Note: This chapter is dedicated to all my readers. Thank you for staying by my side. Enjoy this long chapter.

JANE

When I stepped inside the food court, I let out a long breath of relief. The place was no longer crowded. Although a few other were doctors sitting in groups, chatting and laughing, I felt like OI had the right most section of the cafeteria all by myself.

The environment of the cafeteria was cool which served as a compliment to my current mood. I started walking towards the counter to collect my food and my eyes flickered over the sight of an old woman. Her hair was glistening with silver, and her wrinkles were slipping down from her old, brown skin. At first, I ignored the affront stare of the woman in the white apron as she made me feel uncomfortable; she was staring at me as if I was sent down directly from hell, but then I gave her a dead stare which made her flinch and finally her eyes drifted away from me.

Following that, I picked up my favorite Alfredo pasta from the counter and rested it on my table. Next, I folded my coat and relaxed it on my lap.

As I twirled the fork and wrapped the spaghetti around it, I realized that Hawaii was different from Texas; it was the first time in my life that I felt like I was relaxing. The drifting wind was fresh and not rotten like the usual one back at home.The suffocating and ever flowing water from the past was no longer filling my lungs or making me drown in it. With those thoughts, I lowered my eyes, half lost in the present life.

Am I really learning how to be happy? What was so different about this place? How did I survive another day without letting sadness kiss my soul?

My lips trembled with a smile when I questioned myself about the abrupt changes in my mood. As I took another bite, my stomach rumbled, but I was still smiling.

Scarcely taking any time to draw a breath, I started analyzing my whole day. I needed some peace of mind, it was surely a tiring day and I felt like I had drained out. I worked in a diligent manner; assisting Dr. Auden's patients and evaluating their test result.

Also, minding my own business.

Regardless of a knackering day, I grinned again as I recalled how I spent a great amount of time with one more patient in particular. It was Mrs. Anderson; she was just special to me. Ever since I had seen her, I felt like I was conjoined to her. This special patient was not assigned to me today, but due to my tingling curiosity which hovered over me like an impulse, I managed to take out a few minutes to pay her a visit.

I was afraid of connecting with people but still wanted to be there for her and have a friendly chat. I was also intrigued into finding more about her life.

Why did she remind me so much of my mother?

With that, I recollected the pieces of our conversation which had taken place earlier today, before I met Ashton. When I walked into her room, she was sitting on her bed, wrapped in a baggy white hospital dress. Loose strands of chocolate brown hair were falling off from her messy bun. I could vividly see her well defined, yet pale cheekbones which her illness had sucked in. Regardless of her swollen and enlarged lymph nodes, I was still able to substantiate the enthralling strength this woman possessed.

"Mrs. Anderson?" I called out to her, politely.

"Yes, my child?" She said, her voice was trembling with delicacy as she gazed at me.

"Hi, I am Jane," I drew a deep breath.

"I know. Are you new here? I have never seen you before," she added, rubbing her palms together.

She knows my name? How does she know my name?

"Yeah, I got this job very recently," I gasped and walked towards her bed. I was still confused.

Mrs. Anderson's expressions changed and it seemed as if she was bestowed with some abrupt knowledge or she was just recalling an event.

"I believe we have met before?" She questioned, raising her eyebrows. Her voice still soft and soothing.

"Ummm, I...I don't think so," I stuttered, trying to keep my composure. Nervousness possessed me like a demon and a sudden reminder of my embarrassing encounter came whirling back.

"I don't want to make you feel uneasy, but I saw the way you ran away the other day. Bad day? I hope everything is alright now?"

I felt a hint of sympathy in her angelic voice and it made me want to shatter down in front of her rather than feeling vulnerable, but then my mind came back to its senses again. 

Red Alert!! Jane, you can't let your feelings overcome you. Stop! You can't trust her.

"Nothing that I recall," I lied.

"But can I ask you something?" I asked her abruptly.

"Sure thing, Jane." She replied.

"How do you know my name?" I lowered my voice in bafflement.

My words synced with her expression and it was obvious that she was regretting her previous statement.

"Well, uh, it was my son who told me about you." It was all making sense now.

"Ashton," I whispered his beautiful name.

"He left me so suddenly, I mean, he just slipped away from my arms. When he came back, he told me he was with a friend."

Friend? He thinks I am his friend now? I don't make friends.

I rolled my eyes in irritation.

"But we are not-''

"He told me about your good height and blue eyes. Never have I seen a really tall blonde with blue eyes in this department. You know?" Without letting me continue, her eyes met mine and she smiled. She took my hand between her cold touch and added.

"I saw your face that day, I don't think you were doing so well. I have raised two kids myself, trust me, I know very well when something is wrong.'' Her gaze was stuck on me.

