When I finally reach the hospital I go directly to the parking structure and search for an available spot. After numerous turns I finally park the car on the third floor. I turn off the car and stuff my things into my bag before I finally get off the car and make my way towards the hospital. I walk through the automatic doors and walk straight to the department where Tommy’s room was located. As soon as I reach the area the nurse at the station looks up as she notices me approach her.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes I’m here to see Tommy Smith.”
“I’m sorry it isn’t visiting hours just yet.” I look down at my watch and realize that I was in fact an hour early. I was so rushed to get out of the house that I failed to look at the time. “You’re welcome to wait in the waiting room or the cafeteria if you like.” The nurse says bringing me back to attention.
“I think I’ll do that, thank you.” The nurse nods at me before I leave the station and head towards the waiting room around the corner. I walk through the surprisingly empty room and settle in the seat closest to the door and place my bag in the empty seat besides me. I bring my phone out of my pocket and decide to text Elise since I haven’t talked to her since she dropped me off at the airport two days ago.

As soon as I see the little delivered sign under my text I lock up my phone and toss it on top of my bag. What feels like a second later I hear my phone vibrate and I go to pick it up, seeing Elise’s picture on the screen. I run my finger across the screen to answer and bring the phone up to my ear reluctantly.
“Lauren!”
“Hi Elise.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so glad to be hearing from you. I’ve been worried sick since I last saw you.”
“I’m so sorry I never got the chance to call you like I promised.”
“It’s ok, I understand. Is everything ok back home?” I opened my mouth to speak but only my breath escaped my lips. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t feel comfortable. I just hope everything is alright.” She says once she notices my hesitation.
“I’m at the hospital Elise…visiting my brother.”
“Oh no! What happened?” She says sounding truly devastated.
“He got sick…again. He looks alright but I can tell he’s scared just as much as we are.” I quickly filled her in with information on when he had first gotten sick and how it is this time around. I heard my voice crack and I drew my focus to my lap until I could regain my voice. “I don’t know when I will be going back, I don’t want to leave him alone.”
“No, you take all the time you need. Your family needs you. If you want I can have Rick email you the homework and notes you’re missing.”
“No that’s fine I’ll be too busy here and school is the last thing I want to think about right now. Thank you though.”
“I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“It’s ok Elise.”
“I’ll be praying for your brother’s recovery and for some strength for you and your family.”
“Thank you, that means a lot. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Ok, take care of yourself Lauren. Bye.”
I said my goodbye and hung up the phone. I looked at the time and noticed I still had a little less than forty-five minutes left until I could see Tommy. I swung my feet back and forth under my seat as I looked around the small room. I stared up at the tv that hung on one of the corners of the room and watched for a minute as it played one of those numerous talk shows that never seemed to catch my attention. I look back down at my watch and see the minute hand barely make its move. I was going to go out of my mind as I waited. I let out a groan in frustration and grabbed my bag as I got up from my seat and left the room. I walked through numerous hallways unsure of where exactly I was headed. I looked at the signs on the walls and decided to follow them in the direction of the cafeteria.

Once stepping inside I notice a row of vending machines along with some tables scattered around the room. I walk in farther and see more tables with people here and there and more food to choose from. I walk back to the previous room and grab a bag of chip and a water bottle from the vending machine before settling on one of the vacant tables there. I place my bag on the table and start munching on the chips as I search for a blank page inside my journal. I reread the last couple of sentences I have written from a couple of days ago before I continue writing and get wrapped up in my thoughts.

