Chapter 9: Child's Play

"How's Leila Auntie? She's looking pale." Lanlan, the cute boy from our neighborhood is sitting beside my bed. I feel so weak, I have been absent in school for 5 days straight. My parents brought me to the hospital since my fever seems severe that I don't have the appetite to eat anything. Turns out I have influenza. My body is aching and I feel so tired. My mother answered him with an assurance. "Don't worry Lanlan, this little girl is starting to recover. The Doctor says she can be discharge in two days. Thank you for coming everyday to look after her."

"Lanlan, let's play I'm feeling bored here at the hospital." The little girl me is pleading the boy beside my bed to play. "No Leila, you have to rest, we can play a lot once you are discharge out of the hospital." Lanlan gently responded and patted my hair. I started to cry, "Why wont you play with me?" I'm bursting with tears as I look to him with my puppy eyes. "Alright, little girl let's play. Let's have a role playing. You will play as the patient that you are right now while I will play as your Doctor. Is that alright?" He could not do anything but to give in to my request. "I like that! I excitedly exclaimed. "Doctor Lanlan, would you peel and cut apples for me?" I requested him. "Hey little girl I'm your Doctor, not your Nanny." He smilingly reminded me about the rule of the game but he got the apple anyway, peeled it, cut in portions and gave me pieces to eat. The sick child in the bed is satisfyingly munching the apple bites as she happily plays with her dear friend.

I woke up smiling from that beautiful dream. That scene really happened years ago. Who would know that a child's play will actually come true. A deep voice suddenly disturb my thoughts.

"Hello little girl, it's good to see you having a good sleep. Seems you had a good dream as well." It is Lance, he is sitting beside my bed. It seems like the same setting from my dream. But the person beside me is no longer the cute boy from our neighborhood but a grown handsome man. No longer playing as a Doctor but is actually a Doctor now. "Dr. Lance, why are you still here? Your duty is over. I asked him puzzled. "I just want to check if you are feeling alright after you infusion." I know at this time you will still not feel the effect of the drugs, but I want to make sure that you can rest well after the session. You can already be discharged tomorrow, please be obedient in taking the medicines that I will prescribe. It will help you cope up. I guess I have to go home now. Auntie had just gone outside to buy some snacks." He patted my head with so much concern in his eyes and prepare to leave.

I'm still looking at the door when he left. I don't know if I will consider my illness as a blessing in disguise. This situation had made me closer to him as if we had gone back to the way it was before when we were young. I no longer expect to see him again after he unintentionally broke my heart when he stop responding to my letters and emails. But now it seems I'm having a new hope. A new hope to live and a new hope to love. Our child's play came to reality, but how about my childhood love, will he able to fulfill it as well?