"Umm, no, Mrs. Anderson," I replied.

In that instant, I felt like shivers were pricking the hairs all over my body so I tried to change the topic of our conversation.

"How are you feeling now? I have good news for you..you are doing so much better." I smiled while absently playing with a strand of hair.

Right when those words dropped out of my mouth, her lips curved in incitement. When I saw a delicate dimple appearing on her face, I realized it was similar to Ashton's.

"I heard, I can't wait to get back home to my kids."

"Your kids?" I asked. I knew nothing about her family except Ashton.

"Yes," she sighed and added, "my husband passed away a few years back," she shook her head and a tear fell down from her green eyes.

Wait, what? Ashton's dad wasn't alive? And he was probably going to lose his mother too?

A devastating chill ran across my whole body as I was well aware of the horrifying feeling. I knew how he felt because I felt the same way years back. His pain might have been different than mine, but we both had suffered a great deal, similarly.

"Oh, I am so sorry for you."My voice became weak itself.

The reminder of losing my parents came crashing down on me, it was a heart-wrenching feeling. I felt like hugging the sick woman on the bed, I wanted to cry; cry so much no more sorrow stays inside my soul.

There was complete silence in the room, but after a few seconds, Mrs. Anderson spoke her heart to me.

"Hmm, I am fine now. I was crazy in love with that man."

"Love, huh?" I leaped as I gestured with my hand in disbelief, regretting it that same instant.

"You don't believe in it? Never been in love?" She asked in a shaggy tone.

"It doesn't exist for me." I pouted.

"Not yet, but it has the power to heal every soul. It provides one with the right amount of comfort and reassurance. Jane, love is an extremely difficult realizing, but it can surely become aesthetic when you realize it, life becomes mesmerizing and beautiful. It can make you deliriously happy. I will always remember my Anderson, and the light of his love; the power which has given me enough strength to continue my life."

Her words were contrasting throughout with my horrifying thoughts; everything she said was different than what had happened in my life. My father killed my mother and it was surely not comforting, it was devastating. Love doesn't heal a soul, it peels off the skin one by one and causes pain, extreme pain.

''Jane, are you alright?"

Her voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes," I replied very quickly.

With that, she picked up a frame from her nightstand and handed it to me. The frame was carefully carved in mahogany and decorated with small sea shells. The frozen time displayed on it looked like a throwback to this family's happy life.

I was able to see the glowing happy faces of the family of three. Ashton looked deliriously happy, his Cheshire cat smile shining right at me and I wondered if he had ever stopped being adorable. Following that, I saw the young girl with brown hair. With her delicate features and sharp cheekbones, it was obvious she looked exactly like her mother. Then my sight landed on the ravishing beauty, she was standing between her kids while her feet were drenched in mud.

When I realized the place was not similar to where we were right now, I questioned her right away.

"This is not Hawaii, right?"

"No, it is not. It is a place called home, we are from North Carolina," she said while keeping her sight stuck on the picture.

Ironically, I was here to find my inner peace and she wants to go far away from here. It is weird how all of us have different places we like to call 'home'.

Before I could say a word, I got interposed by a sudden crinkling sound. The door of the room opened and I saw a nurse entering inside, it was Wilma; the same girl who I had witnessed flirting with Ashton yesterday.

"Mrs. Anderson, your kids are here to see you. Shall I call them in?" Wilma asked, her voice thick and hoarse.

Mrs. Anderson nodded.

An odd, strangling feeling emerged inside me and without any hesitation, I called out to Wilma.

"I will go call her kids. Can you please give me the files of the new patients?"

Without giving Wilma a chance to speak, I looked at Mr. Anderson and said,

"I will see you later. Take care of yourself."

We both smiled at one another. I turned around and saw Wilma giving me a stare of dissatisfaction; her eyebrows raised high and her eyes scrutinizing my entire face.

***

Buoyed up by my previous encounter with both Ashton and his mother, I took another bite of my cheesy chicken.

Why did I do that? Why did I want to have a glance of Ashton's face all over again? Why did I stop Wilma from calling Ashton? What is wrong with me? What made me behave like that and why did I give him those emerald eyes a cold stare as if I never wanted to talk to him? God. I am so paranoid.

With those thoughts, I checked the time on my iPhone; Ashton would be here any minute. I looked up just in time and my eyes locked with the boy I was thinking about. He maintained his eye contact with me because I was unable to look away. Ashton was walking towards my table, his movement smooth and his sight extraordinary. With his inexorably lined eyebrows and panther-like eyes, he was not just enthralling; he was hypnotizing.

Note: Hi guys :p Sorry for ending it like this, I know that you guys are curious. Just wait, next chapter will not take so long and it is going to be really exciting. I promise. ;).

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