Ironic

It was a beautiful autumn day the sun was shinning and the air was so warm. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary in the small Kentucky town but for most of the town this day was going to change the rest of their lives.

Carol woke up at five that morning and got ready for work. It was a quarter till six when she headed to her job as a nurse in the intensive care unit at the county hospital. It was six fifteen when she got to the hospital. It seemed quieter than normal there was almost eeriness to the hospital. When carol got to the nurse’s station she saw Ruth sitting at the desk with her head on the desk. After standing there for a couple of minutes just watching the other nurse she asked Ruth if she was okay. Ruth jump almost out of her chair when she heard carol. Carol my goodness you scared me Ruth said.

Well is something wrong Ruth carol repeated. We just had a busy night there was a bad accident at one of the factories. A really bad explosion we've got five new patients just in ICU and they've got more on the other floors. Carol was shocked she thought that something that big would have woke her up. She then asked if anyone was killed in the explosion. Ruth told her that no that as far as she knew no one was killed but that there were some that were in very bad shape. The worse was a man name Chris he was burnt on more than half of his body. It is touch and go right now Ruth told carol.

Carol knew that this day was going to be busy. Even though it was beautiful day outside inside the hospital it was going to be a very gloomy day. She had been there for an hour and had been checking on the patients on her floor. When she got to Chris's room. When she walked in she thought she was prepared to see what the man looked liked. But when she saw him for the first time she couldn't believe what she was seeing. He was totally covered in bandages from head to toe. She than checked all his vitals and on his IV everything was okay. Just as she was going to leave he tried to speak but she couldn't understand what he was saying.

Carol got closer to him to see if she could understand what he was trying to say. She listened real careful and this time she heard what he was saying. He asked her if everyone was going to make it. She didn't know what to say she herself didn't know the answer to that. She didn't want to make him worry but yet she didn't want to lie to him. It took her a moment but she finally said that she had just came on and didn't know what the status was of everyone. She then told him that she should go because she needed to check on the rest of the patients. Before she left she asked him if he needed anything he told her no that he didn't.

Carol went back to the nurse's station and called the doctor to let him know that Chris was awake. She waited until the doctor arrived and then went back to Chris's room with him. The doctor removed the bandages to check on the burns. After he had removed all of the bandages carol handed him new ones to put on. She just stood and watched the doctor being so carefully with Chris. It took about ten minutes to replace the bandages. Finally the doctor was finished and he was ready to talk to Chris. He told Chris that he was burnt badly and that he had to remain in the hospital, until his burns had healed enough that he would get an infection, but if he was to get an infection that he would have to stay longer. He also told him that there was no reason that he shouldn't make a full recovery.

Chris then asked the doctor the same thing he had asked carol was everyone else okay. Unlike carol the doctor had seen almost all of the patients. He started by saying that a lot of them had been burnt some more sever like Chris and others only where burnt on a small part of their body. He then said that everyone was going to make it. As soon as the doctor was done he said that he had to get going but would check back in later. With that carol and the doctor left the room. In the hall the doctor told carol to give Chris some pain medicine to help with the pain.

Carol went back into give Chris the pain medicine. She asked him if there was anyone that she could call for him. He then got a really sad face and said no all of his family lived in another state and they weren't on speaking terms right now. Carol was speechless and didn't know what to say so she just said okay and told him if he needed anything to just buzz her. A couple of hours went by and carol was sitting at the nurse's station putting patient information into the computer when the buzzer from Chris's room went off. She told him that she would be right there.

She went straight to Chris's room thinking that he was in pain or needed something else. She walked in and asked him if he needed anything he told he that he just wanted someone to talk to. There were three other nurses’ on that day so she told him she would sit and talk with him. She asked where are you from? He told her he was from Chicago Illinois. She was shocked and couldn't imagine why he would move from a magnificent town like Chicago to a small town in Kentucky that didn't have anything to offer. She asked him so why did you move from there to here? I have never liked the big city and my job sort of gave me the opportunity to move here and make more money so I took it. It was a plus with the money and the fact that I didn't have to live in a big city. Afraid that she was asking to personal questions she told him that she was sorry for being nosy. He told her that it was all right he didn't mind.

