Where the Sun Sets Read Online Free Page B

and returned to the waiting room.
Several of the party guests had arrived and were huddled together,
mulling over the happenings of the evening.
    “Has anyone heard anything on Antonia’s
condition yet?” A few of the group looked up and shook their heads
no, in response. The others just looked off into their own
thoughts. “Does anyone happen to know where Billy is?” Again the
same response. Jim was starting to feel as if he was standing in
the bed of funeral parlor.
    The emergency room doors opened and everyone
looked up hopefully. Nothing. The nurse at the station, witnessing
the concern, came out into the waiting room briefly and offered,
“It’s going to be a while. Why don’t you all go home and get some
rest. There is nothing you can do for her right now. She is in the
best of hands. There really is no way of knowing what is happening.
If any of you would like to call later, just ask for me and I will
give you whatever information I can.”
    It had been a while since she had witnessed
such concern for a friend. There was that summer, three or four
years back, when some pre-college kids were up for vacation. One of
them had plowed his car into the side of a concrete wall and didn’t
make it. The mood of the waiting room then, had felt much like it
did now. She hoped, for all of their sakes, the outcome was not
going to be the same.
    Jim spotted Bernie, off to the side, by
himself. He never especially liked Bernie, but he felt pity for him
now. Bernie looked as if someone had just gutted him and left him
to die. His feelings for Antonia surprised most people, considering
women were not his genre. But Jim understood how, even Bernie could
be attracted to Antonia. “Hey,” Jim started, “why don’t we go get a
cup of coffee.” Bernie just shook his head. “Josephine is out in
the lobby, you could...” Bernie shot Jim a fevered look and Jim
simply responded by placing a comforting hand on Bernie’s shoulder.
He patted it twice and walked back to the crowd. “What do you say
we all go and grab a bite to eat, maybe a drink.” The offer of food
had finally grabbed their attention. “We can call from the
restaurant and leave the number. If anything comes up, the nurse
can call us.”
    Jim went back to the lobby to let Josephine
know he would be back in an hour. He didn’t expect to be back in an
hour, but he didn’t think she was paying him any attention anyway.
He left the hospital at seven p.m., taking several of the waiting
zombies with him. Within the next hour, the only two who remained
waiting, were Bernie and Josephine.
    Josephine was still sitting in the lobby when
Dr. Kessler arrived for work. He recognized her at once. They had
gone to Yale together. Although they majored in completely
different areas, they shared a speech course their first year.
During the course of his time at Yale, he had seen her outside of
school a couple, no, a few times. It was never anything more than a
casual passing of time, but he still could feel the moment. He
walked over to where she sat and offered his hello, but felt at
once that it was not heard. “Josephine?” he spoke as he sat himself
on the small table in front of her. Placing his hand upon her knee,
he repeated himself, “Josephine,” finally she looked at him. “Is
everything OK?”
    “I’m cold.” she responded. He removed his
suit coat and placed it around her shoulders. He looked into her
eyes and sat himself back down.
    “Is that better?” he asked, while trying to
see if her eyes acknowledged his presence. He was wondered if she
may have a slight concussion, simply from seeing the wound on her
forehead. “Josephine, have you seen a doctor?”
    She nodded her head, up and down.
    “Are you waiting for someone? Is there
someone I can call for you?”
    After a moment of silence, he was about to
repeat his question again. Josephine looked at him, Anthony...my
head hurts.”
    “Anthony what?” Dr. Kessler asked.
“Josephine...Anthony