C1 The Bad News

The sounds started dying down as the night descended. One of the most scary things, empty hospitals. The nurses wandered in the corridors noticing her again and again. She was sitting on a bench outside the ICU with her head in her hands. She was continuously sobbing.

A male nurse came out of the ICU, for the 15th time, he was seeing her.

Concerned, he moved at her and cleared his throat to gain her attention.

"Ariana". He called her name.

She looked up. Her light blue eyes, drowned in tears, met his eyes. A smile appeared on her plump lips. "Hey". She said and wiped the tears from her long wet eyelashes and cheeks.

"You've been sitting sitting here for like, twelve hours now? You should go home and take some rest". The nurse advised.

"I can't leave my brother Dan". Ariana shook her head.

"I will take care of him Ariana, you should go home, Leo strictly told me to look after you in his absence". The nurse grinned.

"Thanks for caring but I'm alright". Ariana was not ready to leave.

"Okay". The nurse nodded reluctantly, not comfortable with the decision. He kept quiet for a while. "I'll bring something to eat then".

"No! I'm not hungry". Ariana stopped him.

"You are! Look at your face! Leo's my friend, I HAVE to do it". The nurse smiled and went away before she could say something else.

Ariana closed her eyes and leaned back. She recalled what happened twelve hours ago.

Ariana was collecting the clothes for laundry. She took the basket and went into Leo's room.

Leo was Ariana's best friend. After her parents died two years ago, she moved into Leo's with her younger brother as she had nowhere to go.

Leo was getting ready to leave for the office.

"Thank you Ariana". Leo smiled at her as she took all the clothes to wash.

"Oh God! Why do you thank your best friend, I don't understand" . Ariana chuckled and moved out of the room.

She entered the room next to Leo's and stood in the doorway. She smiled at the boy standing in front of the mirror, combing his wavy hairs. "My high school boy is ready to go?". She asked.

The boy looked at her and made a pouty face. "Oh come on Ariana! That's a disgusting name!".

"No! It's cool". Ariana walked in and gathered the things that were lying here and there.

The young boy was Ariana's younger brother, Aidan. He was in highschool, Ariana's only family. He was diagnosed with Brain cancer when he was 08 years old, their parents kept on taking him to the doctor and now, he needed the surgery because his condition was becoming worse. Since the day when Ariana's parents were killed by their rivals, no one paid attention to Aidan's regular checkups and health. Moreover, Ariana was broke now. She was unable to do ANYTHING for her brother.

"I'm not sure how long am I gonna live". Aidan said sadly.

Ariana glanced at him and dropped the basket. "How many times am I supposed to tell you, don't talk bullshit". She moved at Aidan.

"I'm sorry but, isn't that true?". Aidan looked innocently at her.

"Shut up, get ready, hurry up". Ariana rolled her eyes and went back to do her work.

Suddenly, Aidan ran at the washroom and kicked the door open. The violent sound scared Ariana. She jumped and looked around in the room. "What- Aidan?". She ran into the washroom. "Aidan! Are you alright".

Aidan stooped on the sink and puked red blood.

Ariana freezed in the doorway as she already knew what was wrong. Blood was Ariana's worst fear. She was frightened of it "Leo". She said in a low voice. "LEO! LEO!". Her voice was loud now.

Leo came running out of his room. "What? What happened?". He said and looked in the washroom.

Aidan gargled and took long breaths.

"Blood Vomits". Leo figured out himself. He turned to Ariana who was staring at her brother in a shock.

Before someone could move forwards, Aidan fell down on the floor.

"Aidan!". Ariana shouted and moved forwards, seeing her brother falling to the ground.

Leo glanced at Aidan and then looked out. "I'll call the ambulance".

Ariana sat on the bench outside the ICU, sobbing. "Oh Jesus"

Leo walked here and there in the corridor. "Ariana". He said and sat on his knees in front of her. "He'll be alright my dear".

"I've been hearing this for 10 years now Leo!". Ariana cried. "There's no way he'll recover from this".

Leo stood up and sat next to her, pulling her into a warm embrace. Ariana readily accepted it and sobbed until the last tear was absorbed into Leo's tshirt.

The nurse came back as Ariana was drowned in thoughts.

"I'm back, with a cheesy sandwich and a hot coffee". He placed the tray beside Ariana and stood at a distance.

"Oh Dan! This is so nice". Ariana smiled. "You're so sweet".

Dan passed a cute smile at her. "I'll be around, see you later".

Ariana gave a nod, and Dan left. She thought about something looking at the ICU door and sighed.

Next Morning, Ariana woke up by the voices of people around her. She opened her eyes and found herself sitting on the same place. Leo was standing in front of her, leaning on the wall opposite to her.

"You're awake". He said.

Ariana glanced at the tray resting beside her. She ate the sandwich and drank the coffee last night and dozed off to sleep.

"It's a good thing that Dan mixed the sleeping pills in your coffee so that you could sleep for a while". Leo sat next to her.

"Did he?".

"Yeah".

"Oh! I'm so stupid, ain't I?". Ariana chuckled.

"No you're not, Dan's intelligent". Leo said.

"Anything from Nina?".

Leo's face turned stern. "No".

"I'm so sorry Leo". Ariana looked embarrassed.

"Hey! You don't have to say sorry Ariana ". Leo turned to face her. "You know very well, nothing is more important to me in this world than you, I can sacrifice my everything for my bestie, Nina was just a temporary girlfriend".

"Temporary?". Ariana was amused. "She was your childhood crush Leo! You convinced her so hardly".

"I don't care, one sided love never succeeds. She never cared about me". Leo said. "Enough with Nina, the doctor is in the ICU, Aidan's back to his senses, He'll come outside and tell us about how's Aidan doing".

Nina was Leo's girlfriend who broke up with him when she found out that Leo's paying for Aidan's treatment. She was always jealoused of Ariana and Leo's friendship.

A few moments later, the doctor came out with a sad face.

Ariana and Leo surrounded him and questioned about Aidan's health.

"He's not good". The doctor told. "He is suffering badly. The surgery is very important".

Ariana placed her palm on her mouth stopping herself from screaming.

"There might be any other way". Leo said.

"Doctor, we can't afford a surgery". Ariana cried. "Maybe a more better medicine?".

"No, there's no way. What to mention, I cannot handle your patient's case anymore, a more qualified doctor is required and the surgery should be carried out asap. Otherwise, you'll lose him".

"Qualified doctor? More qualified than you? You're the best doctor!". Leo was surprised.

"Your patient's case is quite complicated. Maybe Doctor Ciaran Wilson could help". The doctor advised.

"Who? The heir of Harry Wilson?". Leo asked.

"The owner of Wilson hospitals?". Ariana said.

"Yep". The doctor gave a nod.

"But we can't afford him".

"He can prove to be a new life for your brother ". The doctor shrugged. "Excuse Me".

Ariana sat on the chair with her head in her hands. She started weeping. "Oh God! What now?".

"Ariana! Don't lose hope, I'll sort this out". Leo consoled.

"How? Can you afford that doctor?". Ariana responded. "No you can't! I'll never forgive the ones who killed my parents. If they were alive today, Aidan would have been alright".

Leo stood answerless. He stared at Ariana and was unable to bare the tears in his best friend's eyes.