Episode 4

"Mirabel, you need to take it easy on yourself. It's not the end of the world" Isabella said as she wobbled close to me on the bed. My face - ornamented with dry notches of tears, my legs - bridged under the duvet as I folded my cold hands across my chest.

"Bella, you don't understand, do you?" I cried as my voice flickered. "You don't understand" I sniffed.

"Mira, I understand how you feel, trust me, I do. I know it's not easy for you to leave everything behind just like that. As for the guy in the hospital? I feel for him too! But you just have to go baby girl. You're all over the media. You need to save yourself from all the propaganda" Isabella said with sympathy. She spotted her hands on mine.

"I wish I could be there to see him when he wakes up. At least to say thank you. Is that too much to ask for?" I mumbled holding on tight to the duvet like I had a beef with it.

Isabella tugged a sigh. That conveyed how stunned she was. "I alright Mira. Please cheer up, everything will be fine. God knows you had it in mind to express gratitude, but you didn't have a chance to. Don't let that bother you too much. Everything will fall in place" Isabella consoled. She tried every trick in the book to pacify me, but my heart won't bulge.

How will he feel if he wakes up and I'm not there?
What will be his interpretation of the situation?

"Bella, are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes, Mira. Everything will be fine" she growled.

I ogled at her face for a moment and said "if you say so. I just wish none of this is happening right now" I flinched about to spurt into tears again.

"Aww, baby girl. Don't cry. I hate to see you like this. Please cheer up" Isabella said as she pulled me into her cozy arms. Isabella is soothing as a balm, a kind of friend that can make good out of every tough situation.

After we extricated, I stood up from the bed, and slid my tiny legs into my slippers, about to convey myself to the bathroom.

"You're going somewhere?" Isabella asked. "Yes, I'm going to the hospital," I said as I stood at the entrance of the bathroom, twirling my gaze to meet hers.

Her eyebrows puckered, and a smile darted out it her mouth.

"And why are you smiling, I said tossing my eyes.

"Mirabel" she called, still smiling from ear to ear. "Bella what is the matter with you I whimpered, feigning a frown.

"Is there something you're not telling me about this guy?" She asked

"Something like what?" I shot, retaining an emotionless countenance.

"Are you in lo......"

"Bella don't go there" I interrupted her. "You're such a clown" I huffed.

"Whatever, but I think someone is over the moon here," she whispered playfully.

"Bella" I yelled, scowling at her like I was going to strangle the life out of her nostrils.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't say anything" she whimpered.

"Just get out of my room," I roared, pointing to the door.

"Whatever. I'm on my way already! I have lectures" she said as she stood up from the bed. She hummed playfully as she glared at me.

"Just go" I howled.

"You'd better start packing your bags. You're leaving tomorrow" she snarled jokingly as she walked out the door.

Isabella can be a drama queen sometimes. Heaven knows I'm going to miss her to the moon and back.

*******

[Mercy Hospital, Lagos]

I stood by the wall, while the doctor carried out some tests on my savior. The queer whiff of the hospital kept slamming at my nose - one reason I hate coming to hospitals, it reeks like a cave of chemicals. I stared as the doctor did his job.

I wish he could wake up right now, I want to hear him speak, I want to see the color of his eyes, I want to watch those scars heal.

Unfortunately, my imaginations are hushed up beneath the ash heaps of history - mere fantasies.

"Doctor, is he going to be fine?" I asked, as my finger dug into my palms. The doctor, a man in his early fifties. His muscular edifice disguised his age and had wrinkle-free skin. His glowing skin made him look younger. He adjusted his glasses, and he hung his stethoscope around his neck.

"He will be fine. He is responding to treatment rapidly. I'm sure he will be fine" the doctor said. A stiff cinch of hope pierced into my skin.

"Okay. doc. But he has been in coma ever since we brought him here, when is he going to wake up?" I asked anxiously, as my eyeballs twinkled.

