Coma

between Reality and memories 5

■NYC, at the hospital.

“Theo? I guess you’re wrong. Or maybe not, show me.”

Dilan gave Matteo the magazine.

“Holy hell, that’s true, it is Theo! What is he doing in here, hold on.

Ouch, what a lucky boy, look at that ass-

-Concentrate i***t! Its Theo! When was the last time you saw him?

-Right, Theo. Since Marie’s funeral, he disappeared.

-that’s the point! And now we found him. Lets go get him.

-I am not going anywhere Dilan. He could have at least answered his uncle’s, Damian’s calls! He left and forgot us, why would I care?

-You’re lying, and by the way, I know you more than you think. You miss him bad, how do I know? Because you jumped over here right the second you heard his name, so drop the drama Matteo.”

Matteo didn’t say a thing. Dilan was right. Nobody knew where Theo disappeared after Marie’s funeral. Everyone said that there were many reasons, but I believe, I was the reason for him to go out of our lives, maybe not the main reason, but I had a hand in it.

■Baldwin, 3 years ago, December, 22nd.

Dates with Elliot were amazing, and we were officially a couple after few more dates, with everyone happy for us.

Nana Amelie had invited him over to spend Christmas with us, she invited him and invited Gregory and Sierra as well, they were her only same- aged friends left from their old life.

And of course, Nana Amelie, would do the groceries. So she took me with her to the grocery store, to the butcher, to the bakery, I was the one driving because Matteo was busy at his part time job. I remember I hadn’t visited those places since I was 12, with my mom, when she cooked her last family dinner at Baldwin, before moving to Norway. Life back then was fuller. We were perfect.

“Honey, did you buy a dress for Christmas’ dinner?

-And why would I buy a dress nana?

- because its your first family dinner with your boyfriend and you won’t be wearing some pajamas, right?

-Yeah, you have a point. Lets go to the mall! I said

At the mall, there were many people, by many, I mean all Baldwin.

Matteo was working at one of the cafeterias of the mall. He needed the money to pursue his education. Nana went to the café, where he works, because she was too tired, so I went to the 3rd floor of the mall. It was the clothes stores section. It was holidays season, so there were sales everywhere. For my surprise, of course, I met Sophie. One of the twins, those who were with Theo at the thanksgiving dinner.

“Hey, you… she said while checking me out. Are you here to shop? It seems so. Anyways, Merry Christmas.” She didn’t let me talk and walked to the changing room, she had many dresses in her hands.

“Merry Christmas” I mocked her acts. She was only being kind to me because I’m dating Elliot. Her boyfriend’s best friend who suddenly showed up from nowhere.

“Kate!

-Theo? What are you doing here? I asked with surprise.

-Just shopping.

-Didn’t know you’re into ladies outfits. I teased.

-I am here with my girlfriend.

-So you’re official now?

-Not yet, but soon enough. How is Elli? Where is he?” His response kinda made me sad, Elliot wasn’t this type of guys who comes with me for shopping, he had another plans. The fact that Theo is going with Sophie was beautiful, but nah, Elliot was great with me.

“He is at Dilan’s, her mother wanted them to go for a family visit together in the next neighborhood.

-Nice, so what are you doing here?

-I am shopping for Christmas eve, you know, I invited Elliot to join us. I want to look pretty for him.” He didn’t reply, just stared for few seconds and said “That’s great, I hope you’ll have fun.”

I gave him a smile, and went surfing through the dresses. I reached for few, and I went into the fitting room. There were no mirrors. Only the mirror was outside the fitting room.

I Wore the first dress, mini white dress with long sleeves that fit my figure well, it was saturating my skin color. I loved it, as I looked at myself at the mirror, Sophie went back to the fitting room. She was changing into another dress. In the background of my mirror, I noticed Theo sitting on a couch for waiting people. I cleared my throat, he didn’t notice. Again, with a higher pitch, he looked my way. I pointed at the dress. He made a serious thinking face, then he shook his head in disapproval. I went back to the fitting room, and now changed into a red dress, a little loose on the waste, but was cuter than the first choice. I went outside, and checked myself, then checked Theo, he rose his eyebrows. It was a No. This time, I tried a third option, an emerald dress that fitted my waist perfectly and was long till it reached under the knee, it was perfect. I came out proudly this time, to notice Theo busy with Sophie, she was hugging him. Once, he saw me, he couldn’t his eyes off me, then he nodded.

Sophie when she noticed me “You look great! I love it on you!” she was playing “Mignone” in front of Theo. I have known her for 12 years and we haven’t spoke once. How come now?

“Thank you dear.” Two can play the game, I can be nice too. My phone rang. It was Nana, she and Matteo were leaving, so I told them I will follow them later, because I had another tour in the mall, and Sam will be here soon, so I waited for her at the café after I bought the green dress. Sophie and Theo were still at the mall, getting from a*****e to another. Once they finished, they joined me at the café, then Sam came.

Sam and Sophie shared the passion of shopping trending fashion.

“ Guys, I need to go to this store, they say it has the new dress from Zara’s new collection, do you want to come Kate? Sophie?

-No, I will pass.

-You kidding! Of course I will come, Theo darling, I am sorry but can you wait here?

-No problem for me, but I don’t have all day.

-Thank you! I will make it up for you, promise! Will call you if there will be any updates.”

We stayed there alone, silent, for like a while.

“So how’s it going with Elli?

-All is fine.

