Hospital Visit

Hospital Visit  (E) A boy has just a bit of trouble saying hi to someone at the hospital. #2024135 by Denzel Pierre

Today, I’m going to do it. For real this time.

Daniel Abrams stood hesitantly in front of the door. He twisted the doorknob, ready to storm inside. I’m insane. Worse than that, I seem creepy. I’m going out of my way to ask the name of some random stranger, who I’ve only seen because I was visiting my grandfather. I’ll just go the gift shop real  quick, see what I can find there.

For the past three days all he could think about was saying hi to her, asking her for her name. So while he had the chance, he was going to talk to her. His time was cutting short, her appendix removal surgery was tomorrow. I’ll get her a small present, nothing that’ll make a spectacle.  He ended up purchasing three stuffed animals, a Hershey’s bar, and four “Get well” balloons. She’ll appreciate the effort. Right? Yeah, Yeah… hopefully. Or she’ll think that I’m a freak. Either or.

Reaching for the doorknob, he pulled it tentatively. No big deal if I walk inside, hand her the presents, say hi, tell her to get better. Clenching his fingers around it, he turned it halfway and then abruptly froze. What happens if she doesn’t like Hershey’s? Oh my gosh, what if she’s allergic? But she still ate it and then started to cough and couldn’t breathe so they took her into the emergency room and she flat-lines and its all my fault? Or what happens if the balloon pops and she faints, or if she can’t be near helium, or if she thinks I’m patronizing her by bringing the stuffed animal? She’ll scream for the doctor, and then I’ll be arrested and she’ll hate me and some cutthroat news station will talk about me. I can imagine the headline: Creep who remembered the room of the girl he has an obsessive crush on is arrested for being a flat out loser and goes to jail for 20 years. Well, maybe it will be a bit more succinct, but -

“Excuse me, young man.” An old lady stood uncomfortably in front of him, looking directly where he was standing. “I am so sorry.” After he moved away from the door, the old lady hobbled out of the way. I just need to focus and think about the situation.  Where can I focus and think, where can I focus and think? Cafeteria!

As he got to the cafeteria, he pulled out his notepad and made  a pros and cons list for telling the girl his feelings. Pro: I can make this awful anxious feeling go away. Con: She’ll think I’m weird. Pro: She’ll think I’m cute. Con: She’ll know I’m ugly and sweaty. Pro: We’ll fall in love and get married and live happily ever after! Con: My heart will explode upon entering the room, causing her to go into shock and then have severe seizures, leaving her brain dead.  He slammed the notepad shut, his brain racing with a thousand thoughts, a million possibilities, a billion worries. Just man up and do it. Or I could do the easy thing and wuss out. I mean, that’s natural for me in a situation like this. But I can change. I can change and man up! After I use the restroom real quick.

The only thing that supposedly helpful pros and cons list achieved was a queasy stomach. I’m gonna vomit, I’m gonna vomit, I’m gonna vomit.. Daniel dry heaved in the mirror for ten minutes, but as he regained his breath he became determined. He looked in the mirror, sized himself up. I’m tough, regardless of what everyone else thinks of me. I”ll march out there and show her that the Abrams family isn’t some worn out joke. His expression changed from one of anxiety to one of seriousness. Let’s take a deep breath. Enough questions and hypotheticals. Just… stop thinking.

This time when he reached her door, he revealed no hesitation. Swinging the door open, he started to speak straight away. “All I have to say is… who are you?” In front of him, propped comfortably on a hospital bed, an elderly man grinned at him. “They moved her up to the second floor.”
Daniel smiled, already racing to the elevator.


Word Count: 712