Somewhere Over The Rainbow
By: Farisya MJ
Chapter 2
Artie's POV: I never liked going to the hospital. The whole building smells like pills, the atmosphere is always solemn and people are always crying there. My days at the hospital were full of anger and resentment. Everyone who visited looked at me with a pitiful expression and it really didn't help me to feel better. But Tina told me that she always visits the hospital to cheer the patients up. That's where she met her visually impaired friends. Every new friend shared a different story and it always made her feel more thankful with her life. Sometimes it's easier for people to open up to a stranger because they do not know your past or anything about you. Hence, they can give an honest feedback and fresh perspective.
I told the nurse at the counter that I'd like to visit the pediatric ward and she said I could enter and join the other volunteer. Seems like I'll make a friend after all during my first visit. It's good that there's someone else there because I have no idea what I should do. I heard a roar of laughter from the pediatric ward. Seems like the kids are having fun in there. I wheeled in and my eyes couldn't stop blinking at the sight in front of me. A girl, dressed like a nurse is narrating a story to the children. The kids loved her. They were eager to hear her story and I'm not surprised, seeing how good she is with the kids. I know I'm supposed to help her but she looks like she's doing just fine by herself. I just sat there at the back of the room, listening to her and watching her. The girl who made me smile during my first day of school. Santana Lopez.
Santana's POV: "I thought volunteers are supposed to be in front, with me. Not sitting at the back and watching me". "Sorry, you looked like you were doing good. I didn't wanna interrupt you". "Uh huh. Of course I'm good at it. I've been coming here for more than a year! And you listen to me, cripple! No one! I repeat, NO ONE from the school should know that I'm here. Capiche?". "Crystal". "Why are you looking at me like that? If even one soul found out that I'm here so help me God, I'm gonna haunt you to your grave". "You don't have to worry, Santana. Your secret's safe with me". Oh crap! Stop smiling you dope! I can't handle this. Cripple and cute does not come together. But for all the wrong reason, it works with him. What am I saying? Puck is way better than him. But Puck's with Quinn now. Ugh~shut up voice head! "Santana? Did you hear me?". "Uh, what? What, no..what?". He laughed. Shit! Get a hold of yourself! "What were you saying?". "I said, would you like to take a break next week? I can take over if you want. I think I know what to do". "No, I like spending time with these kids. You can't just take my spot and do what you want". "Let me rephrase that. I need to introduce myself to these kids next week. And I'd like to sing a song. Just one song, that's all I ask. Then you can take over the floor". "All right. I guess that's okay". "Thank you. Now, if there's nothing else I'll see you next week". And he wheeled away. "Wait!" He stopped. "What's your name?". "Artie. Artie Abrams". And he continued to wheel away. So the Robot's name is Artie. That totally reminds me of the comic Archie! Oh well, I guess I'll be seeing him a lot after this. This could be good or bad. I hope it's not gonna be too bad to handle.
Tina's POV: I've been having this strange feeling ever since I heard Artie sing during Glee Club practice. We were practicing our play although everything is not finalised yet. Artie and I had to sing a song from 'The Phantom Of The Opera'. I know this may sound weird, but I must have taken the assignment too seriously because when Artie sang 'I want to spend my lifetime loving you', I felt something within me; a pain in my stomach. And then after that my heart just beats rapidly for no reason. So I decided to consult my mom about it. "Omma, I feel a little strange lately". "Wae? Odiga apa? (translation: why? Where does it hurt)". "No, it's not that I'm in pain or anything. But my heart kept beating fast, as if I just ran from a thief". "Oenjae? (when?)". "When I heard Artie sing". "Hahaha! Aigoo~uri adel. Ke saram, nomu chuwa? (hahaha! Aw my precious daughter. Do you like him very much?)". I didn't know what to answer but I certainly can guess where this conversation is going. I think I've fallen in love, for the first time in my life. And that's not something I've prepared myself for.
Artie's POV: I know this song perfectly. Every verse of it, every version, every note. This song speaks for my longingness to dance again. To walk, to run, to play football, to be..normal again. It's the song that made me cry from the first moment I heard it. And today, I'm singing it for a different reason.
Ooo oo ooo 2x
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby
Oh somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Oh somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dare to
Oh why, oh why can't I?
