I woke up to the pungent smell of hospital disinfect, invading my nostrils. The room was silent apart from my heavy breathing and the beep beep sound you often hear in hospitals that indicates you"re alive. I slowly opened my eyes, squinting in attempt to sharpen the blurred images before me. I glanced around and took in the deserted, blue and white colour schemed hospital bedroom. How long have I been here? I shut my eyes, trying to remember what had exactly happened. Then it all hits me with a bang. The memory of it all starts to occupy my thoughtsOut of impulse, my hand travels to my face, pressing the throbbing area on my right temple. I felt a bandage covering up a wound and flinched at the pain. I tried to get up but instantly fell back on to the bed. My body, engulfed in pain as if objecting my decision to stand up. I lay there pathetically, waiting for the pain to wash away. Staring at the ceiling, illuminated with a white fluorescent light. Perhaps waiting for some help by the hospital staff. I still didn"t know how I got here, who took me here, how long I"ve been here.
"Dylan... Dylan" A female"s voice interrupts my self wallow. She"s the one whose been bedside, holding my hand. The bags under her eyes evidence of how little sleep she"s had.
"Are you awake?" She asks excitedly, hurriedly running off to call the physician, tears start forming under her eyes. I want to reach over and wipe them but by body doesn"t respond.
Moment"s later, a she returns followed by a few nurses and a very stern looking middle-aged Korean-American man in a white gown.
After picking up the chart that lays at the corner of my bed. He steps forward, leaning over me, I smell his cologne. He smells like the inside of a new car.
Flas.h.i.+ng a small light into my eyes, he notes down all the changes. He then instructs me to follow his finger and once he completes his basic checkup, smiles in joy.
"How is he, doctor" The female asks
"His fine, his actually better than fine miss.... moon" He says, "It"s surprising how he was able to walk out of that crash with only superficial wounds"
She sighs in relief as he offers her one final compliment, "You did a great job with first response."
The nurses and doctor then exits the room to help other patients in need. Hospitals are a busy place.
Like a man under the blazing sun left to die... in the lonely desert land. I"m extremely parched and after great struggle, I"m finally able to say, "Wa..ter"
"Dylan, what did you say?" She leans forward, bringing her ear directly above my mouth. Unlike the doctor, I enjoy her smell. She smells like powdered sugar, sweet.
"Can... I get... water" I say with great difficulty
The female, hurriedly grabs the jug next to all the flowers and get well cards that stand on the table across from me.
Helping me sit up, she then holds the gla.s.s and let"s me drink a few sips to quench my thirst. This eases up my throat and I"m able to speak with much more ease than before.
Awkwardness fills the air. I don"t really know what I should say right now.
"Dylan" She breaks the silence, "how are you feeling"
I try and force a smile and answer, "I could be better..." I pause, "Was I out for long?"
"2 days"
"2 DAYS!?"
She nods, patting me on the back ever so softly trying to alleviate the coughing fit my outburst has caused.
"And you"ve been here the whole time?" I ask
She nods again.
"And baechu? where is she?"
"She...." Tries to collect herself, "She just left 10 minutes ago to get some air. She"ll be back soon"
I grab her hand that is resting on my bed, "Chae-won..... thank you" I say as I bring her cold hand, toward my face and lay in it.
"Dyl..."
I shake my head, telling her not to speak. While I lay quitely so, I feel every fiber of my body calling to hers.
When suddenly, the door to my room swings open and a female carrying a bag of pastries, rushes in.
"DYLAN" She screams. Throwing the bag to the wayside, ignoring the compromising position that she sees, just hurries to lay herself in my chest
"A little to forceful there Baechu"
"Dypa ... Dypa... Dypa" Been a while since she"s called me that. It"s like she"s suddenly a little girl. She just keeps repeating my pet name over and over and over as her tears soak my chest.
Slowly I wrap my arm around her and bring my head down, despite the pain in my ribcage. Kissing her gently on the forehead, like my mom used too, signalling that it"s all okay.