I do not own or claim to own any rights to Twilight. Thank you Ms. Meyer for your creation. You've made so many people happy. I do own the rest of this story, so thank you all for respecting my rights.
Bella Swan: The Unwanted Bride
Chapter 3: Fading to Black
Before I went back to the hospital, I checked with our escorts and they assured me that Tyler's and my travel arrangements were taken care of. I secured Gwen's family's address and wrote a letter telling them that Gwen passed away peacefully. I told them how much I enjoyed her company, and that I was sorry for the loss of their daughter. I wished that there was more that I could do for them.
The dress that I washed in the bathroom sink and hung up in my room to dry was still slightly damp. Hopefully it would dry on my way to the hospital. I took extra time with my hair by pinning it up into a bun. I found that fussing with it at the hospital was nearly impossible when my hands were always full, not to mention some of the disgusting things that came into contact with them. I certainly didn't want that stuff in my hair.
I was taken by surprise when room service knocked at my door and they told me that Mrs. Vitale had the hotel chef make me a beautiful large breakfast. There were poached eggs, French toast and sausage. I never heard of having breakfast in the afternoon, but it was absolutely wonderful. I still had a bit of bread and cheese leftover from yesterday that I could nibble on for dinner while at the hospital.
When I arrived at three o'clock there were even more people outside of the hospital than the day before. Today there were sick people lying about the grass, and angry people at the door. The guard recognized me immediately and let me pass, saying he was grateful to see a pleasant face. Inside, the waiting room was jam packed. I didn't want to disturb the nurses, so I made my way downstairs to the cafeteria on my own. The worker's there could advise me of my duties.
"Dear, we're short-handed today so you'll have to deliver to the private rooms first" said a woman wearing a hair net. Each tray for the private rooms had a name card, so I dutifully put them onto a cart and made my way. As I passed the ward rooms, I saw that there were a few beds lined along the walls in the hallways. It had me worried.
'Please don't let them all be dead.' I whispered to myself.
Thank goodness they weren't. I peeked inside one of the wards and saw that there were almost double the number of beds and patients than yesterday. That explained why some of the patients were in the hall—there wasn't enough room in the wards. I saw that Tyler's bed was still occupied by him, which made me thankful. From a distance, he seemed to be looking better. I'd have to get a move on things if I wanted to be able to spend some time with him.
There were only 20 private rooms, and these patients were allowed to have family visits, so I was in and out of them quickly because the families were more than happy to assist them with their meals. I only had two more private rooms to go when I came to a one that was dimly lit and completely silent. There were two occupied beds in it.
In the first bed was a woman who looked strangely familiar. Her skin was dappled with sweat, and her hair was matted down on her head. Her brow was furrowed even in her sleep. I took a towel and carefully dabbed her face and then made sure her bedcover was secure. I patted her hand and told her that everything would be ok. She seemed to have heard me and her face took on a more relaxed look.
I went to the other bed next and froze in my tracks. It was him. The boy I saw at the symphony. That hair was unmistakable, even damp with sweat. I felt like the wind was taken right out of me. Slowly, I made it to his side.
"Don't be sick. Please, don't be sick."
I had seen hundreds of sick people over the course of the last few days, but no one had the effect on me that he did. Not even Gwen or Tyler, and I couldn't explain or understand it. I wanted to reach down and kiss his forehead and make it all better. Instead, I stood there frozen with silent tears streaming down my face.
I'd seen that skin color before. Before the patient was taken down to the morgue. He was so pale and his lips were tinged with blue. He was past the point of coughing, just simply gulping air every so often. An arm on my shoulder brought me back to awareness.
"Dr. Cullen, I…I…"
"Bella, are you alright?"
"Yes, yes…I just…"
I swiped the tears off my face and laid the tray on the stand.
"I know this boy. Well, I don't really know him but we just kind of…"
I was rambling.
"I actually know him, too. The Masen's have been patients of mine for years. Sadly, Mr. Masen passed away yesterday. Things aren't looking too well for Mrs. Masen or Edward either I'm afraid."
I didn't want to hear that at all, and Dr. Cullen must have saw how I felt.
"That's not to say that miracles can't happen though. I have seen some of the worst come through this Bella. I'm sure someone like you can get a prayer or two answered. Do you have one you can spare for them?"
I mutely nodded my head.
The food trays on the cart were getting cold, so I left the room and whispered good day to Dr. Cullen. I went about my duties and as I was headed back downstairs, I saw him again. I gestured to the Masen's room.
"How are they?"
