Saving Grace

Grace suddenly felt a discomfort in her stomach, it was growling for food. She remembered that most of her breakfast ended up on the floor. She shot a glance at Joshua who was engrossed with his phone. She extended her right hand and tugged on his coat.

“I am hungry,” Grace said.

With a sigh, Joshua replied, “What do you want to eat?”

“Well, I am craving for pancakes, pizza, fried chicken, scotch eggs and a bottle of wine.” Grace mentioned happily.

Joshua’s mouth flew open in disbelief. “Are you pregnant?”

Grace shook her head violently. How could he say that?

“No, I am not. I am just hungry.”

“Your cravings are extraordinary and excessive. Why can’t you just mention vegetables? They are nutritious.” Joshua blurted, still surprise at the amount of food Grace wants to consume.

“I have been eating vegetables for the past three days. I am tired of them. I want something else that’s not green.” Grace argued as she pouted her lips. She hoped he wasn’t so particular about healthy foods.

“But it’s not good for your health. I can’t allow you eat that.” Joshua countered.

“You said you wanted to be my friend right?” Grace asked with a wink.

“Of course.” Joshua nodded, wondering where she was going with this.

“Then you have to get me anything I ask for.” Grace replied with a laugh.

Grace knew that no man could refuse her charm. From the confused look on Joshua’s face, she had a hunch he won’t refuse.

“Are you trying to blackmail me?” Joshua inquired, the corners of his mouth twitched in amazement.

“Why would I do that? I am just desperate to be your friend just like the way you badly want me as your friend. ” Grace chuckled.

She watched as Joshua placed a hand on his forehead and made funny noises with his mouth. She knew he was going to accept but he hesitated for some seconds before speaking.

“You are a manipulative woman!” He shot her a frustrated look and with that, walked away.

Grace laughed aloud till her ribs hurt. She hadn’t felt this way in a long time, not with Tom, her boyfriend. She looked around and noticed the huge states from the nurses and doctors who walked right past her. She was happy that Joshua willingly spent time with her regardless of the numerous patients that he should be attending to. Comfort and affection surged into her veins, she felt peace as she took in fresh air into her slender nostrils.

******

Joshua kicked empty bottles of water lying on the ground with his left leg as he walked out of the hospital cafeteria. His right hand held a large nylon filled with snacks while his left hand which held a bunch of flowers was concealed behind his back. As he moved closer to his destination, he could see the outline of Grace seated in the wheelchair, her face straight and radiant. Her blond hair that toppled over her shoulders moved with the breezy wind. His heart thumped faster as he approached her carefully.

“I got what you wanted.” Joshua announced as be approached, dropping the nylon on her lap. He saw excitement on her face as her eyes lit up in delight and he chuckled lightly.

He watched as she opened it carefully, her slender fingers opening them with ease. Her face turned to dismay when she looked into the nylon to check out it’s content.

“Why did you get me only two pancakes? Why are there no pizza here? There’s no wine or ice-cream either. The fried chicken is too small, it’s not looking greasy enough and the scotch eggs, they don’t look like they have eggs in it.” Grace complained, her voice raised in annoyance and disappointment.

Joshua exhaled deeply, he expected her sudden reaction. Did she really think he was going to get all those junk food she requested for? She was like a grumbling child, throwing a tantrum.

“And why did you buy four apples? I never asked for apples!” Grace yelled, shutting her small eyes.

Joshua rubbed his face with his sweaty palm, then he held the arm rest of the wheel chair and stared at Grace.

“Everything you asked for is simply outrageous. As your doctor, I am certain of what’s best for you. You can’t eat junks, you are a woman not a child. I bought apples because you need lots of them to get your strength back and also, they are not green if you noticed. I never wanted to buy pancakes either.” Joshua countered with a smug look.

“Then I guess we can’t be friends.” Grace shrugged as she gobbled up a piece of fried chicken into her mouth.

With a smirk etching on his face, Joshua grabbed the next fried chicken that Grace was about to throw into her mouth. He smiled at the confused and angry expression on her face as he took hold of the food nylon on her lap.

“Then you aren’t eating anything either since you don’t want to be my friend.” Joshua beamed as he took a bite of the fleshy chicken.

“You really want to be petty? You are going to starve me because of friendship? You are such a great doctor.” Grace gritted her teeth, watching as he chewed the piece of chicken in his mouth with annoyance.

“If I really wanted to be petty, I wouldn’t even be here. So if you want to eat, you have to be my friend.” Joshua chuckled.

“Offer declined, leave me alone!” Grace pouted, her face squeezed in absolute rage.

Joshua laughed and tilted his head, examining her reaction. She turned her face away from his gaze and settled her eyes at the sun.

“Are you sure? You haven’t eaten anything since morning. Do you really want to punish your stomach because of your fat ego?” Joshua stated.

“Yes, I am sure. I don’t want to be your friend. I am not that gullible.” Grace insisted with a frown.

“Okay, I’ll be leaving then. Make sure to scream out loud for a nurse when you are ready to return back to your room.” Joshua instructed with a silly grin.

Without caring to look at her facial expression, Joshua turned around and pocketed the bunch of flowers into his coat pocket and began walking, he counted the steps he took as he was certain of her desperation to eat. He hadn’t taken up to twenty steps when he heard Grace yelling his name.

