Community Health Center, Makatea

Later…

Tom had only been in bed for a few hours but he was already starting to go crazy. He wasn't too fond of hospitals, and even more so when there weren't any other people around and the heat was humid and stifling. The fans were turning in full rate above the lines of beds in the big dormitory, but the little bit of air they were producing couldn't erase the humidity in the room.

He was bare-chested and in pajama bottoms, seated against the iron headboard and was trying to stay busy. Fortunately, Philippe had brought him a card game and he was trying to throw them one by one in a bassinet at the end of his bed. But with his left arm in a sling, it was far from easy and he often missed his target.

The main door opened with a creak and he looked up to see Sybil walking to him, a smile on her face. She was wearing jeans that fit her figure perfectly and a white top that showed the beauty of her tan.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi."

"Always active?" she asked, nodding towards the cards in his hands.

"Yes," he answered, almost uncomfortable in front of her.

"How are you doing?"

"Oh, alright…it wasn't that bad," he answered, pointing to the bandage that was holding his arm in place. "And you, your…?"

"It's ok," she said, touching her scar.

"Good."

They looked at each other in silence for a while.

"So, what are we doing?" Sybil finally asked in a breath.

"Sorry?"

"Both of us."

Tom shrugged.

"What are you talking about?" he laughed uncomfortably.

"You know very well what I'm talking about," she claimed without wavering in the slightest.

She came closer and sat on the bed right at his side. She couldn't let things go unspoken between them again. She wanted to know exactly where she stood so she could make the right decisions for her future. If he was about to reject her again at least she would know and won't try to come back to him again.

"It meant nothing what happened between us?" she asked softly, tears in her eyes. "It was only what happens between a man and a woman when they're lost on a desert island? That's it? Everything you said about…"

"It means something," interrupted Tom in a murmur.

"Something…" she breathed.

"Yes," he confirmed with a sad little smile.

"So what now?" she asked not sure she wanted to know the answer.

She wanted to hope, she wanted to believe in it but something in Tom's demeanor was preventing the joy to spread in her.

Tom sighed.

"Listen, My life is boring right now. You have all sorts of possibilities in London. You need someone…younger…with a situation."

"Wait, don't you think that I need to decide about it?"

"Be honest, Sybil. You won't come here to be my co-pilot and leave your career behind. And I won't come to live in London to be a houseman or whatever else. So where does it go?"

Sybil gulped and tried to prevent the tears from falling. She didn't want to break in front of him and show her weakness. So he didn't believe in her, in her capacity to leave everything behind for him…She swallowed back her pride and the fact of being rejected by him again and got up. She looked up, but her eyes were everywhere except on him.

"I don't know. Nowhere I guess," she breathed.

"So we need to try to not complicate things," claimed Tom seeing the pain he was causing.

"Oh, that's right, you like simple things," retorted Sybil.

Tom gulped.

"Yes."

"Alright," nodded Sybil, biting her lips.

She got up and played a moment with a bit of sheet before she let it go and looked at Tom.

"Good luck, then. I guess that's what needs to be said in this kind of situation."

"Good luck to you, too."

"I hope that everything will be alright…for you," she breathed before turning around and almost running out of the place, not bothering to look back.

Tom watched her go with a heavy heart. He wasn't very proud of what he just did but it was the best solution. Since he was stuck in bed, he had time to think about it and about the available options and he found none. Not satisfactory ones anyway. Too many things needed to be taken care of…and it was probably too late for them. Over there, on the desert island, where they were alone in the world and far away from everything, yes, everything was possible. But now, back in the real world, their story couldn't have another ending…

To be continued…