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Tears well in her eyes, causing my stomach to drop even further. She clasps her hands together, wringing them in a tight ball. Anxiety is rolling off her in waves.
“She’s been in a coma since. Bleeding on the brain, apparently. Thankfully, they’ve managed to get the swelling down a little, but she’s still in bad shape. Her mother hasn’t left her side. Audrey’s all she has left.”
I’m shocked by how much hearing this affects me. I only met that lovely young woman for ten minutes one day, but for some unfathomable reason, it feels like I’ve been hit with the worst news on earth.
“Are you okay?” the red-haired lady asks. “You look really pale.”
I nod my head, but my mind is whirring. I should leave, get on that plane, and go home, but something is propelling me to go to the hospital and visit her.
“Yes, sorry. I’m fine. Can you tell me what hospital she’s in?”
Confused as to why I’m asking, she frowns. “Yeah, sure. It’s the local memorial hospital.” She then says, “Are you going to visit her? I think she’d love that. Maybe you could be the one to finally wake her up. I’m holding onto that miracle that she suddenly will soon.”
“Thank you, yes,” I respond. “I will visit her.”
Smiling brightly again, she claps her hands together. “She’s on the second floor, room number 206.”
“Thank you,” I reply, appreciatively.
She stands on the balls of her feet. “Would you like a coffee before you go? I’m not very good with the fancy stuff, but I’m learning to try considering Audrey’s not here to do it for me.”
A slight chuckle leaves me. “Okay, sure. See if you can do my triple venti holy shit for me.”
Her smile is as big as the state of Wyoming. “Coming right up.”
It’s then I remember something. “Oh, just one quick question.”
“Sure,” she replies, coming back to the counter, eager to hear what I have to say.
“That day I came in here, did my wife ever come in after?”
She frowns. “No, why?”
“Are you sure she never came in?”
She gives me a reproachful look. “Believe me, I would remember if the famous supermodel Kendra Banks came into our café.”
I glance away, frowning. “Okay, thanks.”
It doesn’t make sense. Maybe Kendra approached Audrey after work when no one else was with her, perhaps?
“Are you sure you’re okay?” the girl asks again.
I smile back. “Yes, I’m perfectly fine. Thank you.”
I’m unsure that I am, but the lady pivots on her heels and busies herself making my coffee. It takes a little while longer for her to make it compared to Audrey, and I’m pretty sure a few curse words are uttered under her breath, which is amusing. I’m still anxious, though, and I have no idea why. It’s like I’m desperately trying to think of a word I have forgotten and it’s on the tip of my tongue, but in my case, I don’t even know what’s brought that thought into my head to begin with. Something isn’t right, though. And it’s one of the reasons why I felt compelled to fly over here.
“Here you go,” the red-haired lady sings before puffing out some air at an imaginary hair in her eyes. “I hope you like it.”
Her unsure frown doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence as she places the coffee on the counter. Gingerly, I hold it to my lips and blow a few times before taking a sip. It’s not as nice as Audrey’s attempt, but it’s certainly not repulsive.
“It’s great. Thank you.” I place a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. “Keep the change.”
Her smile is wide before she responds. “Thank you.”
“What’s your name?” I ask, fed up with referring to her as “red-haired lady” in my head.
Seeming shocked and excitable that I asked, she replies, “Victoria.”
