“That’s what I came here to talk to you about. My coven, we can’t help you anymore.”
“What are you talking about?” A sensation like cold water trickled down my back.
“We’ve tried everything we can think of. And between you and me, that’s a lot. You know, my coven is one of the most powerful ones in the country. Still yet, none of us can get any readings on Soren.”
“You think I’m making it all up.”
“No, Blair. I don’t. I know you believe if you try a little harder you can reach him. But Blair, it’s time to face reality. You’re dreaming. He may never come back.”
I jerked my hands from Cassandra’s and stalked to the window. I counted the taxis waiting in front of the hospital as I fought to get myself under control. Cassandra stood with me. The warmth of her hand on my shoulder kept me grounded.
“If you all don’t help me, that’s it. I’m not a witch. I’m not magical. I can’t do anything special.”
“Oh, Blair. Just because you’re not a witch doesn’t mean you can’t do anything special. Soren never cared you weren’t a witch. He loved you for being you. And I think if he was here now, he wouldn’t want you to keep obsessing over this. The doctors are working hard on his case. If there’s a solution, they will find it.”
“You’re right.”
I turned and gave Cassandra the best smile I could muster, even with tears threatening to pour out of my eyes.
She gave me a hug.
“I love you. And I love Soren. I miss him too. You sure you’re okay?”
I nodded. She gave me another hug and then said her farewells to both Soren and I before leaving. Once again, I sat down close to his bedside. This time I laid my head on the side of his bed and reached my hand out to grab his still hand.
There, I cried. I let the tears flow and muffled the sound of my sobs in his sheet. My soul felt like it would burst out of my body as I released all of my pent-up grief. Eventually the tears stopped flowing and my sobbing ceased. I continued to sit with my head down and my hand holding his until the sun dipped behind the horizon.
Over the speakers, the hospital announced visiting hours were over. I stood and smoothed the sheets where my head had been. I hesitated a moment and then leaned down to give Soren a gentle kiss. Even though we were alone, I leaned in close and whispered.
“Don’t worry about what Cassie said, Soren. I’m not giving up. I’ll reach you. Just please, keep hanging on.”
I woke the next morning and just laid in the bed for a while. My roommate was moving around the room next to mine. I remembered something about classes at our university that started soon, but found I didn’t care. I didn’t care about my classes; I didn’t care about my professors.
The only thing that made me care enough to get me out of bed was the thought of going back to the hospital to sit with Soren. So that’s what I did. By brushing my teeth with one hand and picking through the clothes piled on my dresser to find ones that didn’t look dirty with the other, I prepared to leave in a matter of minutes.
When I arrived at the hospital, a group of people milled around the front door. I pushed my way through the throng and tugged on the door. It was locked. An employee grabbed my wrist.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but you can’t go in.”
“What?”
His words didn’t register in my brain.
“You can’t go in. The whole hospital is under quarantine.”
A heavy weight sprouted in my chest and took over my body.
“What do you mean?”
“Something about an illness that causes a coma. It started with one guy, and now five or six people have it. No one is allowed in, no one is allowed out.”
I wandered the streets for hours before plopping down on a park bench from exhaustion. Quarantined. I couldn’t see Soren. My life seemed like it was happening far away. Like I’d separated from my body and was looking down on this poor girl sitting on a park bench all by herself. What was I supposed to do?
Rain sprinkled. I stayed where I was, ignoring the droplets as they plopped on my head and arms. As I managed to pull my disjointed mind back together, a plan formed. The only way to find Soren was to stay asleep long enough. If Cassandra and her coven didn’t want to help me, there was only one other option.
The droplets changed over to mist. It clung to everything it touched. Just wet enough to make roads slick and annoyed everyone that had to be out in it. I left the bench, pulling up the hood of my jacket and hiding my hands in my pockets as I weaved my way in and out of people on the sidewalk. I moved around them like they were as interesting as lampposts. Sometimes it was easy to forget other people were in the world with me.
I’d never been to the side of town I was venturing to. Soon, I saw the building I was looking for up ahead. The “Marty’s Market” sign was lit up above the door in a bright green neon, flickering in places where the lights were going out. I pulled my jacket closer and lowered my hood as I pushed the door open. A little bell on a wire jingled as I walked inside.
A regular looking convenience store greeted me. Fluorescent lights lit up aisles of nondescript drinks and snacks and knickknacks. To my right was a counter with no one behind it. I could hear the muffled sound of a radio or tv somewhere in the back. I roamed up and down the aisles picking up a candy bar and a pop on my way. Towards the front, I passed a turning shelf
