Always been love

I’m sorry I can’t come back.

I woke with and banging headache and I couldn’t open my eyes but I could hear faint beeping sound like an alarm or machinery? How long have I been sleeping! I forced my eyes open and was welcomed by a very harsh light so I closed my eyes for a few moments before opening them again.

‘Aurora, you’re awake.’ said I a voice I didn’t realize so I panicked thinking what this person was doing in my apartment? My room?

‘ calm down it’s Mrs Simpson, you’re in hospital.’ Mrs Simpson? Hospital? I looked around, of course this is a hospital. The bed is uncomfortable and my room doesn’t light up like this. I finally looked at the woman on my side. She looked worried.

‘what happened?’ I remember crying after I got to my apartment after the drama that unfolded at the Sebastian Corp premises.

‘ the doctor said you had a panic attack/ mini heart attack while sleeping.’ I sighed, I last got this a year ago when mom was no more and I’ve avoided thinking about her to stop this from happening because I get angry and I can’t control myself.

‘ I’ll go call the doctor.’ she said rubbing my back bringing me back to my senses.

‘okay. Thank you.’ I said passing her a small smile. She came back after a few minutes with the doctor carrying my discharge papers. I signed the papers the doctor telling me to rest. I slipped back to the clothes I was wearing in the morning at work. I also noticed my phone on the bedside and I checked the time, it read 21:35.

‘ how long have you been here Mrs Simpson?’ I asked feeling guilty because she was wearing her work clothes.

‘since I knocked off at work.’ she said saying like it was something obvious.

‘Thank you, did you eat though?’ I said concerned because it’s been almost 5 hours. she just smiled and I took it as no. We were now making our exit in the hospital and Mrs Simpson led me to her car. We drove in comfortable science and I ordered food so long so that it can arrive after us. I was gonna ask her how she knew where I stayed, I made a mental note to ask when we’ve already eaten. We arrived at my apartment a knock coming through after and it was the food.

‘ you should have a bath first or are you that hungry?’ Mrs Simpson asked in a motherly tone.

‘ I think I’ll have that bath so long you should be eating.’

‘ No, I’ll wait for you. Don’t worry about me.’ I nodded and made my way to my room after switching the tv on for her. I went to open the tub taps and in the meanwhile I took out some pajama shorts for when I’m done. It took me less than 30 minutes and I felt relaxed as hell. I went back to my room, wore my pjs and I made my way to the kitchen to take a drink and classes then a plate for Mrs Simpson. I preferred eating from the takeaway.

‘ how do you feel?’ Mrs Simpson asked as I sat down.

‘I feel a lot better than I felt hours ago.’ she smiled but not looking convinced at all. Yeah, I was physically fine but emotionally I was a wrack. We dished for ourselves and started eating.

‘ how did you know I was at the hospital?’

‘ I was actually the one who found you here and called an ambulance.’ now I was more confused.

‘ Sebastian and I were trying to call you after you left and we couldn’t get ahold of you so he said I should come by your place to tell you he wants to see you tomorrow morning.’

‘ but I was fired.’ I said trying to make sense of what was just said.

‘ Sebastian told me what happened.’ she said looking at me pleadingly.

‘He tends to push away people when he feels a connection and he felt intimidated by you because you’re his only employee except for me who ever had the gut to tell him where to get off.’ she said then chuckled, I smiled thinking about the first time we met.

‘yeah we actually met down at the Cafe the day of the interview and we didn’t really start off right.’ she laughed.

‘He told me, he tells me everything.’ That caught my attention I thought he was this closed guy even to Mrs Simpson because I’ve never seen him smile at her whenever they talked.

‘ it’s sounds like you two are close.’

‘ yes, I’ve been working for him for almost a decade now. I was there when he started his company from scratch and I’ve seen every situation in his life from good to bad. He had it rough.’ she sighed now looking like she’s tired by just thinking about it. I didn’t know what to say so I just placed my hand over hers and brushed it.

‘Come back honey.’ she said taking me off guard.

‘ I disrespected him but I was just concerned and it got to me when he pushed me away. I just thought I’d love to help someone and ask how they are since no one does that for me.’

‘ he understands, I made him understand that not everyone is out to get him and being vulnerable is okay.’ I sighed, I can’t go back there. There must be some other way, I’ll rest for a few days and then start looking again.

‘ but I don’t think I can come back. I’m sorry Mrs Simpson I can’t come back.’ I didn’t miss the disappointment on her face but she nodded in understanding.

‘ sleep on it okay?’ She said getting up taking her keys.

‘ I thought you’ll maybe sleepover, it’s 23:45 now. Can you drive at night?’ I hated driving at night.

‘ I promised my husband I’ll be there and yes I can still drive I’m not that old.’ I laughed at the statement.

‘ no I asked because I’m afraid of driving especially at night. Please apologize to your husband for me, thank you Mrs Simpson.’ She nodded and engulfed me in a bear hug.

‘ you should start calling me Rayna or mom.’ That’s when it hit me, I’ve been wondering who she reminds me of.

‘You actually remind me of my mom, she was a sweet soul.’

‘ thank you Rory.’ my mom used to call me that! But I just smiled at her and I accompanied her to her car.

‘ please don’t tell Mr Condos about today.’ I said with a pleading smile.

‘ that’s so unfortunate because he was with me at the hospital.’ Say what now? I nodded and waved goodbye as she drove off. Sebastian will definitely think I’m causing drama because I was fired. What if he thinks I staged this? God! I can’t have that. ‘I actually don’t care because I no longer work for him.’ My stubborn mind said. I walked back to my apartment and tidied up the takeaways and dishes. I was glad I already had bathed so I just slipped on my covers and let sleep hit me.