I cross the hall next to Jess’s tornado valley of a room. I wish I knew what type of stuff she really likes to wear. Since meeting her, her clothes have become progressively better fitting, but do I go baggy or give her something more her size? I decide to choose what I see as a trend in the suitcase— a nice blue cable knit sweater and some gray jogger sweats. If I was a girl, I think I’d like this. I proudly throw them a reusable grocery bag— that’s usually just below the pop tarts in the kitchen— and say goodbye to Kinzi again before heading back to the car.
The sun is up when I get back in the car. It's a little golden. Kind of reminds me of Grand Theft Auto. I used to love that game— beat every story mode there was and knew all the cheat codes. In a way, my life is kinda like that game. I’m in a cop car (that I didn’t necessarily steal, but kind of), I’m still on a mission that involves pretty women and money and guns and gangsters. Oh my stars, I am living my childhood dreams.
I try not to geek out too much as I drive down the road, making a more thoughtfully slow journey to the hospital. When I arrive, the nurse at the front who helped last night sees my bags and just gives me a nod like I own the place. I will admit, it feels pretty cool to do what I do. I take the elevator that leads me straight to Vince’s room, and when I get there, Jess is sleeping on his thigh, hands tightly holding him, and my heart breaks a little.
He looks rough. Bandages around the back of his head to his forehead, super motionless except for his breathing. It’s a little haunting to see. I drop her bag beside her and place a hand on her shoulder.
“Jess,” I whisper between the beeps of Vince’s heart monitor. When she opens her eyes, I see that they’re bloodshot, her skin flushed, and cheeks indented with the lines of his blanket.
“I brought you some clothes.” I point to the bag, and she glances down in a daze.
“Oh.” She whispers, looking back at Vince with the saddest expression I’ve ever seen anyone make.
“He’s in a coma, they say.” She sniffs, eyes brimming with tears again. I place my hand back on her and move my thumb comfortingly across the blood-stained shoulder of her shirt. We stand there for a while before she looks down at her bag.
“I’ll just pull the curtain and change behind there.” She points to the corner.
“Isn’t there a bathroom in this room?” I glance over to the door with the bathroom sign on it, and she shrugs.
“It’s stupid, but I don’t want a door separating us.” She looks back to Vince, and a tear rolls down her cheek. I really wish I could do more to comfort her, but I can’t make him wake up. So, I nod and let her change behind a plastic curtain if that makes her feel better.
She takes the bag I grabbed to the corner and pulls the curtain to separate herself.
“Oh…” I hear her say quietly, and I let out a chuckle.
“I just grabbed what was in your suitcase.”
“No, I— it's cool. I don’t think I’ve worn this before. I bought them on a whim when I was feeling like showing off my body. Then I realized I live alone, and Kinzi doesn’t care if I walk around naked.” Her voice sounds weak and strained, but I’m happy she sounds a little like her usual self. I hear her take a deep breath and pull back the curtain, actually seeing what she means by showing off her body. I didn’t realize that the sweater is more cropped than she normally goes for, and the joggers fit her figure nicer than any frumpy dress suit I’ve seen her wear.
She smiles a little, and I count that as a win as she walks back with the bag. Right as she sits down, my phone buzzes, and I hold up my finger for her to give me a second. I step out to the hallway and answer, “Agent Beys.”
“Beys. I hear you were looking for me.” Agent Fine’s voice cracks through, and it sounds like he’s on to my excursions with Vince, maybe even my plans to report him. I glance back to Jess, who’s staring at Vince as if he’s talking to her, and she’s holding tightly to his hands again. I can’t involve her in this anymore. She needs to heal, and so does Vince.
I take a look at the time. 10:30 on the dot.
“Beys?” I hear him say as I bring the phone back to my ear.
“Meet me at Karmic Café, downtown, one hour.” Then, I hang up like a boss.
I walk into the elevator as the doors open, taking a step inside and knowing that goodbye would be too hard. While the doors slowly close, I take one last look at Vince and Jess, wish them both luck, and breathe out a quiet sigh, before the doors thump shut, and the elevator begins to descend.
I touch the outline of my gun on the inside of my jacket just before the doors open to the bottom level of the hospital. I hope their story has a good ending… and I sure hope mine does too. But I guess good is rather subjective.