One Shot

The girl slowly opens her eyes against the light. She tries to speak half-awake.

"A- Ah... It's... So bright..."

She lets her eyes adjust.

"So white... So soft... Is... Is this... Heaven?"

"No, this is the infirmary," a male voice utters nonchalantly. She sees a guy wearing a lab coat sitting by her bedside.

"Oh," she follows with a displeased sigh.

"Sorry to disappoint."

"No. It's okay... Uhm... Doc."

"So," the guy rests his hand on his hip. "What were you thinking jumping into the pool?"

"Ah, yes," she comments as if it was a fond memory. "I was... Just trying to cool off."

"That's why you jumped?"

"Yes."

"Even though you can't swim?"

"... Yes."

"You..."

"Yes?"

"Should I send you to the mental institution?"

"Please don't, doc," she calmly pleads. "I already have so much in my mind."

"Oh, really? Like what?" he kindly inquires.

"Like sad memories. And painful memories. And regrets."

"So something happened."

"A lot."

"Could you share them with me?"

"Sure. Let's see," the girl closes her eyes as if to recall the events. She takes a deep breath as she begins her tale. "My toast was burnt just right this morning..."

"How about we skip to why you jumped into the pool?" he interrupts. The girl lifts her head from the pillow and stares at him.

"Please let me finish the story, doc. It's important to me."

"Sorry. Please continue."

"Thank you." The girl rests her head back down and closes her eyes. Once again trying to recall what happened. "Now where was I?"

"The pool," he suggests.

"Right. My toast was burnt just right this morning. A stray white cat followed me to school. When I dozed off in class, a butterfly landed on my nose waking me up just as the class was ending. The sun wasn't burning the side of my face like any other day. My friends are absent so no one was teasing me today. It was..." she opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling with a gentle smile. "It was a great day."

Her smile turns to dread as she continues. "So I thought I'd gather all my good luck and courage today, and confess my love to my crush once and for all. But he..."

"He rejected you," he finishes her sentence.

"Doc. It hurts. How could life be so cruel? I don't want it anymore. I want to disappear."

He places his hand on her arm. "Please don't disappear. It's not the end of the world. There's so much you can still do. Think of all the good memories you can still make. And the people who will be sad when you're gone. Your parents. Your friends."

He looks at her intently, passing hope through his eyes. Her cheeks turn rosy as his hair dances with the wind, and light touches his fair skin. For a moment, she thought he is rather good looking for someone almost twice her age. Maybe... Maybe he will...

"Are you going to be sad when I'm gone, doc?"

"I will be sad."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Doc..."

"Yes?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"I..." he smiles as he lets go of her arm. "I have a lovely wife and an adorable daughter."

"Oh."

"No more jumping into the pool, okay?"