Between heartbeats

amnesia and awkward invitations

The hospital bustled with a flurry of activity—patients navigating the hallways, healthcare professionals moving with purpose, and the air permeated with the distinct scent of antiseptic. As Bright's parents rushed through the entrance, the sterile surroundings seemed to close in on them. The harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast a clinical glow, accentuating the urgency in the air.

With palpable concern etched on their faces, Mr. Sakyi and Mrs. Sakyi, their anxiety heightened, headed straight for the reception desk. The receptionist engrossed in a phone call, juggled the demands of the bustling hospital environment and the need to assist the distressed couple.

"Triage, please," Mr. Sakyi urgently requested, the tension in his voice reflecting the gravity of the situation.

The nurse at the reception, sensing the urgency, graciously directed them with a pointed finger, guiding them through the labyrinthine corridors of the medical facility. Mrs Sakyi, her voice tinged with sadness and her face a canvas of terror moved with a sense of trepidation. Mr. Sakyi, mirroring his worry, placed a reassuring hand on his wife's waist, attempting to console her amidst the clinical chaos.

The hospital seemed to pulse with a life of its own—a symphony of beeping machines, hurried footsteps, and distant murmurs of medical conversations. The reception area, a hub of activity, buzzed with the constant movement of healthcare professionals and concerned family members.

As they traversed the hospital's interior, the surroundings became a blur of sterile white walls, neatly arranged gurneys, and glimpses of hurried medical staff in scrubs. The distant echo of announcements over the intercom added to the surreal atmosphere, underscoring the urgency of the medical setting.

Desperate to locate any sign of Bright. Mrs. Sakyi, her concern palpable, asked, "Oh, are you all right?" Mr. Sakyi, mirroring her anxiety, added, "What happened?"

Bright lay supine in a blue hospital gown, the sterile environment contrasting with the vibrant chaos of emotions within the worried parents. The doctor, a figure of authority, meticulously examined the results of the X-ray scan. "I'm... I'm fine," Bright reassured, attempting to soothe the escalating worry.

[Doctor] "I wouldn't say fine. He has a concussion. Oh, my God," his mother exclaimed, her distress echoing through the sterile room.

[Doctor] "He was riding a bike, collided with a car, and went headfirst over the hood. He doesn't recall the accident or anything immediately prior. His memory of things dating back a few weeks is fuzzy, a common occurrence with concussions," the doctor explained, his words laden with professional detachment.

[Mrs.] "So he has amnesia," Mrs. Sakyi's voice wavered, grappling with the weight of the diagnosis.

[Doctor] "It's a normal part of the healing process. The brain needs time to recover," the doctor reassured, aiming to provide a glimmer of hope.

[Mrs.] "What's normal about amnesia?" she queried, her scepticism evident in her tone.

[Mr.] "But it's only temporary, right, doctor?" Mr. Sakyi sought assurance, his eyes fixed on the medical professional.

[Doctor] "Most likely, yes. Most likely," the doctor affirmed, attempting to instil a sense of optimism.

"Texting, were you?" Mrs. Sakyi interrogated with an angry tone, her maternal instincts surfacing as she sought answers.

"No, he wasn't texting, but he did break his phone," a voice behind him declared. All eyes turned toward Keisha, who emerged from behind the curtains, delicately retrieving Bright's shattered phone from her pocket.

[Mr.] "Who are you?" Mr. Sakyi's inquiry, a mix of concern and curiosity, hung in the air.

"Keisha," she replied, handing Bright's phone to his mum.

[Mrs.] "Keisha? The Keisha?" Mrs. Sakyi's surprise mingled with curiosity as she struggled to reconcile the new information.

[Keisha] "Yes," Keisha nodded, her perplexity apparent.

[Mrs.] "Oh, Bright has done nothing but talk about you." Mrs. Sakyi, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere, added a touch of familiarity.

Keisha, still bewildered, inquired, "He has?" Bright, lying down, shyly called out, "Mum."

[Mrs.] "Okay, well, he's mentioned you once or twice." Mrs. Sakyi chuckled, finding solace in the unexpected connection.

[Keisha] "We barely know each other," Keisha clarified, her confusion lingering.

[Mrs.] "You've been dating, what? Two, three weeks now, right?" Mrs. Sakyi's attempt to piece together the puzzle unfolded.

[Keisha] "Dating?" Keisha's incredulity resonated through her voice.

[Bright] "Mom, could you not, please?" [scuffs] "I'm sorry," Bright apologized to Keisha, a hint of embarrassment in his tone.

[Mr.] "You were with Bright when it happened. You called 911." Mr. Sakyi, shifting his focus, sought to understand the events leading to their current predicament.

[Keisha] "Yes, but that's—"

The doctor intervened, "I'm gonna go ahead and release Bright. No screens for 72 hours. Blue lights can exacerbate the symptoms. Ensure he stays hydrated and rests."

