Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
“Sabrina! Sabrina!” Wallace knocked again and again but there was no response. He turned worried.
“Sir, what’s the problem?” A bellboy passed by and asked.
“Hm, my friend should be in the room but I’ve been knocking and calling for five minutes and she didn’t answer. I’m worried there’s something wrong with her.” Wallace said nervously.
“Will she be out and not in the room at all?” The bellboy comforted him.
“I don’t think so. She sprained her ankle quite badly and won’t walk out like that.” Wallace stomped. His sixth sense told him something was happening, “Can you open the door for me? I want to make sure she’s doing ok!”
“Hm, let me ask my manager to come over.” The bellboy walked away pacely. Obviously, he could not take this responsibility if anything really happened to the hotel guest.
Two minutes later, the manager came over and immediately used his master key to open the door. Wallace flung the door open and ran in. He horribly found Sabrina lying unconsciously on the bed with an empty glass bottle by her pillow. Her face was as white as the bedsheet.
“Sabrina!” Wallace tapped her face and shouted, “Call the ambulance!”
************************************
Sabrina heard very blurred noises and opened her eyes. She felt her entire body collapsing into pieces. She rolled her eyes and wondered where she was. She slightly titled her body and felt a killing pain at her abdomen: This is a hospital. She is not dead yet.
Wallace walked in quietly and found her awaken. He peeked at her but did not know what reaction to give her. Sabrina realized it must be this guy who found her and brought her to the hospital.
“Sabrina, how are you feeling? You were over-dozed on sleeping pills and they washed your stomach. It will hurt for a while, but you’re doing fine now. You will recover in a few days.” Wallace said.
Sabrina softly sighed. She turned her face away and closed her eyes again. She was extremely tired.
“Do you need me to contact anyone to come and take care of you?” Wallace asked.
She shook her head.
“Do you want me to tell…Andrew?” Wallace asked cautiously.
Sabrina uttered, “He doesn’t need to know.”
“Then, ok.” Wallace really did not know what she was thinking. He doubted her intention on over-dozing. Seeing that at least she was safe at the hospital now, he decided to leave her alone, “You need to be hospitalized for the next few days. Hm, I will come back and visit you later.” He steadily stepped out.
*****************************************
Wallace was forever the Mr. Nice Guy. He kept his promise to check on Sabrina.
Two days later, he returned to the hospital to visit Sabrina. He expected that she should be progressing well and able to leave soon. He walked along the corridor and bumped into her doctor. He asked, “Doctor, I am the friend of Sabrina Yeung in Room 6B. How is she doing? Is she leaving the hospital yet?”
Dr. Anderson shook his head, “No.”
“Why?” Wallace was surprised.
“For the past two days, she refuses to eat.” Dr. Anderson said, “Our nurses try to talk to her but she doesn’t open her mouth at all. We have to use drippings on her now. But if she continues to be like this, it will extremely harm her health. Her stomach and liver are already damaged because of over alcohol consumption. If she doesn’t have proper diets, her body will be impacted further. You are her friend. Please have a good talk with her.”
“Oh…thank you. I will certainly do so.” Wallace nodded and walked into her ward.
Sabrina tiredly slept on the bed with a pale face. She looked worst than a few days ago. She had tubes and bottles hooked to her arm.
“I just met your doctor.” Wallace sat down beside her bed, “He said you stop eating.”
Sabrina had her eyes shut and did not move, but Wallace knew she was not asleep. She just did not want to answer.
“You can’t do this.” Wallace said caringly, “You’ll hurt yourself. Can I help you in anyway? You have to say it out or no one can help you.”
After a long silence, finally Sabrina opened her mouth, “I know you’re a good guy.”
Wallace listened to her.
She uttered weakly, “If you really want to help me, please…let me die. Don’t save me again and just let me go. I beg you. I beg you sincerely.” A tear rolled down her eye.
Wallace was astonished. He never expected these words to come out from anyone, especially it was Sabrina.
Sabrina used her every effort to turn her body and stared at the windows, “What floor is this?” She reached the dripping tube and tried to pull it out.
“What are you doing? Stop it, Sabrina!” Wallace grabbed her arms and pinned her down on the bed. Sabrina struggled and squirmed on the bed.