About five minutes later I notice someone standing right in front of me at one of the vending machines and I quickly avert my eyes to mind my own business. I hear something drop from the machine and I stop to roll my wrist so it can crack before getting back to my writing.
“How come you’re over here all alone?” I finish writing my sentence and slowly look up to realize he was talking to me.
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry didn’t mean to creep you out; I just found it strange how you’re here by yourself. Normally all that I see are the doctors and nurses here.”
“Oh I can’t sit here?” I ask as I gather my things and notice his point.
“No, no you’re ok.” I sit back down on my seat and meet his gaze. He flashed me a grin and revealing his dimples that somehow made me feel at ease. I smiled back at him as I found myself really looking at him. He had broad shoulder and a tattoo sleeve all along his left arm that stood out with his light complexion. He had these dark brown eyes that gleamed when he smiled and dark almost black hair that was spiked up all around in different directions. I noticed myself staring and quickly shifted my gaze at the journal in front of me as I felt my cheeks start to get hot. I hear him let out a chuckle just before he pulls out the chair in front of me and sits down. He slides his hand across the table and places in front of me as I slowly lift my head to look at him. “I’m Jaime by the way, Jaime Preciado. Nice to meet you.” He smiles at me and I look down at his hand before taking it in mine and shake it.
“Lauren Smith.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
“Thanks.” I say and notice myself still shaking his hand before I finally let go and fold my hands on the table.
“So Lauren how come you’re here in a hospital cafeteria?”
“I- I came to visit my brother but it isn’t visiting hours yet so I thought I’d waste some time here and write.” I tell him and I lift the bottom of my journal to show him.
“I noticed you writing when I was over there. You looked really into what you were working on.”
“Yeah I seem to get pretty wrapped in it, it’s a habit.”
“What do you write in there if you don’t mind me asking?”
“It’s this short story I have going. You know your typical cheesy romance.”
“You don’t like romance?”
“Eh I do but I’m not such a believer on someone just whisking you off your feet and you live happily ever after. I feel like there should be more to it then just that.” He nods as he takes in my every word.
“Do you mind if I take a look?” I give him a slight nod and push the journal towards him so he can read. He takes the journal in his hands and starts to scan the page as he read my handwriting. “This is actually really good, is this your first time writing?”
“No, I have a few journals filled with stuff like this.”
“Ever thought of publishing them?”
“It’s crossed my mind.”
“I see you go to Berkley, is this what you’re majoring in?” He says pointing at my sweatshirt.
“No, I wish! I’m studying Law.”
“But that’s the complete opposite! What made you take that route instead?”
“My dad. He’s a lawyer and he always wanted my brother and I to follow in his footsteps. Of course my brother didn’t do it and before I could argue I found myself applying for just that.”
“Why don’t you change it, if that’s what you’re wanting?”
“Because I know my dad wouldn’t be happy if I tell him that I want to work on creative writing instead even though I haven’t been doing what he wants lately.”
“See you should go for it, you’re really good and it’s a shame you keep these locked up in just your journal.” I nodded my head as I started to think about it and smiled at him.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I said as he handed back my journal. “So what are you doing here, alone in this cafeteria?”
“I’m always wondering around this hospital every so often.”
“You work here or something?”
“You can say that. It’s more like volunteer work, I’ve been here going on two years now.”
“Wow that’s quite some time. Do you like it?”
“Yeah, the staff is pretty nice and I get to meet people like you that need some help or just want to chat.” He smiled at me again revealing his pearly whites. We hear a beep coming from his watch making him break away from the gaze and look down at it. He pressed a button and started to get up from his seat. “Well Lauren it was nice meeting you, I have to head back.”
“It was nice meeting you.” I repeat and smile once more as he pushes the chair back under the table.
“I’ll be seeing you around.” He winks and waves at me before walking out door and back to the hospital hallways. I rest my head on my hand and catch myself still smiling from his presence even though I hardly knew the guy. I shake my head and let out a chuckle as I get up from my seat as well and grab my things. I throw away my trash and walk out of the cafeteria as I start to make my way back to the nurse station I was at earlier. The same nurse notices me and hands over a similar plastic bag the doctor had gave me on the previous visit.
“You can go ahead and see him now.” I grab the bag and walk into the waiting room to quickly put on the suit and walk into Tommy’s room just as he was watching tv. At the sound of the door opening he turns to face me and smiles as I walk closer to him.
“Hey sis.” I sit on the chair besides him and start to watch tv as well without really paying attention to what was on the screen. “Why are you so smiley?”
I crease my forehead and let out a laugh as I turn to face him. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh come on Lauren, you can’t fool me. I can tell even under that mask on your mouth.”
“I’m so sure.”
“Yes, your eyes kind of squint when you do and that’s what they are doing now.” I draw my attention back at the tv screen as I shake my head.
“Oh Tommy.”