Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance ❯ A Gift ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

“Psst… Hey that’s the guy that’s been taking care of that strange woman at the hospital!”

“Hey… Your right… Isn’t his name Ryan?” Asked a girl talking to her friend in the busy streets. Ryan was doing some shopping early this Saturday morning with the intention of buying his new friend a gift. Of course he didn’t really know what to get her.

“Um… Excuse me… Sorry to bother you but, I have this friend see… She’s very important to me but I don’t know what to get her.”

“We knooooowwww who your talking about,” Replied the girl with her friend standing next to her. “Why don’t you just get her some flowers, chocolates, or a card?”
“Well… Those gifts are rather… You know…”

“Ohhhhh, I see… Hmmm,” The girl was now deep in thought.

“Why don’t you buy her a bracelet?” Her friend who had just spoken smiled as Ryan looked down at her, very interested in her comment. “They are good for many reasons, for one they can be a resemblance of your friendship! All so, a gift like that is something that will last forever!”

“That’s a great idea! Thanks!”

Ryan took off down the street and entered the nearest jewelry store. After entering he looked around at all the wonderfully elegant jewelry. The glass cases were full of diamond rings, watches, chains, and many other types of jewelry.

“Can I help you?”

He looked up to see the clerk standing there with his hands over the glass case.

“Yes… I’m looking for a bracelet for a friend… She’s very important to me.”

“Ahhh… I see… Well we have a couple gold bracelets as well as silver bracelets left in stock. I can engrave a name into one over a week’s time or if you’re lucky, you can get a bracelet that already has a name on it. What is her name?”

Ryan was completely shocked at this question. He has no idea what her name is and hasn’t even called her by any name of reference. With the realization that he was about to embarrass himself he came to the conclusion that he would put his name on her bracelet as a memory of him if they ever had to part.

“Do you have any left with the name Ryan on it,” was Ryan’s slow response.

“Lucky for you that name is common, let me go back and check.”

The clerk entered a room behind the register and returned shortly after with a purple silky case.

“You know, I never thought I’d ever meet the right person to give this bracelet too. You seem like a nice guy. The thing is, this bracelet was a gift I made a long time ago for a friend that was leaving town. We told each other we would meet at the park but… Some things came up and they ended up leaving that night. To this day the bracelet has brought me nothing but heart ache… I wish to see it be used to bring happiness to someone though. Please just take it to your special friend, consider it a present from someone who understands what you’re doing more then anyone else.”

Ryan took the case from his hands and opened it. The chain had an extravagant glow shimmering off it. Every chain link had a tiny purple gem wedged between it. On the flat gold plate was the name Ryan in a slender italic form. It was an absolute masterpiece of its craft.

“I… I can’t accept this… It’s extremely beautiful and you worked so hard on it for your friend. Why would you want to give it to a complete stranger?”

“Like I said before, it was made with the intention of bringing happiness for a special friend of mine. I never got the chance to do that, but you do and I want you to use it in my place.”

Ryan looked again down at the radiant gold bracelet and purple gems then back up to the clerk.

“If that’s what you want, then I’ll accept it and make sure it’s used in the way you want! At least let me pay you generously for it though.”

“Your payment can be coming back and telling me if she liked it or not,” said the clerk with a smile.

“All right, I’ll take the hint… You’re a nice person yourself Mr. I bet your friend would of loved your gift if she had gotten it. See ya later and thanks again!” Ryan took off out of the shop and down the street towards the hospital while the clerk waved with a tear dropping down his cheek.

The nurse took him up to her room only to find the specialist doctor at the doorway again.

“Oh it’s Ryan, good to see you! By the way in the midst of all the things that happened last night, I forgot to introduce myself to you. My name is Patrick Crespin but you can just call me Dr. Crespin. Yesterday I was assigned to be her doctor for the remainder of her being here.”

“And mine is Ryan Keller, so how is she doing today?”

“She’s doing fine, her body is recovering fast. Which is why I need your help with another decision again or rather I just… need you to say yes…”

“Stop stalling what is it…”

Dr. Crespin had a weird look on his face. He put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder and stared piercingly into his eyes.

“Since we don’t know anything about this girl, where she came from, who her family is, or any friends she may have had, we decided that when she has recovered physically, she should be sent home with you.”

With that last piece of the sentence Ryan looked at the doctor overcome with surprise.

“WHAT,” said Ryan instantly. “I live in a crappy apartment that has barely enough room for me yet alone enough room for two people. I don’t even have two bed rooms.”

“Well she can’t stay here forever Ryan and you seem to be the only person she is able to interact with. Of course, I will visit every now and then to check up on her and see how she is progressing.”

“You can’t be serious, and even if you were, the fact that I have work and school doesn’t bother you?”

“On the contrary, while she is alone she will be forced to try and interact with the world around her. This is good for her recovering from her mental illness, isn’t that what you wanted? Didn’t you yourself say that you wanted to give her a second chance?”

“Well yeah but…”

“But…?”

The doctor opened the door to her room and made the usual pathway through for Ryan. He slowly entered her room as if repeating the steps from the night before perfectly. Kneeling down beside her bed he pulled out the purple case. Once again his arm was grabbed by her searching hand. At the touch of his arm the woman showed signs of relief. Ryan grabbed her hand and attached the bracelet to her arm and let go. After a few seconds she pulled her arm up over her body and desperately tried to comprehend the situation. Her eyes moved around her arm frantically as she rubbed her other hand over the chain. After realizing what had just happened, tears started forming at her eyes. They widened somewhat shaking while trying hard to focus on Ryan’s eyes.

“Th… Thh… Thank… You…”

Ryan was so surprised that he completely lost himself in thought after letting out a quick breath of air. He sat there motionless for a moment then looked over at the doctor who nodded and smiled. Then he returned his gaze back into her eyes which were still trying to focus on him.

With a soft caressing voice, “After your body recovers, you are coming home with me. I’m going to take care of you and help you in any way possible. Until then please rest easy, I’ll keep visiting ok,” said Ryan.

“The girl nodded and went back into a relaxing position.”

With that the doctor gave Ryan a ride home; they talked about her the whole way there. From the day he found her, to today’s eventful gift with the surprising reaction. Eventually the car drive ended and Ryan exited the car.

“Remember Ryan, no ones forcing you to do anything. The choice is yours.”

“I know… Thanks Dr. Crespin.”

The doctor waved as he pulled out into the street and drove off. Ryan went up the stairs to his apartment and entered his room while turning on the light. The kitchen was on the left upon entering and on the right was a table to eat at. A bit further back on the right was a couch and a TV stand with the usual appliances around them. All the way in the back was the bed and bath which Ryan headed directly for. After a quick shower Ryan laid in his bed with all kinds of things on his mind. But the thing that he thought about most was the fact that today she had said something to him. Something that had completely changed his perspective of her. Apparently there is someone inside of the shell. Someone that can be kind, caring, sensitive, and most importantly an actual person. Ryan slowly fell asleep while thinking.