Chapter 9: Please hang in there!
Note: Prepare for some angst… Sorry… And then, there will be a constant switch of POV´s within this chapter, I hope I put that in a comprehending way. Oh, and I hope that you´ll still stick with me…
After all that pleasurable shopping their stomachs grumbled and Kristoff suggested to try some real traditional seafood, while they were here for once in this lovely fisher district. Anna agreed, though she had not really any great experience with fish. The only time her mother had once cooked some of it, she and Elsa had felt sick afterwards. After that, they never had any more, her mother fearing it would be bad again. So, she could not say much of it and relied on Kristoff´s praise of this delicacy.
The restaurant that they had chosen strolling along the pier´s lane was situated directly at the lake´s shore, and one could see wide into the waterscape and if the weather was clear the opposite landside was still in view.
Anna leaned back in her chair with a happy sigh, simply feeling content and cosy this very moment. The bag with her purchased dress rested just behind her on a little stone bench beneath a hedge. Anna smiled at the thought of the tie wrapped up right within the very same sac. How silly that was, but still, it had been so much fun… And to be fair about it, Kristoff had looked dandy trying on the accessorize, even though it lasted maybe five seconds before he yanked it off again. Still, he had let her get it for him, and Anna was very aware he had given in to her giddiness by pure politeness and just playing along… She reached for her glass of white wine and nipped in reverie about the past morning hours, enjoying the quiet place and hushed cacophony of merry guests around them.
Kristoff couldn´t help but wonder what had happened since that moment that they had met on that first evening, sitting together and talking meek things like jobs and likes. Why would he feel so downright attracted to somebody who was solely a bit more than a stranger? But was Anna a stranger then? Had they not exchanged very personal matters, that not even her family knew about? An odd, intriguing feeling dwelled within his chest, while he tried not to glance constantly at the beauty in front of him. Instead, Kristoff looked out over the lake and mused of how he was supposed to proceed from here. Anna had been hurt so bad and she had clearly indicated that this hadn't been the way she thought it was supposed to be. But how was it then expected to be, when two people liked each other? How could he dare to ask her if she liked him in return? She must somehow, after all he had clearly noticed the easiness with which she acted around him. But liking and loving, where was the crossing line? Maybe Sven were both right. He had been too lonely for too long a period, and now he ached for something that he might never get, and then most likely not with her…
Stop brooding like an idiot, while she sits right in front of you. That´s just stupid and rude on top of it!
Her voice got him out of his trance and the young man was glad that the jovial girl would start any sort of conversation. It didn´t matter what topic, he felt comfy talking to her about anything.
"A penny for your thoughts!" Her blue eyes asking friendly, which made him wince inwardly in search for a non-lying answer.
Kristoff sighed, adjusting in his chair, and reaching for his glass of white wine, gesturing a cheer to Anna.
"How lucky I am to spend such a nice vacation, and I really don´t want to think about work for the next few days that are left of it."
Anna straightened attentively and shook her head in a confirming attempt.
"So true! It is marvellous here with this magical nature scenery and those days out on the water are soul tending. So then, to this boat-ship!" She raised her glass with a sparkling smile.
Kristoff crooked his head, a bit puzzled.
"Right, it is wonderful out here. But what do you mean with a boat-ship?"
"Well, you know, we have this companionship, right? But on a boat, so it´s a boat-ship, or not?" But on a boat, so it´s a boat-ship, or not?" Anna explained with one hand circling loosely in the air, while she balanced her glass of wine in the other. She shrugged happily, and her blue eyes shone with genuine friendliness.
Kristoff felt a lump in his stomach.
The time on the boat will soon end… But she is right, don´t ruin it…
And he chuckled lowly in response, holding his glass towards her and they ginned, both oblivious of the other´s longing.
The plate they were served was a sight. Anna stared at the colourful presentation before her like oysters, crabs, and shrimps, served on a bed of baked potatoes and mushrooms. Kristoff squeezed the lemon out and explained it would underline the taste even the more. Alright then, let´s get started on this special dish, and Anna waited a little while just to start copying what her companion was doing. After all, she didn´t want to look all ridiculous, not having the slightest idea of handling this food with proper manners.
That was indeed intriguing, then besides the slurpy oysters, the nutritious shellfish had a crispy bite, salty, and still sort of sweet aftertaste. The horseradish sauce did it´s service to complete this festivity, and Anna smacked and grumbled her appreciation of this lavish, occasionally licking her fingers with delight.
Kristoff smiled to himself about her reaction and enjoyed the joviality of this moment, absolutely agreeing to Anna´s comments of gourmet approval.
It didn´t take long and Anna sat back in her chair again, exhaling with satisfaction, while her stomach signalled clearly there was not much more she could handle. Why would she feel so dizzy and full? She hadn´t eaten that much yet and the wine could not be that strong… And then, the fish had not tasted that spicy, but her tongue got hot, and her throat started burning, too. That was strange… Anna shook her head and when she straightened her view got fuzzy, and her eyes started tearing and her throat ached stingingly. She reached for her glass of water that stood next to the wine but could not get a hold when suddenly her arm felt heavy, and her tingling hand lost its grip and the glass dropped down onto the table. And that´s when Kristoff stared at her horrified, calling her name from afar. A tormenting rush in her ears blurred her senses, and then she lacked the air to breath.
