Time Spent Waltzing is Never Time Wasted

Maria blinked her eyes. They felt heavy, as if she'd been deprived of sleep, but they almost hurt. Or maybe that pain was coming from her head...She couldn't tell.1

Once she finally got her eyes to open a bit, she forced them shut again after witnessing the shockingly bright whiteness this room had to offer. Room...What room was this anyway?2

Maria sat up abruptly in an uncomfortable bed, with an uncomfortable pale blue pillow that recovered to its normal state as its burden was eased. Maria realized she had sat up in much too much haste; her head was pounding so as Maria could fairly feel the blood coursing through it. She put a hand to her forehead and paused, waiting for the atrocious pain to subside. It was then that her fingers felt wet, and she wrenched them away from her head. She glanced down in horror at them and saw that a few drops of blood rested on her fingertips. She then raised a cautious hand and felt around her head. It was bandaged.3

Just as Maria was about to contemplate the situation,she heard a sharp intake of breath to her left. She gasped and whipped around to see what it was, much to the distaste of her injured head. There, in a plain red chair wedged in the corner, sat a man: not only a man, but a man she knew, and well. She grinned and started to swing her legs around to release herself from the confines of the bed, but even her legs protested with sharp pain.4

The man in the corner was a tall one, with brown hair not too light, and not too dark. It wasn't all that long, but it was enough so to become quite disheveled, as it was now. He slowly stood, green eyes welling up with compassionate tears, and he managed a soft smile. He reached out a gentle hand and walked slowly towards Maria.5

"Settle back in now," he whispered.6

Maria was baffled by his tone.7

"Alex, what are doing here?" she asked, careful not to burst out laughing for he's never treated her this way before, though she appreciated it.8

"I find that an ironic question for you to ask," he said, now sitting on the side of the bed and taking one of her hands in his, "as you, I'm sure, couldn't answer it for yourself."9

"No," she admitted, now allowing a smile. Why in Heaven was he like this now? "No, but I have enough brains left to know I'm in a hospital. I just...don't know why." Now the smile faded.10

"I'm sure you can easily recall," he started, taking a couple steps away from the bed. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he turned around, expecting Maria to say, "Yes, yes, of course I do!" But that didn't happen at all. Silence followed, and Maria implored him to go on with her eyes. "Well," he said, "You were in an accident with that terrible Mini Cooper of your father's...Those little things are so unsafe!  Anyway, it...headed toward a tree, and you jumped. You landed...badly. But you're alive!" He laughed nervously, then regretted it, wondering if that was totally in bad taste.11

"I landed badly, did I?" she replied, just feeling her very soul enlighten at the simple thought of him being there.12

"Yes." Alex now turned away and bit his lip. 13

"Alex, you don't need to tell me," Maria said, so loudly and with so much conviction that Alex turned abruptly around and stared directly into her eyes. However, he would not speak.14

"I know my parents didn't make it. If that is untrue, then they are doing terribly."15

"Maria, I-" Alex protested.16

But she didn't want to hear any of that. "No, Alex!" she said sharply putting a hand up. She softened her tone then and said, "I can tell because if they were in good condition, you would've told me immediately. You wouldn't have hesitated, and you wouldn't be turning your head away from me so much. I am anything but oblivious, Alex. I also know that is why you are treating me this way. You've never felt anything for me! I believe you're mocking me."17

A long pause followed, making Maria uncomfortable. She was expecting a counter-argument which, at that time, would suit her dark mood. However, she received anything but. Alex, who, throughout the duration of her speech, had listened intently with a look of almost confusion, remembered his pity for her and added some pity for himself, too. He began to gently cry again. Maria turned away.18

"Doesn't it affect you, Maria?" Alex shouted in a tone altered by the presence of tears. "Doesn't it affect your hardened heart that your parents are...aren't here anymore? And how, how can you say that you are not oblivious when it is so evident that I do care for you! Maria! Maria..." He crumpled on the spot in a heap and remained there, head bowed.19

"Of course it affects me," Maria said in near disgust, though she was not angry. "I only cry when I am alone."20

"Then I shall leave you," he said, looking up. 21

"No..." Maria replied, looking down at her hands. The blood that was previously wet on her fingers had dried there. "I don't like to cry. I can't stop."22

Alex stood now, and resumed his seat on the side of her bed. He lay her down. "Then I shall stay here all night and all day until the time comes when you can leave this wretched place. Then you will not cry."23

Maria looked up at him with an apathetic face. "What if you must leave, Alex? What then? I will cry."24

Alex smiled softly. "Someone will be here always, but 99.9 percent of the time, it will be me."25

Maria didn't remember anything after that, for the sound of sirens filled her ears and clouded her thoughts.26

She was still on the uncomfortable bed, but when she pried open her eyes, it was not white. She saw stars above her head, a sweet surprise, and she smiled.27

"'Ey, awake, are ya?" a young man asked, one of those carrying her stretcher.28

It all clicked in to Maria now. This put her in a dreary mood, and she pouted. "Yes, I suppose," she replied.29

"Quite a accident ya had there," he said.30

Maria despised his sarcasm. She tried to move, but she was uncomfortably strapped down. A drop of blood made its way down the side of her head.31

"I...my head, it's...pounding horribly," Maria said wearily.32

"Almost to freedom, darlin'," said a female voice above her head. She saw blue and red lights approaching. They swirled into dancing purples.33

"To freedom..." she muttered. Then her weary eyes rested once more.34

*~~~~~*35

Just a few miles away, a young man awoke with a start, quickly rubbing at his eyes. A clock with brightly lit numbers read 11:03. He felt he could waste no time.36

He rushed downstairs, passing his closet, therefore forgetting a jacket in the middle of January. He grabbed his keys on the way out, and slipped on some garden shoes from his garage. He then drove off into the icy, unfeeling night. He had not a map, but an insight inspired by love, and therefore, he knew precisely where to go.37