“Let me die! I don’t want to live anymore!” She screamed and wailed.
Wallace felt very bad. He felt that Sabrina’s struggles were so weak and helpless. She had hurt herself up to this point, “Listen Sabrina! Stop hurting yourself! You will make people who care about you very sad!”
“No one will care!” Sabrina cried, “If I die, nobody in this world will drop a single tear for me!”
Wallace shook his head, “Even if no one cares about you, you still have to love yourself! Life is precious and you can’t just give up like this!” He shook her strongly. He was the most qualified to make such confrontation, because he witnessed and suffered Louisa’s life fading away in his arms.
She screamed and suddenly softened her body. She passed out.
“Sabrina!”
After injecting a tranquilizer on Sabrina, the doctor did a check up on her. He slightly shook his head at Wallace, “She really needs to calm down her emotions. If this persists, she cannot last for long.”
Wallace did not want to leave Sabrina like this. He had no choice but to stay with her.
Sabrina stared at the ceiling and heaved. Her breathe steadily calmed down.
Wallace decided to direct her attention away, “It’s very cold outside. It looks like it’s going to snow very soon.”
Sabrina slightly tilted her head, trying to look out the window. She loved snows.
Seeing that she finally had some positive reactions, Wallace smiled and continued, “You like snows? Have you heard of the nice stories about snows? Some people say that snowing is actually when the little angels in the sky eat marshmallows and some of the bits and pieces fall down…”
Sabrina seemed to appreciate this story. The corners of her lips curved up calmly.
Wallace pulled up her quilt softly to make sure she was warm.
The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
Wallace had a large plastic bag with him. He took something out, “Sabrina, I think you may want this.” He softly put a wool sweater in her hands.
Sabrina slowly turned her head and looked still at it.
Wallace steadily left the room. He wanted to look for something to eat for Sabrina. He thought and wandered for a while. Finally, he found a vending machine and bought some hot soup. When he returned to the room, he slightly opened the door and was astonished.
Sabrina was hugging the wool sweater and stroking it gently. She looked out to the window to the snow. A very, very soft smile lit on her face.
Anyone who has been deeply in love will recognize this smile.
Wallace did not want to disturb her. He quietly closed the door and stood by her bed. After a while, he finally initiated, “Look at the snow. The world is beautiful, isn’t it? There’re certainly a lot of things that are around you, waiting for you to step forward to explore. Don’t do silly things and hurt yourself again.”
Sabrina did not answer, but she seemed to have taken his words.
Wallace felt a bit relieved, “Then listen to me. You must eat something.”
She hesitated, but finally nodded.
Wallace was glad. He picked up a foam bowl, “It’s getting late at night and I don’t think they can make a meal especially for you. I just bought this chicken noodle soup from the vending machine. It should be good for you. You need something warm and nutritious.”
Sabrina smiled weakly. Wallace pressed the button and raised her bed to slightly upright position. She reached over for the bowl. As she held the bowl, her scrawny hands trembled vigorously.
Wallace tried to help her, but she shook her head, “I can do it.” She scooped up the soup very slowly.
“Good you finished it. How are you feeling now?” Wallace took the empty bowl away for her. He levelled her bed down.
Sabrina slightly shifted her body. The soup warmed and filled her stomach. She felt a bit of energy re-gaining.
“Remember tomorrow morning, tell the nurse that you want something to eat, ok? You are malnutrition, you are very weak, especially your liver.” Wallace said, “Doctor says so.”
Sabrina looked puzzled, “I don’t understand what they are talking about.”
Wallace was surprised and did not catch her meaning at first, and then he thought and realized that Sabrina did not understand much English.
Single young girl, alone by herself far away from home, trying to kill off herself but fortunately being saved, now lying the hospital surrounded by whole bunch of foreigners and had no clue to what is happening.
What’s wrong with this girl?
Wallace suggested, “Let me go talk to your doctor later. He should be able to find some staffs to do translations for you. There are a lot of Chinese in Boston.”
Sabrina nodded. She thought for a moment, “Sorry…what was your name again?”
“Wallace.” He answered.
