Chapter 2- Red And White

ERINA POV:

Nessa sat dozing on a foldable chair to the right of the bone-white hospital bed on which Liam Hayes lay. The room was spacious, though it lacked decoration. Against one wall was the hospital bed with a simple nightstand to the left, on another was the window next to which I sat, staring dully at the rising sun, concerned not only for Liam's physical health but also Nessa's mental well-being.

All I remembered from the night two days ago was that Nessa had signalled me that she'd be right back after taking her call. I'd somehow read a hospital's name on her screen through my teary eyes but I assumed it was just to give reports for a recent checkup. When Nessa hadn't returned after the shop closed, which was half an hour later, I'd gotten worried. I couldn't find her outside and was going to call her dad when she sent me a text that said- 'Sorry I couldn't come back, had to leave bcuz of an emergency. Will explain later, you should go home for now.'

I'd been half confused, half relieved as I headed home. The next day, she told me that her dad had somehow gotten into an accident and badly injured his head. The doctors did say that he would be fine with a few weeks of rest though. Nessa was waiting for me when I came in that day. She wore the same rumpled clothes from the night before, indicating that she hadn't showered yet, her hair was messy and her eyes were bloodshot and swollen. I could tell she didn't get any sleep and she honestly looked like a lunatic.

The first thing I did was just hold her tightly while Nessa cried. I couldn't help it, I'd probably never seen her that miserable. Usually, she was just the brightest ray of sunshine, the most optimistic person in my life. She rarely ever cried. Seeing her tear-stained cheeks just broke my heart. The whole time I'd known her, I'd probably seen her get teary thrice...From sadness that is, she cries laughing a lot.

When Nessa finally calmed down, I had her to clean up and eat something. She'd still refused to sleep, so I told her I had to go and that I'd be back the next day. I wasn't just making excuses to get out, I had a club meeting from school I had to attend. True to my word, I was in the room at 3:00 the next day and saw that true to her word, Nessa was peacefully dozing in the exact position I last saw her in, the slightest hint of a smile on her face. I couldn't help my own smile as I headed to the windowsill and sat. Gazing out the window, I suddenly realized that as her friend, I'd done all I could. Nessa would have to fix herself now, little by little.

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Word count-507 words

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