Heavy drops fell on the window, as the cold wind tried to lift the wet leaves off the ground. It was already a late evening and the lights in the hospital were being turned off one by one. All except for one room, where she was by his bed all this time. Tears fell down on his bedside, like the drops of rain fell on the pavement outside.
- Why didn't I follow you then....? - she kept asking herself, not able to do anything else.
A quiet knock came on the door and a nurse opened them, asking Lisa to leave, since it the visiting hours were over. The girl just nodded in response and slowly lifted herself up from the stool she was sitting on. She looked at his face. She had asked one of the nurses to close Paul's eyes yesterday, as she was afraid to do that herself. With his eyes now closed, he looked like he was dreaming, calm with the usual slight smile on his lips.
She thanked the nurses for letting her visit him outside the usual hours for non-family members, then she went outside into the cold autumn rain. As she reached the bus stop it was empty, not even a single person.
- The bus probably left earlier - she pouted quietly as she saw that she was just a bit too late and the next bus would be no sooner than a half-hour wait. - Oh well, it's not like I'll walk in this weather.
She took a seat under the shelter as she waited, turning her eye-sight back at the hospital, still thinking about him, hoping that he'll soon wake up.
The doctors couldn't say anything exact about his condition, he was healthy, brain activity was normal, it was like he was in comma. One of them stopped her at the corridor a few hours ago and told that his mother had a similar condition, before becoming pregnant. She was in comma for three days with no apparent reason, after which she woke up like after a dream.
- Excuse me, miss - a sudden voice brought her back to reality.
As she looked towards the speaker, she saw a man under a big black umbrella. She couldn't see his face much due to the dark time and shadows.
- You shouldn't visit him, those who do what he did return being different. - he added before turning and staring to walk away.
- Wait - she stood up as he was a few steps away - Who are you? - her voiced shivered after hearing what he said.
- Just someone who knows - he replied turning his head a bit and a passing car threw enough light for her to notice a scar on his left cheek and his left eye was like Paul's eyes were now. Icy, without the little spark of life in them.
She stood in place after seeing that, not able to tell a word or even react somehow. Finally as the man disappeared from sight she sat back down. It was slightly too much for her to see someone with lifeless eyes again.
The bus came a bit late, but it didn't really matter to her. At home she had hard time trying to fall asleep, image of those lifeless eyes in her mind kept her awake, until tiredness took over and she finally fell asleep.
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About a week later Paul woke up and the first thing he did was burning all his father's notes he had found before. Lisa didn't receive any warmth from him, despite her sitting by her bed each day during all that time. She could hardly recognize him by his actions. Soon he left the city, moved to a smaller one after finding a job where they were willing to pay for his studies. Before he left he gave her his mother's medallion, which was something he always kept.
- Let go of the past. You'll be surprised what's just around the corner - that was the last words he told her before leaving.
After that she didn't hear from him...
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A warm wind gently played with the curtains of the slightly opened window on that hot summer night. Two warm bodies were snuggling together under a light blanket, carefully sharing their warmth and enjoying the closeness, being very quiet, when a cry was heard from another room.
- He's awake again - he whispered as their lips parted.
- I'll take a look - she answered looking him into the eyes and smiling.
She sat up on the bed and lit up a small night lamp. His warm hand carefully stroked over her back as she was getting up, she replied with a gentle kiss, before walking out. But before she left the room, something caught her eyes. It was a little medallion laying on the shelf.
- Who would have thought how right you were... - she whispered to herself.
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