Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Hackett momentarily looked up from his cell phone before submerging back in the video game. ‘Fuck!

I’ve been fucking staying here for the last few days. What took you so long to come to see me? You

didn’t even buy any food! How dare you show up empty-handed?”

Frank did not bother with Hackett’s nonsense. He looked around the room and said, “Not bad, bro. Are

you going to stay here for long?”

Hackett, head lowered with bloodshot eyes, continued to indulge in the video game on his cell phone.

“Push the tower, you useless creep!” he yelled before replying to Frank. “I’m not terminally ill. No point

staying here for long.”

Frank looked at his watch; it was almost two in the morning. He realized Hackett had tormented himself

past midnight on his cell phone game. “Hey, bro. The game isn’t suitable for you. It burns your brain.

Go next door and visit when you have some time.”

Hackett threw away his cell phone moments after Frank left. The tower defense game was a failure,

and he had been bored staying in the hospital for the past few days. Natalie did not bother to return

after the ward round. As for Sherri, she did not show up after the two quarreled last time. On the other

hand, his mother delivered creamy potato soup daily. Hackett drank so much he could not take it

anymore. It was no different from going through confinement as far as he was concerned. Hackett’s

only entertainment was the occasional bickering with the front desk nurse.

Out of curiosity, Hackett put on his jacket and slippers and dragged himself out of the ward. When the

nurse saw him, she asked enthusiastically, “Mr. Blackwell, do you need help? Are you feeling unwell?”

Hackett smiled like a playboy and glanced at the tightly shut door in the next ward. “No worries. I’ll take

a walk. Is there a newcomer next door?”

The nurse smiled sweetly. “Yes, he just came in. He also has a concussion.”

Hackett stood at the door and looked at the wall. The patient’s name card was missing. “How come

there’s no name on the wall?” he asked curiously.

The nurse maintained her sweet smile. “The director instructed not to put any.”

Hackett became even more curious because Frank told him to visit the ward. “Remove my name too.”

“Okay,” the nurse replied.

Hackett was about to open the door when the nurse quickly stopped him. The hospital director

instructed us that the patient can’t be disturbed. Mr. Blackwell. ”

Curiosity began to kill the bored Hackett. “I know him. Don’t worry. I’ll take full responsibility.”

The nurse was skeptical. In the end, she was mesmerized by Hackett’s handsome face.

Hackett stood at the door and knocked. Jim got up and opened the door. “Mr. Blackwell,” he was

surprised to see the latter at the door.

Hackett was equally shocked. “Jim, why are you here?” He rushed into the room. When he saw the

person on the bed, he said anxiously, “Fuck, why is Trevon hospitalized? What’s going on?”

Jim told him about the boxing incident between Trevon and Frank last night. Hackett felt something

was amiss but could not figure out what was wrong.

He stayed in Trevon’s ward until three in the morning Jim could not take it anymore and left to buy

something. Trevon was still unconscious, so Hackett went back to sleep next door.

Natalie did not wake Jasper up in the morning, Jasper got used to Ruby not being at home and played

alone most of the time. Moreover, she listened to the servant and was well-behaved, which eased

Natalie’s mind tremendously.

Natalie went to get the car after breakfast. While sitting in the car, she felt reluctant to drive because

the traffic was too heavy. The weather in February was not as bone-chilling as it was in January.

Natalie opened the car door and got out of the car. She returned home decisively to get her motorbike

key.

The servant was surprised to see Natalie turning back. “Didn’t you leave already, Miss Natalie? Did you

forget something?”

Natalie headed straight to the master bedroom to get her key and helmet. “I’m going to take the

motorbike instead. The road is too congested for cars, and I’m a little anxious to drive. I’m leaving now.

Lena and Jenny were worried. “Miss Natalie, drive slowly and be careful.”

“Got it.”

Natalie took the key and rushed to the garage in Edward’s building. She removed the protective cover

and saw her long-lost beloved motorbike. Memories, good and bad, started surging into her head.

It turned out that Natalie blocked out her memories temporarily. Every piece of memory was still intact

in her head over the years.

It was human nature to want to forget the unpleasant past, but things often went against one’s wishes.

The more one tried to forget; the more one would remember as memories were engrained deep inside

one’s head.

Facing the truth was the best choice, running away meant avoiding the matter. It was a useless effort in

the end. Natalie’s grandfather’s demise, her mother’s suicide, and her grandparents’ car accident were

the deepest wounds in her heart.

She gently caressed the shiny motorbike and remembered fondly the day her grandfather presented

her with it. Her lips curled into a smile as she put on her helmet and buckled up. She straddled the

motorbike, inserted the key, and started the engine. With her well-practiced movements, the garage

instantly reverberated with a roar. It was her favorite sound, the beginning of a gallop and the yearning

for freedom.

The breeze blew on Natalie’s face after she left the garage, and the view was breathtaking. The

motorbike could move faster than the wind but could not bring back time. It could not make up for the

regrets, yet it could make her feel free and easy.

Natalie rode the motorbike steadily on the street of Athana and soon arrived at the hospital’s entrance.

She turned off the engine, removed her helmet, and shook loose her shoulder-length hair. Her gesture

attracted the attention of passersby.

She held her helmet in one hand and walked into the hospital before the intern nurse caught up with

her. The latter’s eyes filled with envy. “Dr. Foster, you ride the motorbike like a pro. Awesomet” she said

with admiration.

Natalie smiled and greeted her. “Good morning.”

Sherri walked over and put her arm around Natalie’s shoulder. “Why did you drive your beloved

motorbike out today? Natalie sighed. “The road is too congested for cars. It’s so congested that my

smoking habit, which I’ve finally stopped, is

about to make a comeback. I’d better ride the motorbike instead. I’ll drive the car when I want to take

Jasper out for a spin.”

“All right, the motorbike suits you well. My girlfriend looks awesome. If I were a man, I would surely be

captivated by you.”

“Hey, sister, I am straight as an arrow. Don’t try to mislead me. We won’t make a good couple, and I

can’t satisfy you either,” Natalie said in jest.

The two looked at each other and laughed aloud. “I like your speed, sister!” said Sherri.