“She’s not tough, just as I expected,” Joshua muttered as he walked further, but slowly.

He heard another yell from Grace and he unconsciously placed a finger into his ear. Did she really have to be so loud? He turned around and stuck his tongue out like a child which transformed Grace’s frowning face into a beautiful, laughing and bubbly face.

He then walked hurriedly towards Grace, smartly and stylishly with confidence oozing all over his body.

“You were yelling my name? Is there a problem Miss Waters?” Joshua smiled mischievously.

“I am so hungry, so freaking hungry. If you don’t give me those snacks in your hand, I’ll bite you, really hard.” Grace bawled as she rambled on and on.

Joshua laughed.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Will you be my friend or not?” Joshua asked gently.

He sensed hesitation as she mumbled inaudible words. He smiled wider, making it obvious that she didn’t have a choice.

“Yes, I’ll be your friend. Now give it to me. I’m starving,” Grace replied hurriedly, extending her arms and beckoning.

But Joshua had something else coming, he shoved the bunch of flowers he had pocketed earlier into her outstretched hand. He examined her astonished expression closely. She looked at it with an irritated look. Joshua stifled. Was she rejecting it?

Then suddenly Grace sneezed and she threw the flowers in her hand on the floor and curled her fingers around her Joshua’s heart broke when he saw the bunch of flowers lying dead on the ground. He found it on his way to the hospital cafeteria and the different striking colours appealed to him.

“If you knew you were going to reject it, you could have said so instead of doing that.” Joshua uttered with pain evident in his tone.

“I hate flowers.” Gracey blurted with confidence.

“And why do you hate flowers?” Joshua pressed further, his shoulders lifted.

“Because I am allergic to them!” Grace yelled with vigour, rubbing her palms on her hospital gown.

Joshua swallowed a mold of saliva before replying, “How can you be allergic to flowers, there are flowers literally around the hospital premises.”

“That’s because it wasn’t shoved into my hand.” Grace rolled her eyes, retorting dramatically.

“Whatever, just have this.” Joshua held out the nylon filled with food. Grace grabbed it and began to munch on anything her hands could grab quickly.

Joshua chuckled softly and proceeded to sit on the ground, he sat in front of Grace and crossed his legs.

Grace raised an eyebrow. “Can’t you at least have a bit of dignity? How can you sit on the ground in that manner especially with a white coat on?” Grace spat as she bit down on a fleshy mould of fried chicken.

“I have an extra one in my office, thank you for your concern,” Joshua replied with a beaming smile.

“Why did you get me flowers anyways?” Grace changed the subject.

“I thought women liked flowers so I got you one.” Joshua answered with a shrug, he didn’t want her to push it or put more importance into it.

“You really don’t know what I like,” Grace replied, laughing.

“Then, what do you like, Grace?” Joshua asked. He examined her closely as she masticated a big piece of fried chicken, her mouth taking a irregular shape. It reminded him of Sally, his late wife who loved fried chicken and would do anything to have it everyday. Grace’s loud chewing reminded him of his late daughter. He bent his head slightly and wiped streaks of tears that had began to run down his cheeks.

“I like food,” Grace replied with a chuckle.

“That’s pretty obvious.” Joshua laughed aloud.

“What’s your favorite colour?” Joshua added as he reached out for his phone in his trouser pocket. If he kept his phone there for a minute late, it would be squashed due to the pressure made by his firm buttocks.

“Pink.” Grace answered.

“Why do women love pink? It’s not that awesome.” Joshua countered. He was beginning to gain interest in Grace. Sally’s favorite colour was black and it scared him because she wore it every single day of their marriage.

“What’s your favorite colour?” Grace asked, propping her elbow on the arm rest.

“Red,” Joshua replied.

“I don’t think you would look good in red.” Grace confessed with a grin.

“And I don’t think you would look great in pink either.” Joshua stated with a knowing smile.

“What’s your ideal type of man?” Joshua questioned while folding his arms.

“Why do you ask?” Grace replied with a smirk.

“I asked you a question first, it’s really annoying when you ask someone a question and they reply back with a question.” Joshua sighed. He knew she was deliberately doing it to get on his nerves.

“Do you really want me to answer your question?” Grace whispered.

“Yes!” Joshua cried out with joy.

“Then I’ll give you a simple reply, my ideal man mustn’t be good-looking, He mustn’t be annoying or irritating and he shouldn’t be a doctor either. I would prefer it if he were a CEO.” Grace replied.

“So you fancy ugly men?” Joshua noted with a nod of his head.

“I didn’t say that.” Grace tried to correct with a flick of her index finger.

“Then what exactly are you trying to say?” Joshua responded with a confused look. He dreaded her reply.

“You aren’t my ideal type of man Joshua,” Grace replied, tearing her gaze away from his. Something pricked Joshua’s chest. It felt like something or someone stopped the earth from rotating. Why would she say that so simply? She was so blunt with her words, it seemed she never cared how it would affect the other. He tried to open his mouth to speak but nothing came out. It felt as if he had just been rejected. He wasn’t expecting her harsh reply at all. It was like someone turned off her bubbly personality and replaced it with a dark and gloomy personality. Thick tension rose between them as neither could look at each other in the eye, both concealing their true feelings.