Patient Lee

Lee’s heart was pounding.

He was told to wait. There he was—sitting, silently praying. Patiently waiting.

Lee wrinkled his little nose from the pungent scent of antiseptic, while people in white moved their legs in haste. Everyone in the pristine, white corridor always seemed to be rushing forward. Despite that, Lee thought they moved like turtles along the marble floor.

The clock hanging on the wall before him whispered, “Tick-tock.” Maybe, just maybe, these whispers were like barks of orders to the nurses’ ears. It felt like that to him, too. The people, the corridor, the clock. Is it weird that despite their clean, white color they appear dull and gray? he thought to himself.

Lee looked to his right, at the far end of the corridor, at the double glass door with a green Exit sign above it. It didn’t move.

But he waited. Patiently.

After all, he was told to wait.

Lee stared at his shoes with a dark red spot. They were beating a relentless drum against the cold floor. His socks are perfectly paired, like they should be. His mother would give him the “look” if they were mismatched. Now, how could his mother give him that look if she’s inside a room filled with strangers in white, eyes closed. Oh, how he wanted her to give him the tiger look again. 

Lee creased his eyebrows. He should have worn mismatched socks.

Pushing his shoes from the floor, Lee hugged his legs on top of his seat. He pushed the corner of his over-sized eyeglasses with the back of his index finger. He gazed at the doors again to his right. It didn’t move.

Lee turned to his left and stared at the twin doors with a sign glowing red above it. It didn’t move.

But he waited. Patiently.

These doors will open. Of that Lee was certain. What he wasn’t certain was, of these doors, which one will open first? The doors to his right, or to his left? The answer in his mind filled him with dread.

Lee’s stomach grumbled. Aloud. The man sitting next to him didn’t seem to notice though.

The man looked familiar. It felt like Lee has seen him somewhere. His mother’s friend, probably?

“Umm, hi?” Lee began. “Do you know my mom?”

No response.

“I’m Lee,” he tried again, offering a hand. “I’m eight now.”

No response. Again. 

Lee studied the man’s face. He’s shaven, but stubble seemed to be growing again. His eyes looked tired, and beneath them, a dark shadow. He’s bruised. There was a small cut on his lower lip down to his chin with dark, reddish stain. Like the spot on Lee’s shoe.

Sighing, Lee decided to rest his chin atop his knees. Strange, he thought. My heart’s still pounding. He sighed again.

It’s been four hours since Lee began waiting. Either of the two doors haven’t moved an inch.

But he waited. Patiently.

After all, he was told to wait.

Time seemed to be stretching and stretching and stretch—

The squeaking of shoes against marble floor echoed in the hallway. Lee perked up at the sudden noise. His heart jumped as well.

“W-what’s happening?” Lee whispered, suddenly feeling alarmed. He began pulling at his ear the way he always does when he’s nervous. His chest seemed tight, catching his breath.

Two new nurses entered the Operating Room with a metal table on wheels.

Then everything was silent again.

The man just stood there. His back to Lee, wringing his hands before he weaved them through his thick, dark hair. The man exhaled a loud, shuddery breath.

The man might be crying, Lee thought. Now, Lee wanted to do the same, but strange how no tears are coming out of his eyes. Lee bit his lower lip, urging himself to be a good boy. Behave, his mother always told him. Had he not remembered that, he would have bolted to the doors already, demanding to see his mother. Instead, Lee leaned against the cushion on the back of his chair. A good boy. Yes, I’m a good boy, he thought.

Lee turned to his right again, to the doors with the Exit sign. The doors are still. No one pushing the door to enter.

But he waited. Patiently.

Now it’s five hours, Lee thought while staring at the clock. It moved so slow, yet so fast. Lee found this strange. The way he found it strange when he’s playing with his neighbors, and his mother would call him saying playtime’s over. It was supposed to be three hours. It felt like thirty minutes. Now, it was five hours, and it felt like a whole day. Strange.

Lee went back to his fetal position. Gingerly, he turned to his right again. Nothing. Not a movement, not even a shadow of what was behind the doors.

But he waited. Patiently.

Lee prayed for a thousandth time.

But he waited. Patiently.

After all, he was told to wait.

Lee was deflating by the second.

But he waited. Patiently.

Lee was starting to lose his hope now.

Then, a creak.

Lee slowly turned to his right, watching the doors under the Exit sign at the end of the corridor move ever so slowly. It felt like eternity to Lee. But hope suddenly flared in his chest. Light filtered through the gap between the double doors. It filled the corridor with warm golden, white light.

Jerriel was here. He’s finally here.

Lee pressed his lips tightly, sending a silent prayer of thanks to God.

Jerriel came to Lee in sure-footed strides. As usual, other people can’t see him. Only Lee. 

Lee almost broke into tears, but he refrained himself. After all, he’s a good boy.

Jerriel was wearing his gold-embroidered white robe, along with his bag of white leather hanging on one shoulder. On his back, a pair of white, iridescent wings that changes the color of its sheen when viewed from different angles were carefully folded. Then, he knelt in front of Lee and smiled.

“I returned as fast as I could,” Jerriel stated in his baritone voice that Lee always found fascinating. He talked with a rhythm short of singing.

“It’s seven hours,” Lee mumbled flatly.

Jerriel chuckled which made Lee smile. The most important thing right now was that Jerriel finally came. With good news, Lee hoped.

“Did you wait long?”

Lee pouted. “I thought you weren’t coming. But, I’m a good boy. And I waited. Patiently. After all, you told me to wait.”

Jerriel smiled and pulled something from his bag. It was a scroll. A glowing scroll. Jerriel waved it in front of Lee.

“Delivery,” Jerriel chimed.

Lee beamed at his Guardian Angel. He took the scroll from Jerriel, and ever so gently opened the scroll to reveal God’s answer to his prayers. God’s answer said:

A miracle is coming. My son, wait patiently.