Present Day: The hospital

“Vegetative state?” Larry asked taking another look at the comatose body.

“Yes. I suspect he’s in one. It’s difficult to determine because it’s only been two days. I conducted some tests and an MRI” the doctor said handing a tab that showed the tests results to Larry.

“Hmmm… you’d have to keep watching for a while. I don’t want any mistakes” Larry looked through the tests moving from page to page constantly.

“I did notice some brain activity during the CT scan that’s why I came to this conclusion. Earlier I saw movements” she explained stating some theories

“What if he’s just in a minimal conscious state?” Larry suggested watching Jason closely. “Run more tests and send them over” He handed the documents back to her

“Ok sir… will do. Would you be treating him yourself” she asked as she collected the tab and moved close to Jason’s bed to adjust the bed.

“For now, see to it that you get the right prognosis and move his bed to an executive room. I’ll call you if I need any information”

Larry went closer to Jason and held his hand saying it will be alright.

“Right, Anna” Larry suddenly remembered that he hasn’t seen her since he arrived. He moved away from the bed and looked at the doctor “Where’s she?”

“She left earlier this morning” the doctor squeaked.

“But I specifically told you to make sure that she remains in the hospital till I got here.” Larry glared the doctor stamping his feet

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t even aware till I came to check up in her” the doctor confessed bowing her head down

“I need to know what happened here and how all these happened. You said it looks like his head was hit right?” Larry quizzed trying to find out what could have happened

“Yes. The hit was so great that it damaged a part of his brain. If she brought him any later than that we wouldn’t have been able to save him”

“She brought him?”

“Yes sir. Her body was covered with blood and she appeared lost and in shock. Maybe…” the doctor tried to suggest that it was Anna who hit Jason

“Don’t you dare complete that statement “Larry scowled at her. “Show me the cctv footage from yesterday…I need to analyze her behavior”. Larry walked out after and left the doctor to complete the checkup.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anna frantically searched the house for items to carry for her road trip. She decided to run away to her hometown in California. She was born and raised there and her godmother has agreed to host her for a while

She raced to her closet and stuffed some her clothes inside a large suitcase. The bus leaves in 2 hours and she needed to get out before Larry got any hint.

As much as Larry loved and cared for her, he also shared the same love equally for Jason and considered him as his son

Although, Anna couldn’t blame him for that. Jason became like a child to him a long time ago. When they moved to Colorado newly Jason and his divorced mother were their first friends.

 Larry and Jason’s mother had a short fling that didn’t last due to her prior health issues. She died 3 years later losing the fight to a tumor. After she passed on Larry stopped being a doctor and faced his company. The death took a toll on him.

After Jason’s mother died, Larry decided to take him in and look after him till he was old enough to take the reins of running his mother’s company.

These two men were everything to her but it seems that there is something brewing underneath and Larry wouldn’t forgive her for what she had done because he loved Jason so much

Then again, she couldn’t blame him. Jason had saved her countless of times and had always stood by her no matter the consequence. Once, he almost got expelled due to her recklessness. So why do they want to kill her all of a sudden?

Anna got confused and emptied the entire luggage again for the third time. She sat on the bed and wept again, screaming at intervals.

Her breathing level dropped and her head throbbed constantly. Her eyes were significantly red, eye bags pitched a tent underneath and her face was flushed.

Anna opened the drawer close to her bed and took out a bottle. She emptied the drugs into her mouth swallowing all at once tossing the container to another part of the room and resumed her packing

Anna resolved to pack only food and a set of clothes. Still her bag felt heavy. What was it. As she opened the luggage again, she slid down to the floor looking helpless. She packed a ton of Jason’s pictures.

Anna wept again as she tried to debate which picture to leave and drop. In the end she resolved to only carry one. She headed outside, turned and took one last look at the scattered house. She sighed and closed the door.

The Greyhound bus station was unexpectedly scanty when Anna got there. Too scanty. There wasn’t a single soul in the station. It was as if rapture had already happened and she was left behind.

Anna looked around checking for any clue as to where everyone was. How possible is it that everyone at a station disappeared? Unless… Anna suddenly realized something

“Anna?” Larry said coming out of a control room.

Anna suddenly whimpered stepping away from him. Larry was surprised. He noticed how distant she was from him and saw the fear in her eyes.

“What’s wrong Anna?” He said with compassion in his eyes? “Are you ok?” He moved closer again trying to hold her.

“I… didn’t me…an to” Anna said as tears began to drop from her eyes. “I was just scared” she shivered as she began to take slow steps back

“It’s ok Anna. I know you didn’t mean to. It’s fine” Larry held out his hand to provide a sense of comfort to her.

“No…it’s not. I killed him. I hit him with a tree branch. I was not myself “Anna sipped in the forming mucus in her nose and cleaned her eyes with the back of her palm

“It is Anna. Let’s just head home and talk it out. Going to California won’t solve anything. You’ve not gone there in forever. How would you cope? Follow me back home”

“Home?” Anna asked trying to know the exact location of Home. Her tears began to dry up.

“In Arizona. You know how long I’ve been wanting the both of you to come down and stay with me” Larry looked solemn trying to convince Anna to go with him. He sat down on a pavement and gestured Anna to come sit by him

Anna sluggishly walked towards the pavement then gave a significant distance between herself and Larry before sitting down.

“I have something to do in California” She said slowly putting her hands over her face trying to comprehend the situation

Will he kill me on my way there? Will I be forced to sign a sort of document transferring the company in his name? Will he kill me for killing Jason? Why now? I don’t even want the company. I can’t follow him. I need to be sure about who killed my parents.

Anna’s thoughts flew across the empty space in her heart, questions bouncing around.

Larry stared her observing her actions and mode of behavior. Something was wrong somewhere he said to himself.

“I want to visit home. I haven’t been there in years” She confessed looking up at him. “I want to see Nona and all my old school friends. I just want to escape and be free and lay around doing nothing.

Larry sighed as he listened to her wail out her needs and wants. +Finally, he agreed to let her go.

“I’ll have someone come and pick you up tomorrow”. He said standing up and putting his hands in his pockets. He looked like a father who just let his daughter finally date a guy

“No” Anna said sharply. “I’d like to go on my own” She couldn’t afford to take any chances. “Let me have my breathing space Larry. I need to grieve” She sulked and wore a rather long face

Larry looked into her eyes and walked towards her. Anna stood up and placed her phone into her back pockets and opened her arms to hug him. He hugged her tight and cupped her face in his hands before giving her a long peck on her forehead.

Perhaps she was wrong. Why would Larry want to kill her? This man begs her every day to take over the company. He’s not after wealth or money. No children or family members so who is he stacking all the wealth for but her. He clearly loves and adores her.

“Please call me when you get there. If there’s anything you need reach out to me. You can stay as long as you want. You need time to grieve. You can work at any of the companies there. Just be ok”

Anna nodded looking straight into his eyes. Larry pulled her close again and gave her a long hug.

“It’s gonna be a long ride. You should get going. The bus was delayed for another hour. Head over to the other station. I’ll call you.”

She picked up her luggage and walked to the entrance of the station to call a taxi. When the taxi arrived she waved and entered the taxi

Larry took out his phone and called someone

“I want you to keep an eye on her and her every move. Who she meets with, what she eats, what she drinks, everything she does. Anyone she meets with run a background check and send to me. Keep a tab on her and never let her out of your sight.” He cut the call and stared at her as the taxi left the entrance. His smiling face turning into a stone cold poker face.