In Her Sleep

Favourite Patient

"Good morning Layla, how are you today?"

"Am fine thank you"

The moment she utters those words her eyes shoot open but she closes them just as quickly when the bright light blinds her.

"Did she just have a conversation?"

She turns around and that action surprises her even more.

"I can move?"

She looks around and smiles. All of yesterdays tears long forgotten when she finds herself no longer surrounded by darkness. The brightness of the place casts a happy feeling on her even though she is not entirely happy because it seems she is still stuck here alone.

"I wanted to give you some company for just a little while. I thought you might need it"

She hears him laugh nervously. She recognises the voice. It's the same one that kept talking to her last time, though today they sound different. He seems like a soft talker compared to last time he sounded panicked though her memory of it had become fuzzy. She thinks it's so nice of him to do this for her.

She closes her eyes and smiles waiting for him to talk.

"By the way am Caleb. Doctor Caleb Young and I will be with you on this journey till you decide you don't need me anymore."

Layla is happy to hear that. For once she is not alone even though she can't see them, it's better than nothing. And just having someone offer themselves to be there for her until she decides just adds to her happiness today.

She wonders though if he is the only person that comes to see her because if she remembers correctly, his is the only voice she has heard ever since she woke up here. And now that she thinks about it, it's kind of weird. If she is in a hospital shouldn't she be able to hear more people than she does? Because apart from the beeping sound and him she hasn't heard anything else. When she can't seem to figure anything out she gives up not wanting to stress herself.

"It's so beautiful out here Miss Jones. You've got to wake up and see all this."

There is excitement in his voice as he tries to describe to Layla just how beautiful the day is and Layla finds herself wishing she could see it for herself.

The early morning is always her favourite part of the day because to her it holds the promise of a second chance at anything. Even if the night before wasn't her best, just the sun rising in the morning makes her feel like a whole new opportunity has been given to her to make her life better. Especially on difficult days where she feels like she is living one day at a time.

She smiles as she tunes to his voice trying to experience the day through him. She wonders if it's part of his job to visit his patients like this. If not she counts herself lucky to get such a visit. He keeps talking to her and she responds to him like they were having an actual conversation. She is actually surprised at how real talking to him feels. It was just something she decided to do for fun because it was weird to her to just listen to him.

After sometime he stops talking and she wonders if he has left or he is just quiet.

"Layla..."

"Yes?"

She responds to him without thinking twice.

"I have done all I can for you and it's up to you now. There are people waiting to see you too, so don't keep them waiting for too long. And I can't wait to meet my favourite patient."

"Favourite patient?"

Layla is sure she is blushing now. There is something about his gentle voice that leaves her feeling warm all over. She smiles and with eyes still closed she enjoys listening to him as he chats away once more. She knows it's kind of weird to enjoy someone's presence who she has not met or seen before. But she is and besides what else can she do in here.

"I can't wait to meet you too Caleb" she whispers.

She honestly can't wait to put a face to the only person who has been with her throughout her time here. If it wasnt for him she would have given up that day she met him or rather heard him. But thanks to him she is now fighting her way to getting better. And hopefully she will be able to wake up soon so that she can go back to a normal life.

"I guess you are probably wondering why am here bubbling when I should be someplace else doing whatever thing doctors do huh?"

"Nope, am just happy you are here that's all." She replies even though she knows that she is talking to herself.

"If you must know, I just needed a break from it all so I sneaked out"

He sounds like he is whispering and Layla laughs at his demeanour. She wonders what kind of person he is. Right now he sounds like he could make her laugh the whole day just with his words. He would not even need to put so much effort. Something she never does with Simon.

"Simon?"

She wonders where he could be at the moment. Whether he has been to see her or how he is holding up without her. In a way she feels sad that he has to go through all of this when by now they could have been enjoying their honeymoon. She takes a deep breath and chases the grim thoughts away and decides to just listen to Caleb. His voice has kept her calm ever since he has been here.

"I must be going now before am discovered here but I promise I will see you later. I hope by then you would have decided to grace us with your presence."

"Believe me no one wants that more than me" Layla mumbles to herself.

She is back to being alone and she doesn't like it already. The place is too quiet for her. And she doesn't want to spend her time thinking about how alone she is. She decides to close her eyes and hopes sleep will come to her.