Room 407, Part 1

This is the first installment of a short story written by my lil' sis, Splash. “I’m sorry, Ray. You should have come earlier. Mum just died two minutes ago.” My sister whispered softly to me. I was standing in the hallways of the General Hospital, outside my mother’s hospital room. 407. I fingered the number. Two minutes?? Two?? Argh!! What sort of idiot misses seeing his own mother for the last time by two minutes? Why, oh why did I have to be late? I felt so stupid. I punched the wall beside the door with all my might. I heard the distinctive sound of my knuckles cracking. I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. I was late. My mother had been diagnosed with leukaemia four months ago and I, Rayford Lam, her eldest son couldn’t even arrive in time to say goodbye. I felt my head spin. I couldn’t take it. I crouched down at the door of my mother’s hospital room and cried. Tears streaked down my face as I looked back on happy memories with my mother. Five years later, I had grown up to become the fine man my mum always hoped I would be. A lawyer, sharing a law firm with two other friends, I believed she was proud of me. I was 25, successful and had a wonderful girlfriend. Her name was Haley. Haley Yeung. She was one of the secretaries at the firm. She was not only extremely beautiful, but also smart, diligent and had a great sense of humour. Even thinking of her could serve to make me smile. I checked my appearance in the mirror. Suit, check. Hair, check. Overall, perfect. I adjusted my collar and tie and did finishing touches to my hair. Satisfied, I then grabbed my briefcase and headed out the door. I flung my briefcase in the back seat, like I did everyday, and hopped into my silver convertible. I revved the engine and hit the gas. I was ready to go. 8.20am. I arrived ten minutes early at my office building. Since that fateful day of my mother’s death, I vowed never to be late for anything and if possible, early. I walked towards the elevator, greeting people as I went along. Stepping into the elevator, I hit the button for the 13th floor, where my spacious office was located. The doors of the elevator were about to close shut when a file found its way through, causing the doors to pop open once again. I grinned as there stood Haley. Beautiful as always. I helped her carry her things to the 10th floor before heading up to my office. To be continued...

# scribbled by j e l l i o ` at 7/30/2005 05:49:00 PM
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