Episode 49: Scene Five
Cliff slowly clamped his cell phone shut. Placing it back into his pocket, he thought long and hard about what he should do. He knew that if he stayed at the hospital, his father would be furious. He also knew that if he left the hospital, he'd never be able to live with himself for walking away from a girl that he had helped to put in the hospital.
Watching Trace pace up-and-down the hallway made Cliff's decision for him. Trace seems to have everything under control. Besides, if Kim did wake up, I'm probably the last person she'd want to see, Cliff reasoned.
Trace's semi-tranquil expression disappeared as soon as Cliff walked over to him. "What do you want?"
"I just came to tell you that I'm leaving. As it seems that my presence is not wanted here, I'll leave," Cliff turned around to exit.
Trace frowned. Sure, he wasn't particularly fond of the guy, but... "Cliff, wait up."
Cliff turned around to meet Trace. "What is it?"
"I just wanted...I just wanted to say..." Trace stammered.
"Say what?"
"I wanted to say th-"
"Th? You wanted to say 'th?' I don't have time for games, Trace," Cliff began to walk away again.
"I wanted to say thank you!" Trace finally spat out the words, then grimaced.
"For what?"
"For staying here at the hospital and doing what you've done. Most drivers would have just paid money and ran, but you stayed. I know it wasn't you who hit Kim, but it means a lot just the same," Trace extended his hand towards Cliff.
Cliff looked at the hand and then looked up at Trace's face, genuinely touched by Trace's kind gesture. He shook Trace's hand. "Let me know if her condition changes."
"Sure."
Trace turned back to Kim's room hoping that he'd have good news to deliver to Cliff, but ultimately knowing that Kim had an equal chance of taking a turn for the worse as well.