Petersons

"Your uncle's resting at the moment." Mom said.

Aaron nodded as he sat down on the most uncomfortable chair. He rested his head in his hands and closed his eyes for a second.

The night had been rough on all of them. The way they had waited outside the operation theatre for hours, praying for his health to regain and come out as joyful as he was before. It'd been 10 hours, and nobody had gone home.

The worries had disappeared a little the moment the doctor told them about the miraculous recovery of him.

"It won't happen again, right?" Aaron asked, raising his head as he looked at his mother.

"We are not sure about that, honey." She said as she wrapped her fingers around his arm. She continued, " But he is okay now. Once he gets up, you can go talk to him." Aaron nodded, his lips pursed in a thin line. He had been close to his uncle since his childhood. He was the father figure to him since his dad died. Losing him was like losing his dad all over again. Something he never wanted to relive again. The accident that happened decades ago was still fresh in his mind.

"I don't want to lose him too, mom" The tears had dried up, yet the sadness still lingered in his eyes. The crack in his voice gave away the hidden pain inside him.

"Oh sweety, you won't." She said as she reached towards him to hold him in a side hug.

The silence lingered around them; the floor they were on was the quietest in the mornings. It was just the nurse rounding the rooms with medication trays treating the patients in every room with the morning medication and breakfast. The cleaning staff swept the area, making it so shiny that you could see your own reflection in the tiles.

"I'm not sure about that decision of theirs mom," He looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Honey, we discussed it. It's for the better, you know that." Aaron's eyes still glued on his mother, trying to think of one good reason to say yes.

His heart never wanted something that so wrongfully belonged to him. A love so conditional turning into something that he had to fulfil with just faith in his bones; love never there, to begin with.

The doors to room 210 opened as the nurse walked out with the medication tray in her hand.

"He's up now and much better. You can go see him," The nurse said to his mom and walked away.

"I will go and see him first, okay?" She kissed the side of his head and stood up to walk towards the 210 room.

Aaron sat there in utter silence.

--

The cafeteria was the most dreaded place in the hospital. The food there tasted just okay. It usually had mashed potatoes, eggs, and different types of soaps.

Scar paid for the tea and walked out of the cafeteria. The corridors had the light coming in from every window. She looked outside the windows; the sun was high up in the sky, cars parked in the driveway as an ambulance drove in and stopped at the entrance. The doors were opened in a hurry as the stretcher was rolled out and pushed inside the hospital. She sighed heavily, remembering the last night. As her eyes diverted away from the window, she saw Aaron pacing the halls all alone. She walked to him.

"Aaron..." Her voice, coming out in a whisper. His eyes settled on the face that had nothing but pure concern on her face. His heart pounded heavily. He couldn't do this to her.

His gaze dropped as he said, " I can't do this,"

"I know. Neither can I," She said as her heart wished for a way out of this without breaking any promises.

The doors to room 210 opened as his mom walked out.

"He wants to see you both,"

Their eyes found each other, starring as their hearts thumped in sync. Maybe just maybe, love would find its way somehow in between the lines of faith and destiny they were destined to live together.