A TEARDROP IN AN OCEAN - PART ONE

The ominous halls of Llanview Hospital echoed a loud wail of empty depression. Polished floors gleamed flittingly , as if convincing an onlooker that's it's plastic grin signified comfort. Men and women donning white and cyan coats plastered fake grins on doubtful faces.
"Everything's going to be fine," countless visitors and nurses assured, although deep within their mind, the matter was entirely different. Tea Delgado Manning blankly stared at the Formica counter-top of a receptionist's immaculate desk. The words swirled, dipped and dived but they were only words. Not emotions. Just words.
Tea's thoughts drifted to the immobile form lying on a steel-framed bed encased inside a windowed room. The doctor's claimed the patient, Todd Manning, was in a catatonic state, an mental=suspending condition that trapped the mind's functions into one state: complete disability to communicate with the outside world.
She convinced herself Todd was faking. He's only duping us all again, Tea thought. Face it. My husband's not the same man he was the night he promised his complete love of me through marriage, real marriage, she reprimanded quickly. Todd lied, manipulated to get...to get what? He didn't want me, he made that very clear, cajoled Tea. Why do I care? Why do I still love him after all that's he's done?
Abruptly, Tea stood up and walked to Todd' s room. Pressing her head to the glass, she narrowed her eyes. This man, cold, diabolical con artist with a mean streak wider than anything she'd ever seen, was able to cause this much pain and vexation.
He crooks his finger and I come running, she blanched bitterly. Almost unconsciously, Tea's footsteps found their way to Todd's bedside. She took his unmoving hand in hers and patiently awaited any kind of reaction, all the while she stroked his arm thoughtfully. Minutes later, she dropped his hand, a sigh of utter disbelief escaping her lips.
"What am I doing?" She asked, a faraway look of exile in her eyes. "Why can't I let go?" Leaning back, Tea's eyes cast heavenward, pleading for an answer.
His dead silence frustrated her, drudging up feelings of the past. She'd never been able to touch him, not physically nor emotionally. He refused to open up and he wouldn't touch her or look at her. He'd deprived her of human contact, of substantiated trust and faith. He'd only professed his undying love for what? To hold on to her?
Sure, she believed Todd did love her but in ways that alienated the true behind the love. Tea's constant attempts to change him, to correct his misdeeds and blind faith that maybe he'd learn had fooled her into returning again and again. Yet she still loved him!
A tiny part of her understood why. Years ago, Tea's mother had abandoned her family, leaving Tea alone, confused and heartbroken. One day she'd come back, she'll change her mind, Tea hadsaid. The days wore on and her mother never returned. A distinct shroud of guilt hovered over Tea like a wet blanket. Del was right, Tea conceded. It wasn't my job to have kept Poppie happy and it's not my job to keep Todd happy. Maybe if she kept telling herself that it would come true and she could forget Todd Manning and all his wrong-doings.
Shaking herself of these thoughts, Tea looked angrily at Todd's unseeing face. Tears formed in her eyes as she whispered, Goodbye, Todd. I'm going to--I'm trying to foget you. We're over, right?" Laughing desperately, Tea's devastated face crumbled. Reality set in and she knew she'd have to set free if she didn't want to drown in these swallowing ocean of memories. It seemed like she'd already drowned.
Straightening, she willed herself to focus on the bad over the good. She thought solely on all of Todd's nasty attributes and what he'd inflicted on her and -in a way - it made it easier. "What fun would easy be?" Todd's words echoed in her ears but she pushed them away.
But I don't want to! her mind screamed. Turning, Tea walked out before she could make herself feel. Her body ran but her emotions stayed. Tea didn't relent as she felt her heart silently break.

TO BE CONTINUED