Writers debate

Chapter 4: *Bzzt Bzzt Bzzt Bzzt* My alarm clock goes off. Reluctant to get up I continue to lie down as I stare at the rotating ceiling fan above me. Streaks of light pour in between the gaps in the blinds. '5:45' my alarm clock reads. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and slip my feet into an old air of flip-flops. I shower, get dressed and head into the kitchen. It's June the 22nd, the day of my 18th birthday. I see a note and some money on the table. "Hunter, I love you so much, I can't believe my little baby is finally 18 years old! You won't see me until late tonight. Sorry! But tomorrow we'll go out to La Correta for your birthday dinner. I know how much you love that place I've left you some money to buy something with..." I trail off. It's a typical note from a mom to her kid I check my phone, it's 6:13. I start to fry an couple of eggs and put a piece of bread into the toaster. "The hospital called yesterday. Your dad isn't in good shape. I want you to go an see him when you get off of work." My eyes widen. I Finish up with my breakfast and head out the door, knowing that the next eleven hours will be the longest of my life. --- "I had a good time with you again tonight." "Me too" It had been three months since Mandy and I started dating. Sleep was coming more and more easily, I hadn't had any more nightmares since my dream with hunter that night. Mandy had been doing better too, but I could still see her getting weaker and weaker everyday. I get home and sit down at my computer. I go to Google and type in her name 'Mandy Dormis' just as I had every night for the last three months; she's brilliant, simply brilliant. I don't think she'd ever forgive me if I told her what I'd been up to for these last three months, if she new what I'd found out abut her. She had graduated at the top of her class at UF Gainesville with a BS in Secondary math education. She went on to get her masters from Baylor University and her PHD from UC Berkley. She had received so many awards for her contributions to high school math programs and instituting STEM dual credit programs across the U.S. It was hard to believe were she was now, teaching remedial math classes at a high school in Miami. But then how could I really be surprised, look at what happened to me after Jennifer and Hunter died. We worked hard, both of us so that could get an education and provide for them. I was an accomplished engineer, I had made something out myself, now I'm working in construction. Jennifer had always wanted to be a teacher herself, she gave that dream up for me. She worked two jobs to help me get through school... She had almost finished her certification program when the accident happened. It was getting late. I knew I needed to get to bed soon unless I wanted Frank to chew me out at the site tomorrow --- 6:00pm, I clock out. Miami traffic is awful, especially this time of day. I begin driving towards the hospital, by my old high school and through a residential area near dad's old firm. I Drive carefully through this part of town there are a lot of potholes in the ground. "When is some-one going to patch these holes up?" I think to myself. I get to the hospital, park my car and begin to head inside. I begin to feel a bit guilty as I head inside, I hadn't gone to see Dad since before I graduated. I make my way up to dad's room, counting the doors as I walk along; 248, 249, 250... I see that the door to dad's room is already open. There are some people in the room speaking Farsi or Arabic when I walk in, Dad has a new room-mate. They stop talking and I feel a little awkward. "Um, sorry. I'm here to see my dad" I say pointing towards him. They say nothing. I'm not sure if they speak English or not. I make my way towards Dad. His hair is shorter than it was the last time I saw him, one of the nurses must have given him a haircut. I pull the curtain to and stand there staring at him. The family on the other side of the curtain has stopped talking as well and my desire to be there is dropping by the second. I want to tell him how I'd managed to graduate in the top ten percent of my class, how I'd gotten the full ride scholarship to Gainesville. I say nothing. --- *Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep...* I wake up to see that I've overslept. I dreamed about Hunter again. This shouldn't be bothering me as much as it is. It's been almost four years since that day, I shouldn't be this shaken up over a dream like this. I get dressed and head out to the site, uneager to see my boss. "PATRICK! You're fvcking late! What has been up with you, this is the second time you've been late this quarter. And don't think I haven't seen your work slipping either" "I'm sorry sir. It won't-" "Won't happen again? That's what you said last time wasn't it?" "..." "Just get over to Cosway." I begin working, my mind still not wanting to cooperate to task at hand. After about an hour has gone by Frank is waving me down. "You got a call from Jackson Memorial hospital." I freeze, terrified at the possibility that something has happened to Mandy. I take the phone. "Hello?" "Is this Patrick Aarons?" "Yes" I answer. "You're listed as an emergency contact of Ms. Mandy Dormins. I'm afraid she passed out while at work today, we wanted to notify you as soon as possible. She's in room number 251" "I understand. Thank you..." I hang up, tell Frank and leave. I arrive at the hospital, and head to Mandy's room. She's in bed, a nurse is tending to her. The nurse leaves and Mandy and I are left alone. She's so beautiful, not looking at all like she'd been battling cancer for 10 years. --- I'm about to leave. As I turn to make my way out, I hear some-one mutter something. The other family on the other side of the curtain hasn't said a word since I arrived. I turn and face my dad. "Dad?" Challenge: Patrick must decide between the woman he loves and the family he thought he lost.