She smiled softly, “Wallace, tonight is Christmas Eve. You really don’t need to stay here with me.”
“That’s ok. I don’t have any plans for tonight.” Wallace pulled a chair over and sat down, “Want to chat?”
She looked at him.
“Why are you in Boston? Travel?” Wallace wanted to ease up the atmosphere. He tittered, “There isn’t much attractive stuffs for tourists here….probably just lobsters.”
Sabrina did not smile, “…I was in New York. I wanted to find my friend…but I didn’t see her. She moved…must be avoiding me. I didn’t see her…I hopped on a train…a tour bus…somehow…I got to here. I didn’t even know…this is Boston…until you said so…” She looked confused.
Wallace was stunned, but then he thought back. When he first bumped into Sabrina on the street outside the supermarket, and he accompanied her back to the hotel, her emotions looked very unstable.
They fell in silence. Wallace did not know how to pursue further.
“Go back and spend the night with your family.” She said.
“My parents are at a Christmas ballroom dance party. My brother and his family are having a potluck at their neighbour’s house.” Wallace answered.
Sabrina listened to him. Since he took the first move, she did not mind sharing some time with him. At this moment, she needed some accompany.
Wallace shook his head, “All of my family have their own lives. I’ve been living in Hong Kong, and they are here in Boston. Frankly speaking, after all these years…we are so used to staying apart…they can live without me. Of course they’re happy for me to come over to Boston for the festival, but at the same time, I am actually stepping into their daily lives. They…don’t need me. I should leave some private time for them tonight.”
Sabrina nodded. She can feel for him.
“How about you? How do you usually spend your Christmas Eve? With Andrew?” Wallace asked.
Sabrina smiled bitterly, “Every big festival, Andrew needed to go back home and stay with his wife. I usually went clubbing at discos…lots of music, lots of noise, lots of people. Only that way, I feel that I’m not alone. How about you? You come back to Boston every Christmas?”
“Sometimes.” Wallace said, “Other times, I’m usually by myself, just staying home, listening to music, reading books.”
Sabrina was surprised, “Don’t you feel lonely?”
“After all these years, I’m used to it.” Wallace replied calmly, “Since my wife Louisa passed away, it’s been over three years, and I’m always by myself.”
Sabrina was shocked, “I’m sorry.”
“That’s ok.” Wallace looked out the window. It was unusual for him to say so much about his own story in front of other people. Maybe deeply in his heart, he needed to talk, to share, and to be accompanied too.
Special moment. Special time of the year.
Sabrina moved her arms and held tighter to the wool sweater.
The corners of Wallace’s eyes caught this. He was still staring at the snowy sky and mumbled, “Isn’t love amazing? You don’t know how it arrives, and before you can catch it, it’s gone with the wind.”
There was a soft sigh from Sabrina.
“You treasure this wool sweater so much.” Wallace read her mind, “The owner of it…means special to you.”
“…only for his money.” Sabrina shook her head.
Wallace knew she was just denying.
She uttered, “I’m just a cheap prostitute.”
He did not respond directly, “Everyone deserves love.”
There was a moment of silence. After a while, Wallace heard some slight sobs.
“I am just a simple woman. I need to love, and to be loved.” Sabrina wept.
Wallace turned around and bent over her. He softly tapped her shoulder to comfort her.
She put her palm on her heart and uttered, “It hurts. It hurts.”
“Will heal in time.” He said softly.
After a while, she calmed down and smiled graciously at Wallace.
They steadily heard some beautiful music and singing.
“Oh yes. I saw a notice that tonight at the…patients entertainment room, a church choir is coming over to do Christmas carols.” Wallace suggested, “Do you want to go check it out?”
“That’s fine. I can hear them here on the bed.” Sabrina closed her eyes slowly, “I am very tired. I need to have a good rest tonight.”
Wallace pulled up the quilt for Sabrina and sat down beside her. He looked at her pity and pale face. He reached out his hand and softly smoothed her hair.
“It’s been a long time…since I get comforted by someone like this.” Sabrina uttered.
“It’s been a long time…since I comfort someone like this.” Wallace stroked her.
On this Christmas Eve, the two broken hearts shared the lonely night together.