women

aren't as sexy as you are,"
Andrew says lowly

and I catch a tinge of red
color Vanessa's ears.

Oh sh*t, this is getting inappropriate.

I turn when I catch them say
"I love you."
and I walk to the waiting room
outside the OR.

I'm not disgusted.

I'm happy for them.

And happy for Rose.