"I've been seeing things lately"

"What?"

"Her..."

I sat across from the bed, looking at Hegbert rest in the ward he had been left in.

I went over what I was going to say a million times in my head, but all it made me look like, I bet, was someone losing their mind.

I saw Hegbert's hands were holding each other as he slept a peaceful rest.

Apparently, he had had an archery clot, which was the thing that caused the heart to fail.

He looked so very weak and frail, and I just gazed at him, chewing on my bottom lip, afraid of what to say.

"I saw her..."

I blinked my eyes when I heard these words come out of his timid mouth.

"You did..?"

He had his eyes closed, but he nodded his head gently in response. I swallowed and replied.

"I saw her too..."

"And...?" he asked.

"And she was beautiful..."

Hegbert opened his eyes up a little, just a peep, from the many hours he had been asleep.

"Landon..." He said to me quietly, and I nodded my head in obedience, "Thank you for saving my life..."

I blinked, puzzled by what he meant. It was surely the doctors that saved him, yet he was thanking me.

"No, I didn't do anything-"

"I would be dead right now if it weren't for you."

"Don't say that..." I repeated, feeling awkward from his praising of me.

Hegbert leant back on his bed, getting more comfy, and I placed my hand on his shoulder, saying scared, but needing to.

"I'll be there for you, sir... just ask."

Hegbert looked at me, his eyes quaking a little from holding back tears and he replied.

"Thank you,"

~x~

It was a week later that Hegbert was released from the hospital. I was outside the building in Hegbert's old car and watched as he hobbled with a cane to the vehicle.

Seeing this man and his feebleness, made my heart hurt.

I got out of the car and pulled opened his door. He grumbled a little as he bent his head down and sat on the brown seat.

I quickly went over to the other side of the car and sat myself down. My hands gripped the steering wheel, and I released the break, the car being ignited as I pulled out of the car park and drove towards Mr Sullivan's home.

As we drove down the roads and streets, I heard Hegbert say in a weak voice, "I willed you the house."

I nearly crashed into the car ahead of me when I heard him say this, pulling back the breaks and heard the wheels screeching at the sudden deceleration.

"Ex- excuse me, sir?!" I replied, shocked not knowing how to answer him.

"When one comes near to death, as I have of late, it's best to settle things now, unless another stroke shall come."

"Hegbert," I said to him, still keeping my eyes on the road, but I was very distracted, "You still have some years in you."

"One can never be sure when the time will come."

I pulled into the curb, closing my eyes in frustration and fear and I mumbled, "And what would I do, with your house?"

"Lease it, live in it, rent it." Hegbert said back with ready answers, "But know that your name will be on it when my time comes to pass."

I exhaled out, worried about this talk, and turned back on the ignition, driving another few minutes till I reached Hegbert's home.

I got out and went to open the old man's door, but he glared at me, and I moved back. Not wanting to feel his rage.

He pushed open his door and placed his cane on the cement, before following it with his footsteps across the path to his home.

I watched him, nervously. He reached the door, and only stood there in silence. The keys shook in his hand as he raised them and unlocked the door.

I followed him inside and mumbled.

"Home... sweet home."

The old minister didn't reply. Instead, he went into the living room and sat down on the brown armchair. He rested on it gently, and I looked at him from the hall for a minute. Before I came and sat down on the couch over at the side of him.

I placed my head in my hand and whispered.

"I think we're both losing our minds..."

Hegbert shut his eyes tighter and only let out a groan as he seemed to be falling asleep.

I looked at him, quietly, and went to the closet in his backroom, pulling out a quilt and placing it on him.

He leant his head back against the chair and seemed so fragile there in my presence.

I walked away after a couple more minutes, and stood on Jamie's porch, watching the sea and the tides.

Today was the 20th of December, and in five days it would be Christmas.

Christmas? I had nearly forgotten about it completely. The lights and trees had been put up around the town, but I was too wrapped up in myself that I failed to notice them.

I sighed out heavily, watching the sea and turned to the bed. I picked up the bible and skimmed through a couple of pages, trying to make clear my life.

My life these days felt like there was no path or direction. Things just seemed to happen... and I was always unexpectedly put in the centre.

I breathed out a heavy exhale and lent on the fence of the porch. I waved my head from side to side, humming a song in my head.

"You're beautiful" I had said to her... the angel at the hospital.

I lifted my head up to the sky, seeing the moon glow its white reflected light onto the sand and on me.

It was a peaceful sight, simple and nice on the eyes.

And I only whispered.

"Give me more time..." I smiled a sad smile, and looked back into the house, seeing Jamie glowing there. She gave me a small nod.

"Just give me more time"