Kiss Me Again
Team
A few days later, I was released from the hospital after having the fluid drained from my lungs and putting me on a tank of oxygen. I’m disgusted at myself. So disgusted. Every time I look at myself, all I see is high school Maria.
I live in an apartment by myself and with my goldfish.
With steady hands, I grabbed a pair of scissors from my dresser and threw my hair into a pony tail. I cut my hair off and cut it into a small boy cut.
“Maria,” I shook my head. “Right, Miranda, you will be okay as long as you stay on oxygen and give your lungs a break. That tumor is lodged into your air way and it makes it hard for your lungs to breath. And with that, water from your own body builds up inside your lungs. Come back in about three weeks for another drainage and you shall be okay.”
I touched a finger to her gauges. I couldn’t quite form words, the medicine slurred my speech. “You like them?” She asked as she took the cup of water from the table. I nodded. She reached into her pocket and pulled out six little stick thingies. “Their tapers. From size 14-10. I was going to give it to a patient……but she won’t be needing them anymore.” She placed them in my hand. “I want you to have it.” I curled my fingers around them.
I stuck the 14’s through my ear. They hurt only a little, a slight pinching to the ears. I rid myself of the clothes the hospital gave me in exchange for a holy sweater that used to belong to Rian and a pair of jeans Cassadee long left at my place. Next was the oxygen tank. It came in a little book bag thing with wheels and the tubes easily went from the tank up my shirt, around my around my shoulders where they united into my nose.
No more Maria Malona.
Miranda Catherine Malona, suffering from Pholfinex Cancer, stage 2.
I put on an old pair of Vans and put my Beats securely around my neck before exiting my apartment into the chilly streets of Baltimore.
But the streets were buzzing with odd excitement. Teenagers and young adults were all heading down the street towards the Crowns Inn down the street.
I pulled the strings of the hoodie tighter and shuffled along the crowd. Among the crowd, I saw three familiar people. They looked dead at me. Grey eyes vs. Blue, Dark Brown (Almost black), and Green. Her heel still had my blood on it. They looked dead at me, but yet did nothing except turn their heads away.
Surprised and utterly shocked, I pull out my iPod and begin listening to The Neighbourhood. I began walking past the local café on this side of Baltimore when I saw a guy with sunglasses squint at a menu under the cloudy weather. I let out a small giggle as I looked up the rail at the guy. Hearing me, he looked down at me.
“Think this is funny?” he asked as I began removing my headphones.
“A little.” I said with another small giggle. His face broke out into a tiny smile.
“Well, I’ve never been to this café before, so, would you mind joining me and telling what’s best to get or will you let me suffer from food poisoning?”I was surprised he just offered me a seat with him and not even noticing the fact that I was hooked on oxygen.
I smiled and nodded my head. He stood up and came to the rail, sticking two hands out. I put the book-bag on my back and took his hands and used my feet to climb up the wall as he hoisted me over. By the time I was seated in the chair, I was ready to go to bed.
The guy before me, though, had a short haircut which was hidden under a black beanie and his eyes were hidden behind huge sunglasses.
“In case you are wondering, I’m not a murderer.” He took his sunglasses off and I stared into the most beautiful brown eyes ever.
“Well, I wasn’t wondering. But thank you for disproving the thought.” I shot a grin.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Miranda.” I could’ve said Maria. But Maria was a nickname given to me by Alex. And I am no longer Maria.
“Does Miranda have a middle name?”
“I don’t like telling people, I haven’t told a soul. But simply because you asked, my middle name is Catherine with a C.”
“Can I call you Mary for short?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Mary Catherine.”
“Just Mary.” I replied. “What’s your name?”
“Alexander William at your service.” The name sounded familiar, but I thought nothing of it.
“I’m gonna call you Alex William.” He nodded. I love how he didn’t ask for my last name nor told me his. He picked up the menu again.
“Is the chocolate latte safe?”
“Very.” He called over a waiter and ordered two chocolate latte’s.
“So Mary Catherine, why are you hooked to oxygen?” he leaned in closer over the table and study my eyes.
“I have cancer.” I plainly stated. “It makes a tumor lodge in your air way, blocking air to your lungs and makes the water in your body build up.” I looked down at my lap.
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Well, I have-”
“Nope.” He cut in. He shook his head. “Tell me about Miranda Catherine.”
And that is when I began to slowly open my bubble up to a stranger name Alex William.
“So, do you maybe wanna catch a movie? My friend’s girlfriend is in desperate need of a ‘double date’.” He rolled his eyes. I shrugged my shoulders and began taking sudden interest to the ground. A date with Alex? even though we barely know each other. It’s been years since I’ve been on a date and I don’t like to make things even awkward, especially with the tank.
“I-I don’t know. I just got released from the hospital a few-”
“ALEX!” two high pitch voices came. All of a sudden, a swarm of hair came over. One girl clinged onto Alex’s arm and the other studied me. she had long brown hair with a blonde streak and she was rather-
Tall.
“Cassadee?” I quickly shut my mouth.No. This can’t be. My heart raced beyond its limits, my lungs ached for a break.
It’s Cassadee. My ex-best friend slash lesbian (if I was a lesbian) soulmate.
