Eheh sorry, I got grounded for a week -_- but here's three chapters in a row to make up for it.

Patient's POV

I fell asleep with the piece of pink paper in my hand. I woke up, worried, and saw it was still flat and perfect. I breathed a sigh of relief. I set it in the drawer gently. I smiled, knowing I'd use it. I'd use it at just the right time.

I quickly drew the nurse on a blank white piece of paper and folded it into an airplane. I realized that my drawing was getting even better every time I drew it. The nurse entered, her gaze daring me to throw the plane.

I threw it, and kept a straight face. She raised her eyebrows as she caught the plane, looking at me expectantly. "What if," I said, my smile returning. She rolled her eyes and tossed the plane in the trash. It almost looked like she didn't consider even opening it any more. I wondered if she realized what she was doing if she might consider opening it by now.

She went over to my IV bag to check it, and I found myself gazing up at her eyes again, still trying to see through the glare on her glasses. Her eyes met mine, but I didn't look away, and neither did she, for a moment. I wanted to say something really badly, but didn't. I didn't think she would appreciate it. She finally looked at her clipboard, frowning.

She went around the room, making everything was still clean, and I watched her every move. I didn't have anything else to do, anyway. She seemed to be drawing out her movements, wasting time. I wondered if she meant to.

"Don't you have any other patients to attend to?" I asked curiously, hoping not to sound rude. She looked up at me, startled, then hurried through whatever she had to do left and exited the room without a word.

"I..." I started to say after she left the room. That was stupid of me, if she wasn't here any more, what was the point of saying it? I opened my drawer and looked at the pink paper. Not yet. I can't use it just yet. I grabbed a white piece of paper and went back to drawing. I was still pleased with my progress.

I wondered if I'd get to see outside of this room before I died. It'd be nice to be able to hear the music I heard when I was brought here. I wasn't well enough to go out though. I found myself staring at the picture I drew of the nurse, and hastily put it away. I was starting to really feel like a stalker.

I stared instead at the door, willing it to open. Every time it was opened, it was like all my emotional and physical obstacles went away for a second. I found myself clenching my hands into fists, desperately longing for a companion.

The door finally opened, and relief rushed through me, even though it wasn't the food I was waiting for. I wasn't even hungry, but the nurse didn't know that. I noticed red marks where her glasses sat, under her eyes. I wondered if it was from her pressing them so hard all the time.

The nurse gave me my food, and slowly started to leave. I realized I'd forgotten to throw an airplane, and I quietly took a drawing out of my drawer and quickly folded it. I threw it, and it glided past her shoulder. She reached up to catch it, and then turned around and looked at me. I tried to read her expression. Hope fluttered up in me as I thought I caught a hint of a smile, but she turned back around and threw the plane away as she left.

I sighed, then smiled genuinely. Soon, I'll get her to smile.

I just wonder how much time I have left.

I called out until a nurse came to me. I told her I wanted an envelope. She left the room, and an hour or so later my nurse came back, looking annoyed, and handed me an envelope. I tried to convey I was grateful.

"What if," I said quietly as she left, and reached over to the drawer. I had my hand on the knob, and looked down at the envelope. I couldn't bring myself to put it away. Putting it away would be saying I was ready, and I wasn't. I wasn't ready to carry out my final 'what if,' but I know time isn't on my side.

I opened the drawer and set the envelope down, gently, next to the pink piece of paper.