"He will get his memory back, though, right?" Keisha inquired, her concern mirrored in her furrowed brows.

"Just stick to a stress-free routine. Keep it simple," the doctor advised, his demeanour transitioning from detached professionalism to empathetic understanding.

[Mr.] "I'm sorry, but we have a family ski trip planned for this weekend." Mr. Sakyi, grappling with the sudden change in plans, sought guidance from the medical professional.

[Doctor] "As long as he stays off the slopes and rests, it's not a problem." The doctor, now a mediator between medical advice and family plans, provided a compromise.

[Mrs.] "Thank you, doctor." Mrs Sakyi expressed gratitude, a glimmer of relief breaking through the worry lines on her face.

[Mr.] "That's great. Thanks, doctor," he added, the weight of responsibility temporarily lifted.

"Thanks, doc," Bright mumbled as the doctor walked away, leaving the family with a blend of uncertainty and hope.

[Mrs.] "You're coming home with us so we can keep an eye on you," she commanded Bright, her maternal authority asserting itself. "And young lady, you are coming over for dinner," she told Keisha.

"No, no, no. That's not—"Keisha tried to decline, her sense of responsibility conflicting with the unexpected invitation.

[Both parents] "We insist." The unity in Mr. and Mrs. Sakyi's insistence added a touch of warmth to the sterile atmosphere.

[Mr.] "I'm a fabulous cook," he said, placing a hand on his chest with pride, a glimmer of levity introduced to alleviate the tension.

[Mrs.] "He is. Of course, you are. Come on." Mrs. Sakyi's inviting tone softened the edges of the unexpected situation.

[Keisha] "Right. Let me just call my roommate, tell her, uh, where I will be," she said, creating a brief interlude as she walked backwards out behind the curtains.

"Oh, sweetheart, she is just adorable. I like her," Mrs Sakyi's motherly affection extended to Keisha, offering a moment of reassurance.

"I do too," Bright assured, his voice carrying a mix of affection and vulnerability. "She's pretty cool."

Stephie found herself at her lecturer's house, babysitting her children. She answered her ringing phone amidst the chaotic scene of Parker bashing his brother with a toy truck, the untouched dinner on the table neglected as the kids were engrossed in their play.

"What's up?" she inquired, holding the phone to her ear, her wrist supporting it as she raised a brow at the commotion.

Keisha's voice whispered urgently, "I'm at the hospital. Why? What happened?" Stephie asked concern etched on her face.

[Keisha] "I'm here with Bright Sakyi."

[Stephie] "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. How did that happen?"

[Keisha] "Long story short, he came into the bookstore. I made him hit a car, which was an accident. Now he has a concussion and thinks I'm his girlfriend."

Stephie, intrigued, responded, "He is dating a Keisha. Keisha who?" Keisha asked, surprised.

[Stephie] "The other Keisha," she answered.

[Keisha] "What other Keisha?" she asked, still surprised.

[Stephie] "Smith, the captain of the women's soccer team. You guys do kind of look alike," Stephie shared, her fascination evident. "Wait, I just texted you her Insta."

Keisha received a message and checked the content.

[Keisha] "I mean, maybe there's a tiny resemblance," she said as she scrolled through the other Keisha's Insta, watching her pictures and videos. "She's very into soccer," she added, speaking to her friend over the phone. "Yeah, I'm sure they'd rate high on your compatibility app," she teased.

The passing doctor recognized Keisha.

[Doctor] "Oh hey, make sure Bright takes it easy. Nothing that will upset him or his symptoms could get worse. Good."

[Keisha] "Okay. That was the doctor. What do I do?" she asked Stephie, looking dispirited.

[Stephie] "Well, you don't want to be the cause of him getting worse."

[Keisha] "You know what? Bright's parents invited me to dinner, so I'm just gonna go to their place. I'm gonna get them alone and tell them the truth."

[Stephie] "Yeah. Let them break their son's brain."

[Keisha] "Perfect. I have to call you back. Bye."

The boys, now giggling while eating, threw food at Keisha.

"Hey, why would you do that?" she questioned as she walked away from the kids. She went into the kitchen to fix herself a meal, still puzzled by what Keisha had told her. She smiled as she took the pack from the oven and moved into the dining hall where the kids were.

[Kids] "Stephie, could we watch Avengers? There's a new episode."

[1st Boy] "Everyone in school is talking about it. We still feel like we're in a different world."

[Other Boy] "Yeah, today was weird."

[Keisha] "It's Valentine's. Why not watch a nice romantic movie together?"

[Both Boys] "No, no, no. We want Avengers."

[Keisha] "Oh, okay, okay. But you don't have to tell your parents I agree you can watch that, okay?"

"Okay," they both said as they hurriedly finished their meal.