Oh my god.
Alexander William? It’s Alex! the true love of my life, my first kiss, my first time, my first everything, standing right before my eyes.
It’s Alex, some chick and Cassadee.
“Yup. Cassadee Pope. And this is my girlfriend Lisa.” He said while giving her a peck. I knew better. Now my heart really did falter. “This is Mary Catherine.” He said with a smile.
“It’s uh, Miranda.” I stuttered. I should’ve ignored him. Maybe said my name was Maria Catherine, but no, that would’ve been too suspicious.
“Guuuuyyyyssss.” I closed my eyes and was thankful I was on oxygen, otherwise I would’ve passed out. Jack came strolling over and looked dead at me. “Who’s the hot chick?” He said to them, but to me, gave me a wink.
Shit, he knows who I am.
“This is Miranda.” Cassadee spoke bitterly. I open my mouth, but nothing I say would matter. Alex doesn’t know who I am, Cassadee probably knows who I am and Alex has a girlfriend.
“Alex, let’s go.” Lisa whispered while cutting a glance at me. too much was happening at once and I don’t like a bit of it. I rather be in my apartment, staring at nothingness than this awkwardness.
“Bye Mary Catherine.” Alex waved bye as Lisa dragged him along.
“Be back.” Cassadee spoke. “I’m guessing you’re staying for the movie?” I nodded yes, even though I wasn’t quite sure myself. It was then when I noticed the cars. If Cass was nearby, so was Rian.
“Nice look Maria.” Jack spoke with a smile when Cass was out of earshot. “Thought you could fool old Jack aye?” I shook my head and spoke in a low voice as Cass began talking to Rian and pointing my way.
“I honestly didn’t know it was him Jack.” I whispered. Alex looked and sounded different. More less of life and tiredness than the normally energetic, bubbly Alex I grew to love. And I bet it had something to do with his girlfriend Lisa. “I really do have cancer. I found out after you guys left, after my parents were arrested.” Jack nodded and threw an arm around me, careful not to disturb the tubs.
“I know why you did it Maria. Why you threw us under the bus.” He spoke as Cass and Rian began walking our way. “I would’ve done the same thing.” Cass put on a fake smile.
“So Miranda, Rian is joining along and we can do a double date. You know, as long as you’re not a serial killer or anything.” I shook my head.
“The only thing I’m guilty of is bad fashion.” And lying. And betraying you guys.
A true smile broke out on her face as she linked arms with me.
“Well, on the other side of Baltimore, there are some great shops…..” as she began rattling on, Jack shot me a smile.
And I felt good, even if it was for a split second, because there’s one less person who hates me.
I live in an apartment by myself and with my goldfish.
With steady hands, I grabbed a pair of scissors from my dresser and threw my hair into a pony tail. I cut my hair off and cut it into a small boy cut.
“Maria,” I shook my head. “Right, Miranda, you will be okay as long as you stay on oxygen and give your lungs a break. That tumor is lodged into your air way and it makes it hard for your lungs to breath. And with that, water from your own body builds up inside your lungs. Come back in about three weeks for another drainage and you shall be okay.”
I touched a finger to her gauges. I couldn’t quite form words, the medicine slurred my speech. “You like them?” She asked as she took the cup of water from the table. I nodded. She reached into her pocket and pulled out six little stick thingies. “Their tapers. From size 14-10. I was going to give it to a patient……but she won’t be needing them anymore.” She placed them in my hand. “I want you to have it.” I curled my fingers around them.
I stuck the 14’s through my ear. They hurt only a little, a slight pinching to the ears. I rid myself of the clothes the hospital gave me in exchange for a holy sweater that used to belong to Rian and a pair of jeans Cassadee long left at my place. Next was the oxygen tank. It came in a little book bag thing with wheels and the tubes easily went from the tank up my shirt, around my around my shoulders where they united into my nose.
No more Maria Malona.
Miranda Catherine Malona, suffering from Pholfinex Cancer, stage 2.
I put on an old pair of Vans and put my Beats securely around my neck before exiting my apartment into the chilly streets of Baltimore.
But the streets were buzzing with odd excitement. Teenagers and young adults were all heading down the street towards the Crowns Inn down the street.
I pulled the strings of the hoodie tighter and shuffled along the crowd. Among the crowd, I saw three familiar people. They looked dead at me. Grey eyes vs. Blue, Dark Brown (Almost black), and Green. Her heel still had my blood on it. They looked dead at me, but yet did nothing except turn their heads away.
Surprised and utterly shocked, I pull out my iPod and begin listening to The Neighbourhood. I began walking past the local café on this side of Baltimore when I saw a guy with sunglasses squint at a menu under the cloudy weather. I let out a small giggle as I looked up the rail at the guy. Hearing me, he looked down at me.
“Think this is funny?” he asked as I began removing my headphones.
“A little.” I said with another small giggle. His face broke out into a tiny smile.
“Well, I’ve never been to this café before, so, would you mind joining me and telling what’s best to get or will you let me suffer from food poisoning?”I was surprised he just offered me a seat with him and not even noticing the fact that I was hooked on oxygen.
