I run down plain hallway after plain hallway not clear where I'm going… they wouldn't give me directions… they said I couldn't see him. Well the doctor made the mistake of mentioning Intensive Care… there has to be directions somewhere around here. I turn another corner but quickly back track at the sight of more hospital staff. Are they looking for me? Or have they just assumed someone will find me and take me back to them?
It doesn't matter let them search, I must find Kai… I need to see him; to apologise. I stop and look at a sign on the wall sighing in relief; finally some directions. I take off down the left hallway of an intersection in the direction the sign had told me. My minds berating me for being so careless with Kai; but how was I supposed to know I meant so much to him when he was willing to leave me behind.
I sigh as I reach the wing of the hospital labelled 'Intensive Care' and look down along the room lined hallways, there's so many of them… and so many doctors and nurses walking around. I start at one end walking along and peering through the windowed doors searching for Kai; I find him. I stop and look through the window at him, lying spread out on one of the hospital beds, motionless. I hear voices and quickly dart around a corner as a doctor and a nurse come out of Kai's room; it should be empty now.
I quietly open the door and slip inside letting it close softly behind me, as I look down at the boy in front of me a feeling of guilt wrapping around my heart, constricting it. This is all my fault. I step closer looking down at Kai, it looks like he's sleeping peacefully, to peacefully. He looks like he's died and been lain out for a open coffin funeral… I shake my head. No he's not dead; I can see his chest rising ever so slightly with each breath. I run a finger gently along his cheek, the usual blue defensive triangles had been removed, his arm bandaged lying limply beside him… I sigh, it's my fault he's here like this, I let him down… I wasn't there for him when he needed me the most.
"He's fine… well stable."
I quickly spin around at the sound of a voice behind me to see a younger male doctor standing by the door smiling at me.
"Seems you've caused quite a lot of trouble back at the main desk," I hear him say, as he pulls up a chair and sits down by the door, looking at the clipboard in his hand and then at me and back again.
"You must be Tala."
I stiffen, startled that he knew my name but he just smiles at me and indicates for me to take a seat, I look around the room spotting the remaining chair before pulling it over to beside Kai's hospital bed. I sit down and look at the doctor still uncertain how he knew my name or whether he's contacted the main desk or security.
"A boy named Kenny phoned up a moment ago and talked to the lady at the main desk, he gave her your name after recognising the description she gave him. And don't worry I haven't informed anyone of where you are, they've probably assumed you've left or got lost so you can relax."
I nod, letting my guard slip slightly and look back at Kai.
"What's…" I try and ask, but I don't know how to phrase what I want to know.
"He's in some form of coma, well that is what my supervisor has diagnosed it as," I hear him tell me.
"Personally I think it's good for coma patients, especially those who have just tried to kill themselves, to have someone present. Just talk to him, it doesn't matter if he doesn't respond, after all no one is ever really asleep."
I look over at him as he stands, returning the chair to its previous position against the far wall and out of the way. I stare at him uncertainly, wondering where it is he's going now.
"You can stay here for awhile… I'll tell main desk that you were escorted out, however you'll have to leave soon. You're friend, Kenny is coming up here, we've assigned you a room in the adjoining building reserved for family or close friends of patients," I hear him tell me, as he walks out the door I consider telling him that Kenny and the others aren't my friends but I let it slide as I look back at Kai; he's why I'm here.
"Kai… I'm sorry," I whisper.