"Like I said, it's in God's hands now Bella. It would be nice if you could take a moment and perhaps read to them. Edward brought a few books with him. I'm sure they'd like that."
"I will. Right after I take care of the wards. Thank you Dr. Cullen."
"Thank you Bella. Several patients in the wards have told me how kind you've been. They're not allowed to have visitors and really appreciate that you take the time to talk to them as well as help them eat. So many of our staff has been ill and we're so short handed. You don't know how much we appreciate your help."
"I couldn't just sit in my hotel room knowing that people need help when I'm able bodied, Dr. Cullen. Anyone would do this."
"That's where your wrong, Bella. The truth is, even some of the doctors and nurses are too frightened to come to work. You've seen the way your chaperones behaved. They aren't the only ones who hide away."
"I guess it makes sense to avoid coming in contact with this flu. It seems that my self-preservation instincts haven't kicked in yet."
He chuckled at that and then let out a sigh.
"I mean that Bella. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I know we both hope that this illness disappears soon. It's just horrible. If you don't mind my saying so, you look like you've been putting in more than your share of hours here."
"I'm doing alright, don't worry about me. Well young lady, you have a good evening and take care of yourself -doctor's orders."
When I was finished delivering and removing all of the trays I went to sit with Tyler for a bit. His color was coming back and he managed to drink a little broth. I reminded him how his parents probably can't wait to hear how well the science fair went. We won honorable mention, which was more than we expected. He didn't say much, but he did tell me how glad he was that I was there with him. He fell into a comfortable sleep in a matter of minutes, so I went to go check on the Masens. It was nice to put a name to the faces. Edward Masen. Such a nice name.
I knocked on the door, neither expecting an answer nor getting one, so I let myself in. Not much had changed from earlier in the day. With a damp rag I cooled their foreheads then I pulled up a chair from against the wall and sat down next to Edward. I picked up one of the books that belonged to him: Grey's Anatomy. Hm. Not exactly bedtime story material. The other two books were similar. I decided instead to tell them about my hometown.
I described how green and wet Forks is year round. I explained how that when the sun actually did come out it was a time to celebrate, and you would see your neighbors strolling about the two block downtown shopping area. I told them downtown was basically Newton's General Store and the county's one cell jail. I went on to describe the rest of the county. Without a doubt, the list of the various shades of green that I had described would have been captivating to absolutely nobody except those in a state of feverish hallucinations.
After I ran out of other names for green, I stood next to Edward's bed and put his hand in mine. A tingly sensation coursed through my fingers. At first I thought he was shaking, but he wasn't. It was as though his life force was making itself known in perhaps a last chance of physicality. I took his other hand and brought his fingers to my cheeks. My skin burned where his fingertips touched. His fever was blistering. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. It felt as though he was familiar to me. We have never even exchanged a greeting, and yet my heart was breaking for this young man.
I looked down at his ashen face. Gone was the hint of pink on his cheeks that was there when he was at the symphony. Even a whisper away from death, he was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. His face was now covered in a two day old beard making him look more the man than the boy. His lips had that bluish tint and dark purplish circles hung under his eyes. I reached one hand down to smooth out his beautiful hair and his eyes began to flutter open.
He attempted to focus, but it was obvious that he was too fevered to see right. He whispered something that I couldn't hear. I lowered my ear closer to him and I thought I heard him say "My angel." When I turned and looked at him, he had a peaceful smile on his lips, which I returned. His hand was still clutched in mine, and he weekly gave it a little squeeze. His eyes closed again but the smile remained.
"Come back Edward. Please don't leave me." I whispered. I don't even know where that came from, but when I said his name it felt so perfect on my lips. He squeezed my hand once more and then drifted back into unconsciousness. There wasn't a force strong enough to pull me from his side. With his hand still entwined with mine, I laid my head down on his bed and slept in my chair.
"Bella, Bella."
Oh my gosh, it felt like I slept on a bed of nails. My neck was as stiff as a board when I tried to lift my head.
It seems like my fingers were welded to something, and then I realized that I was holding someone's hand. When I finally got my wits about me, I realized that I was still in Edward Masen's room and that Dr. Cullen was now in there with me.
"The nurses tell me that you've been in here for hours. You should go back to your hotel and get some rest."
I looked up at Edward and was completely shocked. His skin was grey and the circles under his eyes were black. His hand was burning with fever.
"Oh, God! Please tell me he's going to get better. Please Dr. Cullen." I was begging. Edward was much too young to die.
"I'm sorry Bella, but he's taken a turn. It will be any time now."
