145 JOYFUL NOTES
ANDRE’S POV
I stood still, eyes fixed on my mother as she walked up to me. I was supposed to go pay Ariel a visit at the hospital, cause I had a feeling she would be there. Now I was being delayed by my parents. Just great, I was the one who brought this upon myself. I woke up, got ready for work, forgetting that about Ariel.
“You’re going to work?” My mother asked, she had gotten a little bit closer to me.
“Yes. But I’ll be going to the hospital first to see how Ariel and Luke are doing.”
“Oh right. We should go and see them, don’t you think?”
“You want to come along?”
“Yes, of course. Ariel is like a daughter to me, so I really need to check up on her.”
“Okay then, we can start leaving now.”
“Woah woah woah, young man. Not so fast” my mother spoke, and I gave her a curious look.
“Anything?”
“Yes, I thought you were wounded last night.” She crossed her arms.
“Yes. Yes I was,” I responded.
“And you’re feeling better now?”
“Yes,” I answered and let out a sigh. “I am feeling better now,” I added. Honestly, when I woke up this morning, took my bath, and put on my clothes, I totally forgot I got some scars on my body. Like, it wasn’t even painful. It was like nothing happened last night.
“Are you sure about that?” My mother gave me a skeptical look.
in. “Can’t you see how he’s
can
a strong man, and he took it from his
into laughter immediately.
you laughing?” My dad asked, giving her a puzzled face. “I’m strong, right? Bold
as her laugh got harder. And seeing her
funny?” She
dad gaped at
this one time when we went camping and you got chased by bees,” my mother
bees.” He tried to
taunting
of here.”
my eyes, not giving her the playful
laughter. “We should get going then. But have do you perhaps know where Mason is? I haven’t
but he stormed out
she raised an eyebrow.
sighed, and walked out of the house.
could hear her screaming from
****
ARIEL’S POV
of my uncomfortable plastic chair, gazing out the window at the dreary cityscape beyond. The beeping of machines and the faint murmurs of nurses outside the door created a dull backdrop to my thoughts, which were heavy with worry and exhaustion. I had been in that room for what felt like an eternity, waiting
condition.
just fell on the floor, and began to shudder. The scene was really frightening, but thank God we had already arrived at the hospital when it happened. He was rushed to a room by the nurses, and doctors. Now I just hoped nothing bad would happen to him. The silence was suffocating, and I longed for a moment of respite from
at me.
sounds could be coming from in such a somber place. Then, as if materializing out of thin air, a group of Mexican musicians burst into the room, their vibrant energy filling the sterile space with life.
They carried guitars, trumpets, and maracas, their fingers flying expertly over the
as the musicians began to play,
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