Save Me, Stranger | A Dialogue Story

[28] - The Person He Was...

alex | cooper

*

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Alex sighs, looking over the black ink sprawled out across a wrinkled piece of paper. So many times it's been crumpled and unfolded, with tears staining every other word. She runs a hand through her hair and tosses it to the side. No matter how long ago it was written, Alex can't bring herself to get rid of it.

—————————————————————
Message From: ***-***-****
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Hey it's Cooper.

Oh hi. How'd you get my number?

Stranger's phone.

Ok. Did you need anything?

Actually, kind of yeah.

What's up?

I was wondering if you could come down to Horizon Medical for a little bit.

Why? Is he ok?

Yeah, Strangers fine. But he could really use a familiar voice right now, one other than Cameron, Damon's and mine.

Why doesn't he call me then?

He wants to. I see him looking at your caller ID every ten minutes but he won't press the button.

If he wants to, then he will. I don't want to force him to do anything.

Alex, Stranger is a complicated person. Knowing him as long as I have, you'll learn little details here and there that are tell tale signs how nervous of a person he is.

Why should he be nervous to talk to me? It's never been like that before.

That's another thing. But it would be better explained in person.

I don't know if me coming is a good idea...

Why's that?

Things have just been...tough recently.

Tough how?

Her eyes wander off to the paper, feeling an untreatable ache spreading throughout her chest.

I've just got some things to work out.

Does this have anything to do with the conversations he steps out of the room for?

What all has he said to you?

Oh, sorry it's nothing like that. Just that you've been stressed out and don't have good days sometimes.

Oh.

Minutes go by without Alex answering his question.

I didn't mean to over step a boundary. It's none of my business.

Don't sweat it. There are just some personal things I need to take care of.

How's his father doing?

Henry? He hasn't shown much signs of improvement but he hasn't worsened either so that's a good thing. Doctors had to put him in a medically induced coma to prevent any further damage to his brain.

What about Stranger?

I've gotten him to talk and leave the room but he hasn't been eating much. Just sits there staring off into space unless I push him into a conversation.

The whole heart attack thing messed up his training, huh?

Yeah. I just wish my best friend was my best friend again. His personality has been shut out to the world. I've only seen him like this one other time.

You mean...

Yeah...it's beginning to worry me.
This was how the whole thing started.
Losing sense of the person he was.
Ate less. Drank more. Until it happened and...I just barely got him back.

Can I ask you something...?

Yeah, of course.

What did you feel when you saw him?

Cooper's fingers pause, unsure of how to describe the utter anxiety, dread, and sadness that flooded his veins in that dark moment.

It felt like...
It felt like I was dying.
My best friend, my brother.
He was dead.
His pulse wasn't there.
Every part of the once lively person he was, was gone.
And it felt like I was dead too.

*

We're getting an insight on the bond our characters have that may or may not play an important role later on.

Thank you all so much for voting and adding my story to your reading lists. I see every notification.

What do you think the letter could have been about? Is there more going on with Alex than we know?

Stay tuned to find out more.

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Until next time

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