Chapter Two
1047 Words
Chapter Two
As she took the medical record, her pinky brushed against the back of his hand, the rough touch of the medical tape sending a jolt through him. He noticed the cobalt blue paint residue in her nail beds—the same shade as the ICU curtains, yet it inexplicably reminded him of the eerie indigo in Monet's "Water Lilies."
After Luna left, Alex fell into thought again. He didn't know why this unfamiliar nurse made him feel so at ease. Perhaps it was the warm aura she carried, or the glimpse of white light he saw during the fall, reigniting his hope for life.
And in this cold city, it seemed that because of Luna's presence, it no longer felt so lonely.
Author's Note: Everyone's encounters are different, and so are the outcomes.
Folks, how did you meet your lover, friend, or significant other?
Or are you still waiting for that opportunity?
Sunlight streamed through the café's glass windows, casting a golden glow on Luna's smooth, long hair.
Every day, Alex took a detour past the café three blocks from the hospital. On the seventh day, through the fogged-up glass, he finally saw the figure tied with a light blue ribbon, and his heart involuntarily quickened its pace.
He hadn't expected to meet her here. In the days since his discharge from the hospital, he had been trying to return to a normal routine, never imagining that fate would bring him face-to-face with Luna again. The café played soft music, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and pastries, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
"One Americano, one cappuccino," Luna's voice came from the counter, carrying a faint smile. She wore a simple white dress, her long hair casually tied into a ponytail, revealing her slender neck and delicate wrists. Her movements were brisk and efficient, and the silver watch on her wrist shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Alex stood still for a moment, hesitating, then pushed the door open and walked in. His gaze involuntarily followed Luna's figure as she busied herself behind the counter: she skillfully operated the coffee machine, her fingers lightly tapping the keyboard, a slight smile on her lips as if she truly loved her work.
"Hello," a clear voice brought him back to reality. He looked up to see Luna standing in front of him, holding two cups of coffee. "Here's your order."
Alex was momentarily stunned: "Oh, sorry, I was just..."
"Daydreaming?" Luna smiled softly, "Have you been waiting here long?"
Her smile was like a ray of winter sunlight, instantly dispelling the gloom in his heart. Alex felt his cheeks flush: "Not long, just... didn't expect to run into you."
"Yeah, what a coincidence," Luna said softly, her eyes curving into crescents, "I didn't expect to see you here either."
They exchanged smiles, a subtle sense of understanding hanging in the air. Alex noticed the light blue ribbon tied under her uniform, the faded blue ribbon her mother had taken from her hospital gown before passing away, now tied to her nurse's uniform, like a butterfly ready to flutter away at any moment.
"I'm Alex," he extended his hand, "We met at the hospital, you saved me."
Luna was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and shook his hand: "Nice to meet you, though this meeting is a bit dramatic."
"Yeah," Alex watched her fingers lightly grip the edge of the coffee cup, the tips of her fingers tinged with a faint pink, "By the way, are you a regular nurse here?"
"No, I work here," Luna shook her head, "I usually work at the hospital, but I take shifts here occasionally. How about you? How have you been since leaving the hospital? Still need medication?"
Alex was surprised she remembered his condition: "Oh, I'm fine, the doctor said I just need some more rest."
"That's good," Luna's expression softened, "You know, when I saw you at the hospital that day, I thought you were going to leave us forever."
Her tone was light and sincere, as if discussing a trivial matter. Alex suddenly found her way of speaking unique, always able to make people feel at ease.
"I..." he started to say something but was interrupted by a server calling for an order.
"Sorry, please wait a moment," Luna pointed towards the counter, "I'll go take your order."
Alex stood still, watching her figure disappear into the crowd. Her white dress made her appear especially light in the sunlight, like a butterfly ready to take flight.
Alex glanced at the financial news push on his phone—'Hengyuan Group Deep in Debt Crisis,' the 23rd missed call flashed on the screen, his father's voice hoarse like rust in the voicemail.
The condensed fog on the window blurred her outline into watercolors, the cappuccino's foam melting at her fingertips like snow about to fall from early spring branches. As he counted the seventh falling wutong leaf on the glass, she turned, her ribbon brushing past the coffee machine's steam, misting into a light blue rainbow.
A few minutes later, Luna returned with two cups of coffee, handing one to him: "Here's your cappuccino."
"The latte art on this cappuccino... is it a wutong leaf?" Alex pointed at the cup's surface.
Luna's eyelashes fluttered slightly: "You actually noticed? Everyone here says it looks like a mess."
He picked up the cup and chuckled: "Because I've also stared at the wutong tree outside the hospital window, counting the veins on each leaf."
Alex took the coffee, noticing the light blue ribbon peeking out from under her uniform, "Why don't you wear this on your badge?"
"Oh, that's my personal time," Luna smiled, adjusting a napkin on the table, "This is a shop I really like, and I always wear this ribbon when I come here."
They chatted, the atmosphere light and pleasant. Alex found her smile as warm as sunlight, capable of dispelling all the gloom in his heart.
"By the way, why did you choose to become a nurse?" he asked as she handed a coffee to an elderly man.
Luna paused, then smiled: "Because I want to help others. You know, every time I see a patient recover under our care, it feels really good."
- Writer
