On December 3rd, 2020 in the city of New York.
A young man lay on his bed wearing a hospital a light blue gown covering all but his messy head and scarred arms, to his side was an old wheelchair and an IV stand slowly dripping a clear solution into his bloodstream.
'Why did they leave me?' Asked the young man himself in a sleepy daze.
Adam's tired black eyes stared at the suffocating bland white walls of his ward, trying to chase away the sleepiness from his fatigued mind, dark bags hung off his eyes, his messy long hair masked his face and hid away the dry tears on his face.
His legs dangled feebly on the edge of his soon-to-be former bed, unresponsive to his mindless attempts to move even a toe.
He sat up and reached for a bag below the bed, he opened it and pulled out a composite bow.
He lifted it and pulled with his right hand, his frown deepened as his hands shook be the string was half drown, Adam strengthened his pull and pain flared in his arms.
The bow fell on the ground, scars turned pink on both his arms, screaming for his blunder to not be repeated. he gazed on his arms that were once his pride and the engine pushing him towards his dream, now they looked scarred and thin and of mismatched of colors.
A knock made him turn to face the door, there stood the oh-so cheery male nurse, 'Kevin'- as his name card stated-walked up to Adam and greeted him with a smile that churned Adam's stomach to no end, reminding him of the happiness he would never feel again.
Kevin's smile cracked under Adam's hateful gaze showing a faint hint of pity well hidden under all the cheery nonsense, he look at the bed side table the discharge papers already signed and awaiting the stamps, an alarm clock sat beside the papers duly pointing at three.
Kevin returned to his cheery smile and sat Adam up "we'll get you ready for your evening walk!"
He pulled a comb from his pocket and slowly tamed Adam's wild black hair and pulled it back with a plain black band, he then wiped Adams's face with a warm damp towel.
He then took a small mirror from his pocket showing his work to Adam, light caramel face glistening under the window's shine, a strong jaw, and sunken cheeks.
All together this made Adam look like a starving model if he stopped frowning all the time.
"How does it look?"
Adam's lack of response only made him seem even more pitiful. Kevin sat him in a wheelchair and fixed his small oxygen tank on the back.
Kevin took Adam on his last walk through the hospital's park. Adams's eyes slowly moved as he watched the white suffocating hall walls be replaced by open sky and greenery.
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The giggles of children playing with their parents brought a hint of warmth into his heart before it was snuffed by the jealousy seething in his heart.
Adams's eyes drifted from one bush to the next making an effort to avoid looking at the people walking in the park.
Kevin stopped at a vending machine to buy himself a snack and asked Adam if he wanted any.
Adams's sharp narrow glare gave Kevin the answer he requested.
he looked up, directly at the gloomy clouds in the distance that matched his future.
The darkening clouds raced through the sky as the gusts blow across the park throwing snack wrappers into the air and stealing away kites that dared to fly too high.
One such gust catapulted a beach ball right into Adams's face, deepening his already deep frown. Adams's weak arms caught the ball before it got carried away by the wind.
Kevin paused looking at where it came from, seeing a young boy running ahead of an old man limping toward them.
Adams's frown smoothened out as he smiled at the child and gave him the ball.
The boy took the ball and ran back to the old man without thanking Adam, the child returned to the old man who nodded to Adam.
Adam returned the nod and continued to watch as the child playing with his old man, his eyes filled with yearning.
The walk was short-lived as a drizzle forced the guests and inpatients indoors, Kevin apologized as is his habit over everything even those out of his control.
He helped Adam change into a dry set of hospital gowns and sat him in front of the window at his request, noticing a black butterfly hiding away from the rain beside the window.
Adam pushed his wheels and opened the lock of the window inviting the butterfly in, it entered and circled the room a bit before landing on his arm.
The drizzle soon transformed into heavy rain silencing all the noise outside of the hospital.
Kevin changed the sheets and organized Adam's pills and drawers and picked the food from the nurse that was distributed in the hallways of Ward A.
Adam dug into his meal as Kevin went to the nurse's common room to change out of his scrubs and prepare to go home.
Adam looked into the darkness of night and felt his determination solidify.
"Good night! See you tomorrow!" Kevin said as his head popped into the room before turning to go.
Kevin walked a few steps before he heard "wait!"
He turned to see the ever silent, sad Adam looking at him and smiling, trails of tears on his cheeks." Thank you for everything!"
He looked dumbfoundedly at Adam before collecting himself and responding "Your welcome!" And walking away but not without a heavy feeling in his gut.
His mind replayed the scene of Adam over and over as he walked to the bus stop.
"It doesn't feel right...." Kevin said to himself as he reached the bus stop, his frown only deepening as minutes passed.
He finally gave up and followed his gut back to the hospital, feeling a deep fear gnawing at his heart.
He ran up the stairs and into Adams's room, he saw him sitting next to the window with his hands dangling from his wheelchair, an empty pill bottle lay on besides his chair.
A black butterfly resting on his forehead flew away as he ran to Adam, escaping from the open window.
And as all of this happened a figure covered in writhing shadows stood across the street, chuckling at the butterfly holding a tiny small grey flame between its antennas.
"Hahahaa.. we will see if you truly can do what I couldn't." It's voice reverberated in the darkness as the butterfly flew away, the figure started to crack before it was swallowed into darkness.