-You two are a good match, but there is something missing.

-What?

-There is no extra in your relation.

-What does that mean?

-Your relation is just something simple, you know, like what would love mean if it came with no risk, adventure, danger. Do you understand what I mean, it’s the passion. You’re missing it.”

I Called back the night with the girls, when I described the love concept for Dilan, does he… does he have the same ideas of love?

“You don’t know anything about us.”

Theo laid back into his seat, pulled a cigarette and smoked it. As he exhaled the tobacco, he crossed his arms. I looked at him, he was wearing a large puffer black coat, underneath it, a white turtle neck sweater. He was cute.

“When was the last time you made things spicy with Elliot?” I felt an instant shock. I fell into silence.

“Why does it concern you, if I may ask, this is none of your business.” Theo leaned in now, he put his hands on the table, and focused on me, the eye contact was fierce.

“You have never slept with Elliot, have you?

-Pardon?

-That’s a no. Sorry for you.” His words just drive me to my edges. Calm down Kate, he is just messing around.

“Fine, I have to go now. I’ll meet Sam later.” I grabbed my stuff and left.

Outside the mall, it was raining, heavily. Ropes of rains were holding the atmosphere. I love rain, cold, winter. I had nothing to do but stand under the rain, feel it and live the moment. People were running to their cars, umbrellas were everywhere, the raindrops falling sound was music to my ears. Warmth of love of family, friends, lover, I was the happiest. I felt warm despite the flu, I will get later.

As I was walking peacefully, I heard running claps on the water, the sound was getting closer.

“Kate, wait.” It was Theo.

■NYC, At the Griffins mansion.

“How is she doing doctor? Asked Roy.

-Her vitals are getting worse, since she was shot, her staying in her bed, worsened her health statement. You should let her out more often.

-But doctor, she is so stubborn, neither me, nor Linda, or even my grandfather could let her out after the accident. And she isn’t accepting any kind of medical help. She was still in her room for more than two years. And she didn’t step out of the house as well.

-I am sorry, but we did everything we can, Mr. Roy. Her therapist said she will have to get out of this trauma by herself, she was still in denial.”

■Back to Baldwin,

“What do you want now?

-I just came to tell you that I am sorry for my behavior, I shouldn’t pass my limits.”

What? I looked at him with surprise.

“Do you have a fever or something?

-Err. No, why?

-That’s not You. What happened to the playful bad boy attitude?

-Its still out there, but honey, I cannot emerge myself into people privacy, nor disrespect them. Plus, look at the weather, its getting worse, I can’t let you go by yourself.

-Did you let Sophie and Sam in the mall?

-Yep, I checked on Sophie, her sister will get her. Its getting dark now, we better get going.

-I am not going anywhere, I love this weather. I am walking under the rain, I am good. You can go.

-No, I am not going anywhere.

-Do you love this weather.

-My favorite, winter and rain brings the best of me.

-You don’t seem the deep type of a guy.

-Why would you think like this?

-Judging by you being the bad boy in the high school, your mysterious personality, your type of chicks. Everything tell me you’re a Don Juan.

-Seriously, is that what you think of me?

-Yes.

-And I think you’re a judgmental hyper, non stop talking girl. Is that good for you?

-How dare you!

-How dare you! He teased. Do you even know that I draw?

-You draw? I bet its ugly, I mocked him.

-You bet, he sneezed, do you want to see?

-I do! That explains why you were colored that day I came for the ornaments.”

Its true it was winter time, and it was raining, but there was no wind.

WE were like two kids, walking in the street, the foggy calm street, where you can only hear the raindrops , our arguing and laughter and our footsteps on the sidewalk.

We walked till we reached his house. We came in, it was dark.

“Where is Marie?

-She went out with Pascal, I don’t know if she’ll come back tonight. You can get an outfit from her wardrobe. In this time, I will change too, before we catch cold.”

I went to Marie’s room. It was tidy and clean, the total opposite of mine. I chose some pineapple printed black sweatpants and black hoodie.

“She has a taste!” I checked myself on the mirror in front of her bed. That’s when I noticed a medicine on her counter. “Esbriet, what type of medicines is this?”.

Theo knocked on the door. “You good in there?” I left the drug on the counter.

“Coming!” as I walked out of the room, Theo took me to a room, I never knew about in this house. Its true we came over for ladies night, I saw this door, but Marie told us it was Theo’s personal space… and he is getting me into his own privacy.

“You wanted to know more about me? Welcome to my world.”

The room was huge. It was a mess.

A beautiful artistic mess. There were paintings in different shapes and colors everywhere. Paint was crashing over the white walls, the white floor was stained with colors.

I kept looking around me in silence. Theo stood his shoulder on the door and watched my reactions.

I walked past the paintings and traced them with my fingers.

Most of the paintings were… were sad. Here is a portrait of a girl playing on a harp, there is a painting of a foggy forest. There was a painting for a lady in a red dress, there was a lot of emotions in this one.

“What do you think? He asked.

-You’re sad, and I don’t know if I am right, you feel lonely.”

My words got into him. He approached the girl painting with the harp. “ Kinda true”.

We heard footsteps nearby.

“Theo, I swear to God, if you didn’t bring the pumpkin, I will kill you!”

Marie was here and she came into the atelier of Theodore.

“What the hell are you doing? She stopped yelling as she saw me, in her pajamas.

“Kate?” She looked around, she was checking if she is in the right room. “In here? What on Earth?”