Chapter 27 - Guided by a familiar stranger
I felt myself laying down on something and someone holding my hand while another person frantically tried to place something on my chest. It felt cold. Something else was placed on my face and suddenly I felt I could breathe a bit better.
The first thing I heard was beeping, beeping of some kind of machine. My hearing slowly got back to me. The next thing I heard was a voice mumbling something. I couldn't make out the words yet. Suddenly the words made sense, something about passing out, family history, heart condition. Wait for what! Heart condition. The beeping of the machine spiked up again. The two people that were in this small space I was confined to turned towards me. I felt something familiar touch my hand.
Slowly I tried opening my eyes and the first thing I saw was blinding lights. Everything in my body hurts. The moment my eyes opened I heard an unknown voice saying "Welcome back Melissa. Can you hear me?"
I tried speaking but I couldn't so I slightly nodded my head.
"Good, my name is grace. Do you know where you are?"
"I shook my head, no I don't know."
Okay, you are in an ambulance, your dad is sitting next to you. we are on our way to the hospital. You stopped breathing normally and passed out when we arrived. We gave you some nebulizer in your mask to help you breathe. Luckily you woke up fast after.
"So happy to see those eyes again" I heard dad say.
Your mum is in front of the car. Just rest and try to keep your eyes open okay?
"I will try" I replied while feeling sleepy again.
The beeping of the machine became more rapid and I heard dads voice in the distance. Again I couldn't make out the words.
Everything is still hurt so I just wanted to close my eyes. I tried to keep them open a bit more bit without luck. Slowly I slipped away again.
A familiar sight came to be, I was at the gym in my high school. Something so familiar but off. It was too quiet. Nobody was around. It felt like nobody was around and I was the only one in the school. What was going on? Slowly I started to walk out of the gym and into the corridor. Looking for other people. There must be someone here right. I couldn't be the only one here? I began to slightly panic.
Turning the corridor into the teacher's area, I saw something moving. Well not something but someone. Someone that was wearing a brown jacket and jeans. He was a bit smaller than my dad but with brown hair.
"Stop, please!" I yelled. Trying to get the person's attention but without any luck. I started running after the figure while yelling "please just stop! I need your help!" Nothing happened.
"Ohh for fuck sake, seriously," I said under my breath while I chased the figure out of the school. Suddenly He disappeared again.
I sat down on the curbstone outside of the school. Thinking to myself how the heck I landed myself in this mess. I could not remember much of what happened. just my dad's voice, beeping, the basketball game but it all didn't make any sense.
I decided that me sitting on this curbstone thinking about all of it wouldn't really help and started walking around. Trying to figure out where that person or figure went to.
Slowly I made my way into the city center, all but wishing I had my phone on me to listen to some music. Because let's be honest with each other. Music makes things a little bit better when things don't make sense right?.
Well at least for me it does work. I was on the main street now. Karen's cafe came into view. Well, I am here, I may as well get something to eat right. I started to walk towards the cafe but suddenly saw some movement. Someone was behind the counter. well, not someone the same figure that was at the high school.
My steps echoed around the street while I made my way towards the front door. My head bumped into the cold glass so I could look into the cafe a bit better. my eyes didn't deceive me. There was a person behind the counter making coffee or something. He was indeed wearing a brown jacket and jeans.
I decided to give it a chance and opened the door. The familiar bell rang and the figure turned around. He had a kind face with a light mustache. He smiled at me when he noticed me in the doorway.
"Please, I was wondering when you would show up," He said while smiling.
"Uhh, how come?" I asked while slowly making my way to the counter
Still being careful since this person randomly showed up and I didn't know if he would be a threat or not. As mum said looks can be deceiving sometimes.
"Well let's say this is not the first time another Scott came to visit me" He replied
This didn't make any sense to me. What does he mean? Did he meet Nathan or my dad? Which other scots are they except for me, Jamie, Hailey, dad, my granddad, and Nathan?
"Sit, I won't bit and you look like you need something to eat and drink," He said
I slowly sat down and asked, " who are you? and what is this place?"
"Well the first question I can answer but the second that is all up to you. My name is Keith. "He said.
"Wait, Keith, My dad has an uncle that is named Keith. I replied a bit too fast
He smiled while pouring me a cup of coffee. "Well that's me, Mell," He said
"Wait, that is not possible." My mind was just temporarily blocked after I said that.