I smiled and nodded my head. He stood up and came to the rail, sticking two hands out. I put the book-bag on my back and took his hands and used my feet to climb up the wall as he hoisted me over. By the time I was seated in the chair, I was ready to go to bed.
The guy before me, though, had a short haircut which was hidden under a black beanie and his eyes were hidden behind huge sunglasses.
“In case you are wondering, I’m not a murderer.” He took his sunglasses off and I stared into the most beautiful brown eyes ever.
“Well, I wasn’t wondering. But thank you for disproving the thought.” I shot a grin.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Miranda.” I could’ve said Maria. But Maria was a nickname given to me by Alex. And I am no longer Maria.
“Does Miranda have a middle name?”
“I don’t like telling people, I haven’t told a soul. But simply because you asked, my middle name is Catherine with a C.”
“Can I call you Mary for short?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Mary Catherine.”
“Just Mary.” I replied. “What’s your name?”
“Alexander William at your service.” The name sounded familiar, but I thought nothing of it.
“I’m gonna call you Alex William.” He nodded. I love how he didn’t ask for my last name nor told me his. He picked up the menu again.
“Is the chocolate latte safe?”
“Very.” He called over a waiter and ordered two chocolate latte’s.
“So Mary Catherine, why are you hooked to oxygen?” he leaned in closer over the table and study my eyes.
“I have cancer.” I plainly stated. “It makes a tumor lodge in your air way, blocking air to your lungs and makes the water in your body build up.” I looked down at my lap.
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Well, I have-”
“Nope.” He cut in. He shook his head. “Tell me about Miranda Catherine.”
And that is when I began to slowly open my bubble up to a stranger name Alex William.
“So, do you maybe wanna catch a movie? My friend’s girlfriend is in desperate need of a ‘double date’.” He rolled his eyes. I shrugged my shoulders and began taking sudden interest to the ground. A date with Alex? even though we barely know each other. It’s been years since I’ve been on a date and I don’t like to make things even awkward, especially with the tank.
“I-I don’t know. I just got released from the hospital a few-”
“ALEX!” two high pitch voices came. All of a sudden, a swarm of hair came over. One girl clinged onto Alex’s arm and the other studied me. she had long brown hair with a blonde streak and she was rather-
Tall.
“Cassadee?” I quickly shut my mouth.No. This can’t be. My heart raced beyond its limits, my lungs ached for a break.
It’s Cassadee. My ex-best friend slash lesbian (if I was a lesbian) soulmate.
Oh my god.
Alexander William? It’s Alex! the true love of my life, my first kiss, my first time, my first everything, standing right before my eyes.
It’s Alex, some chick and Cassadee.
“Yup. Cassadee Pope. And this is my girlfriend Lisa.” He said while giving her a peck. I knew better. Now my heart really did falter. “This is Mary Catherine.” He said with a smile.
“It’s uh, Miranda.” I stuttered. I should’ve ignored him. Maybe said my name was Maria Catherine, but no, that would’ve been too suspicious.
“Guuuuyyyyssss.” I closed my eyes and was thankful I was on oxygen, otherwise I would’ve passed out. Jack came strolling over and looked dead at me. “Who’s the hot chick?” He said to them, but to me, gave me a wink.
Shit, he knows who I am.
“This is Miranda.” Cassadee spoke bitterly. I open my mouth, but nothing I say would matter. Alex doesn’t know who I am, Cassadee probably knows who I am and Alex has a girlfriend.
“Alex, let’s go.” Lisa whispered while cutting a glance at me. too much was happening at once and I don’t like a bit of it. I rather be in my apartment, staring at nothingness than this awkwardness.
“Bye Mary Catherine.” Alex waved bye as Lisa dragged him along.
“Be back.” Cassadee spoke. “I’m guessing you’re staying for the movie?” I nodded yes, even though I wasn’t quite sure myself. It was then when I noticed the cars. If Cass was nearby, so was Rian.
“Nice look Maria.” Jack spoke with a smile when Cass was out of earshot. “Thought you could fool old Jack aye?” I shook my head and spoke in a low voice as Cass began talking to Rian and pointing my way.
“I honestly didn’t know it was him Jack.” I whispered. Alex looked and sounded different. More less of life and tiredness than the normally energetic, bubbly Alex I grew to love. And I bet it had something to do with his girlfriend Lisa. “I really do have cancer. I found out after you guys left, after my parents were arrested.” Jack nodded and threw an arm around me, careful not to disturb the tubs.
“I know why you did it Maria. Why you threw us under the bus.” He spoke as Cass and Rian began walking our way. “I would’ve done the same thing.” Cass put on a fake smile.
“So Miranda, Rian is joining along and we can do a double date. You know, as long as you’re not a serial killer or anything.” I shook my head.
“The only thing I’m guilty of is bad fashion.” And lying. And betraying you guys.
A true smile broke out on her face as she linked arms with me.
“Well, on the other side of Baltimore, there are some great shops…..” as she began rattling on, Jack shot me a smile.
And I felt good, even if it was for a split second, because there’s one less person who hates me.
Notes
The more we know.............. I wasn't expecting that at all.
6/10/14