The kids clapped their hands and I bowed to them. Then I asked them to write their biggest dream on a piece of paper. They don't have to show it to anybody, it's for their own keeps. I told them how beautiful it is to have a dream, and that dreams are meant to come true. I shared with them how many times I've wrote "dance" on a paper and filled up all the empty jars in my house. And I still have that tiny hope in me that someday I can walk again.
I saw Santana writing something too on a piece of paper. How I wish I could know what she wrote on that paper. A kid asked me what I'd write on my paper today. Then someone else said "duhh dance of course!" and I just smiled. I looked at my paper one last time before I fold it. "Santana"
Santana's POV: I'm standing at the back of the room, looking at Artie singing 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' and something about his smile, and his voice had touched me. Maybe it's because I have always seen him as a cripple, someone less abled than me..so I never bother to get to know him. Yet, today listening to his beautiful voice singing from his heart I can't help but to feel sad. What he said next made it all clear. He's been through a lot in his life. I can't imagine how I'd behave if it was me who lost my ability to walk. No dancing, no running and in constant need of people's help. But this boy in front of me, has a warm smile, encouraging words and scary hopeful dream. Everything is so beautiful, it gave me shivers. And he made me think of a dream that I have long forgotten. Every day just passed by without a thing for me to look forward to. Waiting for Puck and Quinn to break up seems like an impossible dream, so I end-up spending more time with Brittany. But deep down inside me, I've always felt lonely. I feel like my soul is searching for something but I don't know what.
Artie made me remember how I've always wanted to be... "Hi Santana". When did he wheel to me? "Hey". "Would you like to say anything to the kids? The floor is yours now." "Umm no, I didn't plan anything today cause I knew you'd take longer than you should". He looked at his watch. "Sorry, I didn't realise that took almost an hour". "Ahh don't sweat. It's always been that way for me too." Awkward silence for a few seconds. "So you love dancing huh? Dancing is my thing too. Besides acting of course. I'm sorry about what happened". "Don't be. I'm sure there's a silver lining behind all this although I'm not sure yet what it is right now". "I'm amazed you can stay positive after all that's happened to you." "Thanks. But honestly I used to be so bitter and depressed. And it all changed after I met Tina". "Well good for you. So, do you have plans for next week?". We discussed some things that we'd do together next week and time just flew by in a breeze. After that I wheeled Artie downstairs before saying goodbye to him. It feels weird being kind and nice to someone from school. But I really can't bring myself to be mean to Artie. Not after feeling like he's one of the kids from the Pediatric Ward.
Tina's POV: When love came knocking on my door, I rejected it. Poor Mike Chang. He's a fine young boy but when he came to me, I wasn't ready to be in a relationship. And now, without asking for it, I fell for Artie who I know clearly only sees me as a friend, not a girl. Why does it have to turn this way? Why can't Mike Chang fall for a girl who will like him back and why can't I fall for a guy who will love me back? And what's with all these uncontrollable emotions I've been feeling? Anxious, excited, sad, jealous. It's like my body and mind wouldn't co-operate with me anymore. "Tina, why are you smiling?". "Artie! When did you arrive?". "I just arrived. Didn't you hear me wheeling to you?". Oh, that explains the heartbeat. "No, I was lost in my thoughts". "Hmm..and what would that thought be? You were smiling to yourself". "Just a thing called love. It's the strangest thing in the world". "My,my.. Tina Cohen Chang, who are you in love with?". "Like I'm ever gonna tell you that". "Well, suit yourself. I won't tell you mine". Artie's in love with someone? Who? "That makes the two of us. My crush is really charming by the way. Too bad you won't get to know him". "My crush is a cheerios".
Five words, one sentence. Enough to make me feel like my heart's been ripped out of my body. Artie's words keep flashing in my mind. Cheerios. My crush is a cheerios. Cheerios. My crush is a cheerios. Cheerios. "Artie, I need to go to the washroom. You can go first. I think I'll be long". "All right woman, see you during recess" and he wheeled away. Just a few steps Tina, just a few steps. I reached the washroom and hoped that no one's inside. The moment I'm in, tears came streaming down my cheek. And I have no energy to stop myself from crying.