"Well it is, and I am here and you are here." The question is only is where do you want to be ?" he asked while giving me a plate of eggs.
My mind couldn't comprehend this.
"Okay wait, a few steps back please!" I said
"First thing first, how do you know my name"
"Well that is easy, I know your dad and yeah well I just know."
"Okay that doesn't make any sense but alright. Next thing what do you mean your my dad's uncle Keith. That is just not possible. And what's up with all the live decisions questions?"
"Well, I am here to either guide you further on or to guide you back depending on what you want," Keith said and disappeared through another door.
Wait, wait. I said while I started walking towards the same door that Keith walked through. This cant is possible I said while stepping through the door. I suddenly was outside of a hospital nearby the area where the ambulance come in and brings patients. I saw Keith standing there waiting for something. I touched his shoulder and asked, "What's going on?"
"Just wait" and suddenly the ambulance pulled in.
Two people got out of the front and the doors opened. My dad stepped out with another person joining. Soon someone was wheeled out of the ambulance and went passed me. I looked and it was me. How is this possible how can I be there and here? Suddenly everything came back to me. The game, brett helping me, my dad, the changing room, and the brief moment I woke up in the ambulance.
While I stood bewildered looking at the ambulance, Keith placed a hand on my shoulder while saying.
"Let us take a walk and I will explain a few things"
Keith guided me through another door that takes us towards the river court where I saw Liam sitting on its own. I started running towards him and Keith said "He can't hear or see us, Mell."
Even though he warned me, I started to run faster towards him and tried to hug him but without luck. I couldn't touch him at all.
"Wait what is happening?" I asked
"Let us sit down first," Keith said while making his way towards the benches.
"Okay so at the moment you are in the in-between or what you want to call it." It is now up to your body and willpower to decide if you will move on with me or come back to your parents and life" He said while looking sadly at me.
I started tearing up. Why now and Why me.
"As I can see in your eyes you want to go back, which is very understandable, and to answer the other questions. Why not think like this. Apparently, you could handle this situation so instead of asking why I. Ask yourself why wouldn't it be me.
"Okay that is a bit too deep" Keith but I will forgive that.
But answer me this what is happening to me?"
He looked me in the eyes and seriously answered. To my knowledge, you stopped breathing because of an asthma attack and all the stress caused your heart to have some trouble.
"Okay, that makes kind of sense. And kind of doesn't."
"how come?" Keith asked intrigued.
"Well to be fair I always thought I had some kind of breathing problem but never got diagnosed since they always said you breathe wrongly. But when I was around different substances like deodorant I always need to cough." Still doesn't make sense but will figure it out later on then"
"Well, I will leave that to you, Mell. But according to my assignment, we have a bit more time before you get sent back if your body allows you. Keith said.
I looked around and Liam had disappeared so there was no one around us at all. Just us two sitting on the benches at the river court. For some reason, this gave me a peaceful feeling. Why I don't know but suddenly everything felt alright. Just being there and sitting at the river court talking with Keith. We exchanged some stories about my dad and about my life. And about his life. And after a few minutes, Keith said
"Well Mell, ready to play one game of basketball with me?" I may not be as good as you or your dad or your uncle Nathan but I can try. Keith said
"Yeah sure, I will not hold back though," I replied
"I was not betting on that" Keith said and passed me the ball.
The game began and it was nice. Just us two laughing about it. I forgot what the situation was and suddenly while I tried to make a three-pointer. I heard someone else his voice. It was my dad's.
"Ahh, good to hear you, Lucas," Keith replied
While he looked at me he said " I think it is time for you to go back to your dad and say hi to him and lily for me".
Suddenly my vision turned white and I heard the familiar beeping of some machines and a light pressure around my right hand.
Thank you everyone for reading this story. I have noticed that more people have been reading it and I appreciate it a lot. Never would I have though, when I started writing this in 2018 that it would have this many fews. I am very grateful. Also I dearly appreciate everyones patients since I do update slow. At least I hope it was worth the wait.
Please as always let me know if there are any gramma or spelling mistakes. Since English is not my first language and I am dyslectic. However I put the text through a spellings controle but sometimes that doesn't work as well. Thanks again and I hope al is well with you!