14 14
December ran into the hospital building in a disheveled state. She walked directly towards the reception and spoke.
"Christoph Smith-- Where is he?" She asked in a hurry, she was breathless when she spoke.
"You are here!" Another voice from the side spoke, December looked around and saw a young girl about her age standing beside the chairs, her dress was painted red, and she trembled slightly as if she was still traumatized.
"Who? Were you the one that called me?" December stepped towards her.
The girl gulped down her saliva and gave a nod.
"You said it's an emergency, And why do you have that phone?" She glanced at the phone in her hand.
"This—the man was—" she breathed heavily,
December waited for her to speak but when she saw her chick on her words, the girl was horrified.
"Please tell me slowly what happened?" December asked slowly.
"I —didn't do anything, I was just walking back home after my part-time job when I saw him—" the tears in her eyes swayed to and fro.
"Someone shot him three times—" and that was when she broke into a sharp cry. December stood in a state of shock when she heard her speak,
"Have you heard from the man's guardian yet?" A nurse came running towards the reception.
"There," she pointed towards December.
The nurse hurriedly walked over towards her. "Are you his family member? Mr. Smith's?" She asked. December didn't speak, she stood like a statue.
The girl who had called her answered instead of her.
"She is his daughter! I called her here," she spoke, and that was when December received another blow.
"Good! We need you to sign some paper works, come with me," The nurse led the way, but December's eyes were glued to the girl who just said something very odd.
December filled the paperwork, she came to know that Christoph had been shot twice in the legs and one bullet had pierced through his chest. December sat outside the operating room, cupping her face in her hands.
"Why? This never happened before! Why did this happen? Why did this happen to father?—will he recover? What if he—" December mumbled like a retard, she slowly grasped her hair in her hands and pulled them harshly, "No! Stop thinking nonsense! Nothing is going to happen to him!"
She sat in that position for hours, there was no news from the inside, December got more and more anxious every passing second. The thoughts in her head were so loud that she didn't hear the footsteps of the girl approaching her.
"You don't look well, have something you will feel good!" The girl offered her a can of juice, December looked up at her and slowly took the can from her hand. The girl took a seat beside her and lightly patted her back.
"Your Father will be alright! Don't worry," she spoke in an assuring tone. December breathed out and opened up the can and replied.
"He is not my father—I mean, I am not his daughter, his daughter is someone else," she gulped down the juice.
"Huh?—But when I pressed the emergency family contact, it was your number that is why I called you," she spoke.
December's eyebrows twitched in surprise and she looked at the girl. "Do you have the phone?" She asked.
"Yes! Here it is," she gave December the phone.
'This can't be,' December looked at the lock screen and typed in a number, they were the last 5 digits of her phone no and the phone unlocked.
"Hah!" A laugh-filled with disbelief came out of her mouth, she searched for her number and saw the name "My Daffodil" as the caller ID.
December's lips trembled as the tears rolled out of her eyes, "Dad!" She called out and looked at the red light blinking over the operating room, "Please be safe," she whispered and slowly got up from the seat.
"Where are you going," The girl asked,
"I will be back," she replied and stepped away, "Dad, I am sorry! I—I am sorry I lied to you, I am sorry," she mumbled as she hugged the cellphone.
............................
The sun was about to come out when the doctor came out of the operating room,
"How did it go? Is he okay?" December asked desperately.
The doctor stood with a blank face, "The surgery went by successfully—but." The doctor paused.
"What?!" December asked.
"He's in a coma! We don't know how long he will be in that state as it only depends on the patient's will of getting up." The doctor replied. "You can meet him once he has been shifted into the room," the doctor left after saying that much.
"C-coma?" She stood in front of the door with a plain face. She lifted her phone and called Amelia.
"Hello," she spoke when Amelia picked up.
"Is that you? December?" Amelia was filled with happiness when she heard December's voice. "I knew you would call! Tell me, did you miss me?" She asked.
"Can you Oct ego the hospital?" December didn't say anything else.
"The Hospital?! Why? Are you okay?"
"Just come! Bring Aurora with you…" December added and ended the call. She tried to be as calm as possible while talking on the phone. She knew Amelia would pass out when she would hear about the news.
Christoph was taken to the room, December walked in through the door, she looked at the body on the bed that was wrapped up in bandages. He seemed as if he was sound asleep. She reluctantly touched his hands that were ice cold. Her heart sank when she saw him up close after so long.
"I don't know if I should call you Dad or not, I know I did very wicked things—" December spoke in a teary voice, "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but can you please get up? It's scary to see you lie there like a dead body! I hate seeing lifeless things!—PLEASE GET UP!!" She broke into tears.
"If you want me to get lost, I will do that, if you want to scold me. I will happily listen to that but can you please not lay down like that? It reminds me of my dark past! I can't see the people I love like this! Please get up!!" She placed her head in his hand.
"Aurora will be here! She is your daughter Right?! You should at least wake up for her," December mumbled but there was no response. December laid her head beside him until she heard a scream. It was Amelia who had just walked in, and when her eyes met the sorry state of her husband she couldn't keep in her emotions.
