Chapter 2
Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months and in the blink of an eye six years had passed since the night two loved ones bid their heart farewell. Kasey breathed in a breath of the cool, New York air she had grown accustomed to. It was rare she thought of Ryan Goldrick. She had spent so many nights crying over him and used an endless amount of tissues to dry her tears. Those were things she could never get those things back, but she didn't want them. She knew Ryan and she had made the right choice by breaking up but there was always those what- ifs. What If they stayed together? What if he didn't join the army? What if she didn't go to New York? Would things be different? Of course they would! There was no time to think about that. If she didn't hurry she would be late for work, that's for sure. She signed in for her internship at Lenox Hill Hospital, as usual, went on with her normal rounds, and stopped in to say hello to Mandy Jenkins, a little girl who and contracted a bad case of pneumonia. Room 302? That was new; the room had been empty for almost four days since Mr. Seinfeld had been released. As she went in she was met with the unforgettable, emerald green eyes that couldn't belong to anyone other the man she never thought to see again. Quickly Kasey pulled out the patient's chart and scanned it for more information. The type clearly stated Goldrick, Ryan M. DOB: 8-23-1985. After gathering her thoughts Kasey straightened her posture and cleared her throat.
"Hello I am Kasey and I will be checking your vitals," she stated in a professional voice.
"I know who you are Kase," Ryan said flashing a smile that made the room spin a little.
"Yeah well I'm just going through protocol," She informed him as she recorded his blood pressure and heart rate.
"How have you been," Ryan asked staring at her.
"Alright I guess," she shrugged as she started to unwrap the bandage on his left arm, silently noticing the tattoo of an American Flag with 9-11-01 scribbled underneath it, knowing that's the day Ryan knew what he was going to do with his life.
"So how you likin' The Big Apple?"
"It's nice. Hectic, but nice." Kasey replied focusing on rewrapping Ryan's Bandage and taking in the damage.
Sighing Ryan gently laid his head back on the stiff hospital pillow.
"You seem stable and it looks as if you'll be out of here in a few days," Kasey said going back into doctor mode.
"Good to hear," Ryan huffed, eyes still closed.
Kasey took in his exhausted appearance and sat his chart aside. "Are you ok Ry? You look pretty beat up."
"Well you try getting blown up and see how you feel afterward," he snapped.
Kasey noticed the cut above his right eyebrow and hundreds of bruises and scrapes and remembered reading about a shattered ankle bone. Kasey took a small step back from Ryan's outburst.
"I'm Sorry Kase. I'm just tired, that's all," Ryan quickly apologized.
"It's ok. Not a big deal," Kasey replied hastily while grabbing Ryan's chart and checking for her pen before stepping outside the door.
"I hope you get better and stay safe Ryan," she said with a glance over her shoulder.
As she walked down the sterile corridor Kasey let out a deep breath. So this is how they meet again. In a hospital room after the love of her life got blown up in the desert. This is not how she imagined it. A few feet away in Room 302 Ryan was thinking the same thing. All those nights in Afghanistan Kasey Donnelly was the only thing worth coming home to and here she was. He had already lost her once and there was not a chance in hell he was going to lose her again.