The doctor heaved a sigh, and he clutched the file in his hands to his chest. "I can't predict for now. But it's a good sign that he's responding to treatment, unlike when he was admitted. He will be awake soon" the doctor said. "Okay, doc. Thank you" I muttered. He closed the door behind him.

My timid hands lunged for the tip of his finger. Tears pricked my eyes and apologetic sentiments dawned on me. "Hey. Can you hear me?" I growled, and the first tear dropped. My heart raced at the feeling that he will perceive me as an ingrate when he wakes up. If only I could stay for a few more days, weeks or months.
Yes, it's worth it.

"The doctor said you will regain consciousness in no time" I sniffed, peering at his belly as it strutted to the rhythm of his fluffy breath. "I - I wish, that time could be now..." I stuttered. My tears flowed like a waterfall. "I'm sorry. But I have to go. I - I have to. Please don't be mad at me. I never wished for any of this. I have no control over the situation. Please forgive me" I stood from the chair, fluttering to the small space on his sickbed.

"Thank you so much for that act of bravery. Thank you for saving my life...... I know I'm supposed to thank you in person when you're awake, but it's not happening" I wavered to catch my breath, as my voice flickered. "I-I'd be leaving for Canada tomorrow" Goosebumps evaded my outer skin as I hovered my right hand to my mouth, smothering my tears. My voice whizzed and my lips - trembled as if ice clung to them.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to let go of this memory. I want to keep it for the rest of my life" I whimpered. I reached for my bag and I brought out the Sony camera in it. I snapped several pictures of him. His handsomeness is enchanting. He's got this kind of look a modeling company will break the bank to have on a product commercial.

"I'm going to miss you. I'm pained that I know nothing about you, not even your name" I shrieked. I plowed a kiss on his forehead.

The night crept into the moment - time to go home. Time to gape at him for the last time. I haven't packed my bags yet.

"My hero, I have to go now. I'm sorry it had to end this way. But I'll always cherish you. I hope life brings us together again" I growled. The tears won't stop falling. I picked up my bag, as a shrugged to the door, my eyes still hitched on him.

I ran back to kiss him on the forehead again. My head spun. Maybe I feel something more for him.
My heart shrunk into shades, like I'm about to have a bigger part of me thrown away.

**********

"Mirabel, please stop crying" Isabella consoled. I couldn't contain the sorrow and agony. My heart - is shredded into fragments, as if the world is crumbling at my feet. I collapsed into my bed, sobbing endlessly. My heart paced hastily as if a bat whacked on it.

"Mira, please stop," Bella said as she tugged me into a warm embrace.

"I never saw all of this coming" I shrieked on her shoulder.

"I understand how you feel darling. But it's not the end of the world. It's just for the meantime, you're going to come back" Isabella reassured.

I sniffed as the welled-up fountain of tears in my eyes flowed. "Okay," I yelped. My strand of sight connected with the ambient sunlight that whisked in through the window. Isabella is right, I'm going to miss her to the moon and back. She's a Sister in a friend form.

The door creaked and my parents walked in. I gazed at their gloomy faces as they approached my bed.

My mum sat on the bed with me, while my father stood, at the other zenith of the zoom. His head - downwards like a meditating nerd.

"My daughter. I'm sorry! I was only fighting for your safety. Please don't misinterpret my actions" my dad said. His voice seethed with worry and concern. "Mirabel, you just have to leave for now, by the time you'd be done with your schooling, everything will be fine! We will provide everything you need in excess" my mum added.

My heart clenched in regret, the tears won't budge even as I bit my lower lip. They're just trying to make me feel better. None of their incessant empathy can change the fact that I'm leaving tomorrow morning. It's a dead and buried phenomenon.

"It's alright Dad! I understand" I said, sniffing.

"Come here darling," my dad said as he hugged me, patting my back softly.

*******

My dad dropped me at the airport this morning. My mum and Isabella came with us too.

I feel clueless and claustrophobic like I'm about to latch inside a steel cage. I don't know what to expect. Embarking on this journey is the hardest decision I'll ever make, at least it's wrong to be a disobedient child. I believe it's for the better.

Canada get ready to have me.