The Toxic Doctor

"I can't do this anymore" she screamed, "So that's it... seven years and you're leaving just like that?" He asked "YES!" She snapped.... "Oh no, they're at it again" I sighed, rolled my eyes and stumbled out of bed. I heard the front door slam, footsteps hurriedly going down the walkway and tires screeching away and I looked through my window just in time to see the rear of Kimone's car driving speedily down the street. I sighed again. "What's wrong?" I asked as I came down stairs and headed to the kitchen "She left and I think it’s for good this time" Kyle answered as he stared blankly at the door. "Don't worry she'll be back " I said trying to sound optimistic. "Hmmm, whatever" he grumbled. I was about to offer him coffee when I heard him go up the stairs. I sighed again. It’s crazy that two people who were head over heels in love have so much hatred for each other all of a sudden. It was really weird but I tried my best to stay out of their quarrels at all times. Kyle and Kimone were my room mates from college days, we met in the cafeteria in my second week on campus and have remained friends ever since. We were so close that after college we decided to share an apartment so we could save some money for our future endeavors. But for the past year their relationship took a turn for the worse, they were always arguing, even over petty things, things that could've been over looked, endless bickering and malice for reasons unknown to me. I didn’t know what had went wrong, I tried asking Kimone on more than one occasion but she played it off each time saying its nothing and that they were okay. We both knew she was lying but I figured she would tell me what was happening on her own time. I made breakfast and thought about sharing with Kyle, I knew he didn't like to eat when he was moody but I decided to ask anyway. "Kyle!" I shouted from the bottom of the stairs "pancakes are ready!" "No thank you" he replied. "Okay”.... I replied Well, more for me I thought and I sat down at the kitchen table to eat what I prepared. I was about to take a second bite of my pancake when my phone started ringing, I rolled my eyes upon realizing that I had left it upstairs "Oh man, can’t a girl just enjoy her breakfast?" I thought out loud "whoever it is jus gotta call back because I am not getting up" I growled and continued eating. "It’s a beautiful life oh ooh ohhh oh" echoed through the house, the sound of my favorite song by Ace of Base alerted me that my phone was ringing again "Uggghhh" I snapped. But still I decided to be stubborn and not get up, I loved the apartment but hated that the bedrooms were upstairs and I kept forgetting to take my phone with me whenever I was coming to the kitchen. After about five minutes I finished my breakfast and started reading the morning paper. My phone started ringing again but this time the sound was getting louder and coming towards me. I looked up to see Kyle downstairs with my phone in his hand; he came in the kitchen and handed it to me "Thanks" I said "really couldn't bother to get it" with a slight smile "I know, but can you put it on silent or something? I really need some peace and quiet right now" he said softly..... I gave him an 'oh really' look and was about to start arguing but decided against it upon noticing his eyes were red and it was obvious that he had been crying "Are you okay?" I asked knowing he would lie "Yeah, I'm fine, just having a terrible headache" he replied. "There's some Panadol in the top draw on your right if you need any" I told him "Kool" he said as he sat around the other side of the table and began reading the paper. By this, my phone was at it again... "Oh" I gasped as I had forgotten it was in my hand. "Hello?" "Hi, Good morning, this is Nurse Walters from Middlesex Hospital and I'm calling for Miss Nicole Lyons" I froze and wondered why would the hospital be calling me. "Was something wrong with my mother or anyone one of my family members I wondered? "Errr.... ummmm yes this is her, how may I help? I tried to remain calm as I spoke "Calling on behalf of Miss Kimone Livermore, you were listed in her phone as BFF (best friend forever) and in her purse as next of kin" I panicked... "Huh?" I struggled to find my words, "What happened?" I asked again "She met in an accident, how soon can you get here?" How could this be? She just left here I knew she was angry but surely not angry enough to end up in an accident. “This sounded real bad” I thought to myself again. It took awhile for the words to process in my mind it was as if my brain became slow, when I finally registered what she had said all I could do was shout "WHAT?!!" I suddenly