Fear was threatening her, and all that Anna could remember was that strong arms caught her before she fell to the ground, her mind drifting to some foggy sphere.
"Anna!" Kristoff had jumped up, flipping his chair into the guest behind him. He raced around the table and caught the girl before she hit the stones. Instinctively he sat himself behind her, holding her torso upright so she might get a catch of air. His mind went blank, watching his sunflower grow paler and paler, while her lips turned blue and her eyes teared, red swollen. What to do? He heard a woman call the emergency number, she stood not far. A man called out to the other guests to stand back and leave them alone. The woman with the mobile phone knelt next to Anna and checked on her pulse, a friendly middle-aged lady with a gentle voice, and she spoke soothingly to Anna, and to him, though Kristoff would only partly comprehend what she was saying. ´Everything will be well, stay calm and try to breath evenly, help is on the way. Don´t worry, all will be well, it´s alright, you´re not alone, breath dear, good girl, there you go. ´
It happened all so fast, but then time seemed to stand still, and Kristoff had lost all senses of reality in those minutes of pure trepidation. Subconsciously he held Anna in his embrace, rocking her like a frightened child back and forth, while the kind woman calmed them through the await for the ambulance. His heart hammered in his chest, terrified, and all he could do was pressing his lips to his princess´s temple, whispering the same words repeatedly, "it´s okay, I have you. Please hang in there!"
And then, the ambulance´s siren was heard in the distance. The two medics rushed to their side, manoeuvred professionally fast and it seemed like they did all sorts of handling at the same time. There was some questioning, Anna got some injection and they heaved her onto the carrying bar and raced her to the ambulance car, that was waiting with running motors. Kristoff ran after them but was stopped short by one of the medics. He was not allowed to sit with Anna but could of course follow them.
No, no, nooo! I can´t leave her alone!
But there was no use and all he could do was shout after them before the door closed.
"Make sure she´s safe!"
And the ambulance sped off to the hospital, leaving the young man standing numb and scared. What now? Where was she going and how was she? Surely, she must be frightened and feeling alone. Kristoff stared behind the car that disappeared in the far distance, his mind suddenly jerked back into reality when he realised somebody was speaking to him.
"I can bring you. In your state, you shouldn´t be driving by yourself."
Kristoff shook his head shortly to clear his mind and then turn to the man standing next to him. A fatherly expression looking plainly at him, the man must be in his mid-fifties maybe. Kristoff blinked and searched for words.
"I´m sorry, what did you say?"
The man nodded understanding and laid a hand to Kristoff´s shoulder, repeating his offer to drive him to the hospital. And then, the woman who had knelt next to Anna joined in and exchanged some words with the man.
It was only a moment later, that Kristoff sat in the man´s car and they were heading towards the medical clinic. The man had shortly introduced himself as Mathias, his wife Halima would take care of things back at the restaurant. Halima had brought Anna´s handbag to him when he had taken his seat in the car. They would surely need her papers there. He had stared helplessly at the friendly person, who stood smiling kindly at him and whishing his wife all the best.
With Anna´s bag clenched to his chest like clinging to a lifebelt, Kristoff stared on the road ahead, desperately hoping to speed up their arrival by sheer mental force. He needed to be there before… he needed to tell her… He turned his gaze to the side, watching the land fly by. He just had to be there… He needed… her!
His chest hurt… And the lamp post he had hit previously that day was not the reason…
Anna had felt clumsy and heavyweight, like a rock thrown to the pit of a dark hole. And the air was gone, why…? Her body cramped and all she wanted was to drift off this terrible pain in her head and the agonising sting in her throat that seemed to strangle her for no good reason… But then, there was a hard touch around her arms and body, a firm grip that was not threatening. Some kind voice was telling her all would be well, and she should keep breathing… And another voice kept saying he got her and to hang in there. That one was a desperate and yet so warm voice she recognised well. She wanted to respond, wanted to reassure this wonderful man that he need not worry, she was fine when he held her like this. But she could not speak, her voice was gone, and her body frozen by ache and uncontrolled spasm. So, all that she could do was to let herself fall somehow into that warm embrace and whispered words, that kept her going, that urged her to fight the terrifying strangle that threatened to claim her last breath.
But somebody was pulling her out of that comforting hold, laying her on something soft and then she felt a sharp pick to her arm and some fluid ran her veins and then miraculously Anna felt her throat loosen a bit and her eyelids flatter with astonishment of the slight relief. And when she got pushed back into the vehicle, she dimly heard that desperate and still warm voice calling out, ´make sure she´s safe! ´
Would he care so much for me? Hang in there… if only to see him again!