Hello, Kenzo

Distraction

"NO!" Dani's shrill cry of outrage reverberated throughout the hospital, drawing startled attention from nearby patients in shock or confusion. The nurse immediately hurried over to her with a worried and slightly fearful look on her face. Her fist was striking the floor and rattling the chairs in the waiting area. The suddenness of it surprised everyone; some nurses paused to stare in concern at her outburst before continuing with their work. They knew better than to interfere.

"Dani, calm down!" I cried, taking a step towards her with my hand outstretched, ready to place it on her shoulder. My voice was laced with worry and apprehension. "It'll be fine! He'll come back to you!" I comforted her, trying hard to keep the fear out of my tone.

She jerked my arm away from me and spun to glare at me in so much rage: "Get out of...my...sight! I do not want to see you! I never want you to ever show yourself in front of me! This is all your fault!"

"Dani, no! I didn't mean for all of this to happen!" I pleaded, my lips quivering as tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

She didn't answer me; her expression remained unyielding and furious. "Just leave! And forget that we ever knew each other! GO! GO!"

Dani's last words were harsh as they cut through my heart like a knife, leaving behind a gaping hole. Tears streamed down my face more and into my eyes as she pushed me away. I didn't mind the pain. I stopped her and decided to just walk away to ease her pain.

She continued to seethe, her eyes flashing dangerously, but she didn't try again to stop me. She watched until I disappeared out of sight before dropping back into her seat, her shoulders slumping. Her body sagged in defeat. With the weight of her pain and loss heavy on her shoulders, her hands tightly gripped onto the sides of her chair, as if trying to hold something, anyone, in place to ground her.

As I reached a corner out of her sight, I collapsed against the wall and slid slowly to the ground. Staring numbly ahead and feeling utterly defeated and helpless as my despair threatened to consume me, my tears would not stop.

My hand shook as I grabbed my phone from my bag, and my breathing hitched and strained every time I inhaled. I stared for several seconds before clicking on the call button. I heard it ring and heard the dial tone. My finger was hovering over the green button with a shaky hand. After what felt like an eternity, I heard a click. A breathy voice answered, "Hello?"

"I need you; pick me up!" I choked out between breaths as I tried to catch them while I cried into the phone.

The line went silent for what seemed like hours before finally, his voice responded timidly. "Where are you?"

"Hospital, UN," I said hoarsely, my vision clouding with blurry tears of frustration.

"I'm coming!" He sounded anxious, almost panicked.

As the call hung up, I curled my knee up into myself and wrapped my arms around it, burying my head into my legs. I rocked back and forth, sobbing into my hands. Tears fell faster. I couldn't stop the sobs wracking my body. The sobs of grief and regret ripped through my being like knives tearing deep into my soul. I sobbed loudly into my knees, my head pressed firmly against my legs. The world faded from view as my tears continued to fall uncontrollably, soaking my shirt from where I sat on the floor. I struggled to get air to fill my lungs. I felt lost and alone. I didn't have a purpose anymore. It was not like I had any friends who cared about me. Who wouldn't hurt me?

I didn't know how long I was there; I just knew it was very long until that warm voice filled my ears and the person I called crouched down beside me. "Hey, I'm here now!" He whispered gently, a soft hand placed on my shoulder as he pulled my arms away from my face. "Let's get you off of the cold floor."

He lifted me carefully and supported my weight as he carried me into his embrace, cradling me against his chest as his arms held tight against me, preventing me from falling onto the floor once more. I buried my face in his chest, feeling safe despite knowing exactly how vulnerable I was now. "Tim, I didn't mean to hurt people!"

I whimpered into his chest, tears soaking his shirt. I felt him tighten his grasp on me as he held me closer to his chest, rocking us both from side to side. I sobbed shakily, clutching him even tighter as if afraid to let go. I wanted to disappear. Tim held me in his arms, stroked my hair, and cooed softly to me, "Oh, it'll be okay. Everything will be fine! It will be fine!"

He carefully took me in his arms and led me out of the hospital, holding my hand the entire walk back to his car. "You got a car?" I asked between my sobs.

"Well, I thought a motorcycle would not be suitable for the situation," he answered, giving me a gentle smile. "But yes, I do."

"I think I do not have the strength to hold your sexy body anyway," I joked weakly.

His lips twitched upwards again as he opened the door and ushered me inside, helping me sit down and closing the door behind me. "Then my car will be perfect for the moment."

He went around and sat on the driver's seat, starting up his car, as he looked up at me with concern written across his face. His blue eyes glistened under the headlights, his brows drawn together in worry. "Where to?"

"You decide." I smiled weakly, and he nodded in return.

I had no strength left to see Kenzo now; everything that was happening was all because I chose him.

Tim started the car's engine and backed it out of the parking lot slowly. We drove silently until we came to a stop sign near a large park. "Would you prefer to have fun or be somewhere quiet and take some rest?"

"I guess I'll have to tire myself out first," I responded without looking at him. Instead, I stared blankly out the window as I sniffled and wiped my tears away with the back of my sleeve. "Do you know anywhere good?"

He sighed and shook his head with a tiny smile. "Very well, then." He nodded quietly in understanding. We rode through several parks, going around various trails. Some paths were crowded with people, and some were practically empty, save for a few families playing or picnicking together. Tim slowed his driving to accommodate all the children running around, their parents following after them in hopes that they'd slow their pace enough for them to catch up to them.

After that, he turned off the car, unbuckled his seat belt, and helped me jump out of the car. Once both my feet were safely planted on the ground, he offered his hand to help me walk beside him. "I know things are rough, but you'll be fine! Everything was meant to pass by either to destroy us or make us stronger."

As we reached the first booth, Tim grabbed two big riffle toy guns and smiled, "Now, fire all those worries away!"

We spent the rest of the day shooting guns, throwing darts at balloons, and even racing cars across the parking lots of various sports arenas. It was fun, and I felt I had no problems for a while.

"THIS IS LIFE!" Tim cried while the big swing we rode swung back and forth. "It felt nice to leave the office just to have this much freedom! Just one afternoon outside of work and it's a whole new experience!" His loud laughter echoed throughout the park.

As soon as the ride ended, we decided to hang out by the bay, where several tables were set in front of various food stalls lined up along tarmacked benches. The sound of waves crashing and birds chirping filled our ears; everything about this setting gave me the comfort I needed right now. I could almost feel my energy coming back.

"Having a great time?" A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts, and my whole body froze to realize who spoke.

Tim was out to get our food, and I shot up from my seat, looking fazed. "K...Kenzo!"