felt hot and dizzy, I couldn’t breathe, I had to lean on the table for support. Then I noticed Kyle staring at me wide eyed, "What is it?" He whispered "Ok, I'll be there soon" I said and hung up the phone. "What's wrong?" Kyle asked. I stood up from the table and attempted to walk but my legs wouldn't move, I needed some water "Nicole, what's wrong...Who was that on the phone?" He asked again but I still couldn't answer, I had no words and my tongue felt tied "God Damn it Nicole what is it?" He shouted again this time hitting the table and startling me, I jumped and looked at him, that was when I saw the panic in his eyes and I could feel the tears springing in my own eyes  "Its Kimone" I whispered” she met in an accident” And after I said that everything went dark. I woke up to bright lights and soft voices and there was this beautiful man with pretty green eyes looking at me and shining a light in my eye.... "Oh my" I blurted out "Look who's awake?" He said smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen "Nicole ..... Babe is you ok?" I heard my mom saying. I turned to see her getting up and coming towards me, she leaned over my bed and kissed my forehead. "Mom?" I said feeling confused "where am I?" I asked while looking around "You are in the hospital baby.... Kyle brought you in.... you fainted, don't you remember?" She asked, I thought for a moment, trying to focus to see if something would drag my memory but nothing came. I couldn't get pass the alluring face I woke up to. I turned again to see him staring at me and I suddenly felt hot under his gaze. "Miss Lyons, I'm Dr. King, are you feeling ok? Your friend took you in, he said your bestie Kimone...." "Kimone!" I shrieked, the sound of her name unleashed a wave of memories all at once "Oh my God, Oh my God, Kimone...is she ok? I have to get to her" I said while trying to get out the bed "Miss Lyons, I'm afraid you'll not be able to see your friend right now" the doctor said softly "What?! ...why not?" I was now shouting "Mom.... where's Kimone?" I asked without looking at her, I heard her sniffling so it was obvious that she had been crying "Miss Lyons, you have to calm down before you raise your blood pressure higher than it already is, I know you're worried but you gotta take care of yourself first" he said while rubbing my hand. Something about his voice soothed me, made me calm, but why was he having such an effect on me though? Its good that he got me to calm down but it still felt weird. I was about to ask the doctor something when Kyle walked in  "Hey Nicole, you're awake, it feels good that at least one of you are" he said while running his hand through his hair. He looked so sad; I knew something was really wrong. I took a deep breath, while telling myself to remain calm or they would never tell me what I needed to know. "Kyle" I said softly "is Kimone dead?" Something flashed across his face as soon as the words left my mouth, but I couldn't read what it was. "No" he replied When he answered I heard myself let out a loud breath that I was oblivious to holding. "Thank God" I said using my hands to cover my face, and my tears were ready to come again but I decided not to let them fall. "She is in a coma though... her brain is swollen" he continued "What in the actual f**k?!" I shrieked in an unusual high pitched voice, my mom was at my side in an instant "She'll pull through honey, she's strong and we're gonna send up special prayers for her all day and night" my mom said as she hugged me and kissed my face in an effort to comfort me. I laid there motionless as my body froze and my brain began working overtime trying to process all that had happened in the past year. It was like a roller coaster ride that would not end. I remembered the first time we met in the cafeteria, when I accidentally knocked over her lunch tray. "Ooh my bad, I'm sorry, I'm such a klutz sometimes" "Don’t worry we all are" she said with a smile and I bent to pick up her tray. "It’s ok... Its ok...I'll just go get another" she said reassuringly... I remembered looking at her and saying wow, at least she’s not walking around with anger issues like the rest of the students. Yesterday she was happy and smiling, now today she's in a coma.  Damn! Life can be so cruel at times. As I laid there with my memories a wave of emotions began to wash over me. Refusing to hold the tears anymore, I allowed them to flow freely down my face. While wondering where to go from here, how do move forward though?  How do I accept the fact that there's a chance of never hearing her voice or seeing her play basketball again. How do I cope with the possibility of losing one of my best friends?