Waiting Room PT II
“Thank God, Central is the opposite way of all that traffic,” Step-dad said as they pulled up to the hospital. “Look Jackson, we will go in and find out what is going on. You park the car,” he said in a calm tense voice.
Jackson nodded his head. Mom silently cried the whole way there. Her eyes were bloodshot red, like she was rubbing them for the past hour. Step-dad was worried, but he tried his best to hide it. His face was calm and relaxed, but his actions said otherwise. Step-dad pulled up to the front of ER and got out of the car, he didn’t close the door behind himself. He speed walked to the door, turned around and realized mom never got out the car. He walked back, embarrassed, but with a determined look on his face.
“Honey, let’s go!” he assertively said.
She ignored him and shook her head as to say no.
“What do you mean Vanessa, let’s go!” The agitation grew in Step-dad’s voice.
“Only to hear from the doctors that he died?”, she waited for a response and repeated the question, “Just to hear that my son is dead?”, she asked as her voice began to rise.
“Vanessa!”, Step-dadtook a deep breath, “Michael is ok. Trust me. He was in an accident, but he will be ok, he’s strong just like his momma. Now, let’s go see him, because right now he is living and he needs our support.”
She looked at Step-dad, grabbed a tissue, blew her nose, and followed him into the hospital.
Jackson sat in the car in disbelief. Nothing seemed real. He tried his best to convince himself that he was dreaming, he just wanted to wake up. Ting, ting, ting, the open door signal began to go off. He looked up and saw Julia running into the hospital, she looked just as scared as mom.
“Yeah,” he said to himself, “this is real.”
He got out of the car, closed the passenger side door, walked around to the front, and got into the driver seat. He adjusted the seat and pulled off. He found a parking spot on the 3rd floor, close to the elevators. When he parked, the tears rushed down his face like they were waiting for this moment. The realization that things would never be the same anymore flooded his mind. Jackson recalled the last time he and Michael went to Sunday school and the lady asked Michael if, “he knew Jesus.”
Michael replied,”Of course, that’s my Lord and Savior, who don’t know they Lord and Savior?”
He then flashed back to the night of college graduation for Michael. “You only live once,” Jackson would say teasing Michael. Michael was a good kid though, he believed in karma and he did his best to live a good life. The car engine let out a long hiss. It was letting out air as the engine cooled itself. Jackson sniffed and blew his nose. He pulled down the sun visor and its dim light came on. He looked in the mirror and wiped his eyes and walked towards his reality.
As he walked to the elevator, he noticed a tall Black man walking towards him. The man had on a tan peacoat, and Jackson thought this was odd in the Summer. He had dark shades on like a detective from a movie. Jackson made it to the elevator first and pressed down. When he stepped back the man was standing next to him. The man was taller up close, he had the height of a professional basketball player. Jackson sensed his presence, before he ever actually saw him. He felt a cool wave of air rush and hit the back of his neck. He slowly turned around and looked at the man, but the man only looked straight, never once looking down to acknowledge Jackson.
In hopes of breaking the awkwardness, Jackson said, “This elevator is taking a long time, technology is so unreliable.”
The man didn’t reply. He only looked forward. His shades covered his eyes and a thick beard covered any facial expression he may have expressed. Jackson turned back to the door of the elevator and noticed that the elevator was taking longer than usual. He looked at his watch, 6:04pm. The sun was setting and the light of dusk slowly dived behind the curve of the earth.
“Man forget this, ima take the stairs,” Jackson said impatiently.
As he began to walk away the man said, “Wait! Here it is.”
The elevator opened and Jackson got on first and the man after him. Jackson stood with his back to the wall, and the man entered and stood with his back to the doors. They were staring at each other. The doors closed.
“Man, what’s up?”, Jackson nervously asked.
“Everything happens for a reason,” the man began in a calm direct voice, “we get orders from Him and do as He says. He does everything for a reason.”
“What are you talking about? Who are you talking about?” Jackson asked.
The man ignored his question and said, “Your brother was wounded today, he is strong, we don’t always win. But his injury has a purpose. The outcome isn’t my choice to decide though. If he is dismissed from life or if he continues here in this life, the man paused reverently, “ He uses time to decide that.”
The elevator ringed and Jackson got off. The man stayed on and the doors closed. Again, Jackson found himself doubting reality. He wondered more about who the man was rather than what he said. His thoughts of confusion left him as he entered the hospital.
“Who cares about your best life now when eternity is at stake?”
