Asher and I sat in the waiting room at the hospital for a good hour,
watching the news on the small TV and reading outdated magazines about
children's health. The doctor came out finally and allowed Asher to
go see his brother. Asher had wanted me to come along, but the doctor
said that only family would be allowed in. I gave him a reassuring
smile as he trailed behind the women.
Not really wanting to sit for any longer, I decided to go find the
hosptial's cafeteria. While waiting for two cups of hot cocoa, I
looked around the room. Only a few people were sitting in it. An
elderly women sat alone in the corner, crying. As soon as I got the
drinks, I walked over to her to see if she was okay.
" Excuse me, Ma'am. Are you okay?" I asked gently as I sat down
next to her.
" No, not really (sniff). My husband... he's in surgery right now.
He has a good chance of dying if the surgery doesn't work," she
managed to say before bursting into tears all over again.
I felt bad for the women. I knew how hard it was to loose someone
you loved. Pushing a strand of hair off my neck, my fingers brushed
against a chain.
" Do you by chance have a small picture of him?" I questioned as I
handed her a tissue.
She nodded and pulled out a small picture from her purse. I took it
from her and examined it. A man was standing next to a boat and
showing off a fish that he must have just caught. I reached up and
unhooked my necklace. The charm was in the shape of a gold heart.
I opened it and took out the picture of my grandfather. Replacing it
with the old man's picture, I put the necklace in the lady's hand.
" I rarely get to see my grandfather. He gave me this necklace years
ago. That way, he'd always be with me, even if he wasn't physically
here. He died last year. The necklace helped me get through my
grief, so maybe it will help you too. Don't give up hope on your
husband," I said.
Before she had a chance to reply, I quickly stood up and walked out
of the cafeteria with the two drinks. I walked back into the waiting
room to see Asher sitting in one of the chairs, watching the TV with
a blank stare. I sat down next to him and pushed one of the paper cups
into his hand.
" Amy," he said as he looked down at his drink.
His brown eyes showed deep concern as they stared aimlessly off into
space. Asher was beginning to scare me; I had never seen him act this
way.
" Asher, what's wrong. How is your brother doing?" I questioned as
I took hold of his free hand.
" Todd...not good. I can't figure out what they keep saying is wrong
with him. They say he's lucky to be alive, thanks to you," he replied
as he finally turned to look at me.
After a moment, he looked down at his hand that was entwined with mine.
He put his drink down and turned back towards me.
" Amy, you saved his life. You kick ass!" he exclaimed as he leaned
forward and kissed me on the lips. His free hand cupped my neck and
started to play with my hair. I was totally suprised and unsure of
what to do. He finally stopped and pulled back away from me as I
reopened my eyes.
" Come on, let's get out of here. I can't stand to stay another minute
in this place. Let's go get some better hot choclate," he said suddenly
as he stood up and pulled me with him.
On any other day, I would have worried that he was beginning to loose his
mind from everything that had happened. His kiss had left me in sort of a
daze as I followed along beside him, extremely aware of my hand in his.
watching the news on the small TV and reading outdated magazines about
children's health. The doctor came out finally and allowed Asher to
go see his brother. Asher had wanted me to come along, but the doctor
said that only family would be allowed in. I gave him a reassuring
smile as he trailed behind the women.
Not really wanting to sit for any longer, I decided to go find the
hosptial's cafeteria. While waiting for two cups of hot cocoa, I
looked around the room. Only a few people were sitting in it. An
elderly women sat alone in the corner, crying. As soon as I got the
drinks, I walked over to her to see if she was okay.
" Excuse me, Ma'am. Are you okay?" I asked gently as I sat down
next to her.
" No, not really (sniff). My husband... he's in surgery right now.
He has a good chance of dying if the surgery doesn't work," she
managed to say before bursting into tears all over again.
I felt bad for the women. I knew how hard it was to loose someone
you loved. Pushing a strand of hair off my neck, my fingers brushed
against a chain.
" Do you by chance have a small picture of him?" I questioned as I
handed her a tissue.
She nodded and pulled out a small picture from her purse. I took it
from her and examined it. A man was standing next to a boat and
showing off a fish that he must have just caught. I reached up and
unhooked my necklace. The charm was in the shape of a gold heart.
I opened it and took out the picture of my grandfather. Replacing it
with the old man's picture, I put the necklace in the lady's hand.
" I rarely get to see my grandfather. He gave me this necklace years
ago. That way, he'd always be with me, even if he wasn't physically
here. He died last year. The necklace helped me get through my
grief, so maybe it will help you too. Don't give up hope on your
husband," I said.
Before she had a chance to reply, I quickly stood up and walked out
of the cafeteria with the two drinks. I walked back into the waiting
room to see Asher sitting in one of the chairs, watching the TV with
a blank stare. I sat down next to him and pushed one of the paper cups
into his hand.
" Amy," he said as he looked down at his drink.
His brown eyes showed deep concern as they stared aimlessly off into
space. Asher was beginning to scare me; I had never seen him act this
way.
" Asher, what's wrong. How is your brother doing?" I questioned as
I took hold of his free hand.
" Todd...not good. I can't figure out what they keep saying is wrong
with him. They say he's lucky to be alive, thanks to you," he replied
as he finally turned to look at me.
After a moment, he looked down at his hand that was entwined with mine.
He put his drink down and turned back towards me.
" Amy, you saved his life. You kick ass!" he exclaimed as he leaned
forward and kissed me on the lips. His free hand cupped my neck and
started to play with my hair. I was totally suprised and unsure of
what to do. He finally stopped and pulled back away from me as I
reopened my eyes.
" Come on, let's get out of here. I can't stand to stay another minute
in this place. Let's go get some better hot choclate," he said suddenly
as he stood up and pulled me with him.
On any other day, I would have worried that he was beginning to loose his
mind from everything that had happened. His kiss had left me in sort of a
daze as I followed along beside him, extremely aware of my hand in his.