They talked for almost an hour and then another nurse came in and said she needed her to help with a patient. Carol told Chris she would be back later after she got through with her other patients. An hour later she returned to his room to give him some medicine and to tell him that she would be back in a little while. She kept her word a half hour later she went back and sat with him for another hour. It was time for her to check on another patient and had to go. Within the short time they had talked he had told her why he was no longer talking to his family. He told her that they didn't want him to take the job and move and they where very upset when he did and said some very hurtful things.

Over the next few days they talked a lot and got to know each other pretty well. She knew almost everything about him and he knew almost everything about him. Then one day he asked her if she was married or had a boy friend. Carol didn't want to answer him but she did. She told him no she was in a relationship. The next question is the one she had a hard time answering he asked her why such a beautiful women didn't have anyone special in her life. It took her a few moments before she decided to tell him why. She told him that she had been in a really bad relationship where the man was very abusive both verbally and physically that is why she didn't have anyone special.

Chris not knowing what to say just sat there quietly. It was carol who broke the silence. She asked him if he needed anything before she had to go check on the other patients. He told her that he would like a glass of water please. The rest of the day was pretty busy so carol didn't have time to go back to Chris's room to talk. Chris was thinking that she didn't want to talk to him since the uncomfortable moment. Carol did go back at the end of her shift to check his IV. That is when apologized about asking a question that was too personal. Carol told him there is no reason to be sorry and that she wasn't upset about it. She told him she had been so busy that she just couldn't get away to come back and talk. I will be back in the morning and we can talk more then.

The following morning carol got to work early so that she could talk to Chris. She had been thinking of him a lot lately. He was such a kind man and she loved talking to him. She got to his room and he was still sleeping so she went back to the nurse’s station to wait. Then she decided to start checking on the patients she had to check the IV's and vitals. An hour later she got to Chris's room and he was awake. She found her self glad that he was awake. They sat and talked a little while about all kind of things. Things like what kind of movies they both liked and what was their favorite food. They were both laughing after a little while about some of their answers. They both seemed like they were best friends and had always been that way.

The doctor came in as they were still laughing and said that he was glad Chris was in such a good mood. Laughing is good for the soul the doctor said. He then went to Chris and said he wanted to check his burns. The burns on his face and hands hadn't been as severe as the rest of his body and were starting to heal. The first bandages the doctor removed where the ones on Chris's hands. His hands looked really good and you could barely tell that they had been burnt except for the light scars on them. The doctor told him that he would leave the bandages off of his hands. Next was his face carol had seen his face before but it was all red and swollen at the time. As the doctor took the bandages off carol couldn't help but stare at him. To her surprise his face didn't have as much scaring as she had thought it would. The doctor was finally finished taking all the bandages off. Carol couldn't help think how handsome he looked. The doctor told him that he would leave them off as well. The doctor checked the rest of the bandages and replaced them with new ones. After he was finished he told Chris that if he kept healing as he had been that he would get to leave in another week, but he would have to have someone at home to help him change the bandages.

Carol left with the doctor and went to check on her other patients. The rest of the day was pretty quiet. Two of her patients got switched to another floor since they were doing so good. After she transferred the last patient she went to Chris's room to give him some pain medicine. She sat and talked to him and asked if when he was allowed to go home if he had anyone that would help him. He told her that since he had only moved here six months ago that he didn't. She then offered to come to his house and help him if he would like her to. Chris told her that he would like it very much if she would. Carol had no idea that Chris had been thinking of her a lot every since he met her. They were both falling in love and neither one new how the other felt about them.

A week went by and the doctor let Chris go home lucky for carol it was on her day off and she was able to take him home. Chris lived on the other side of town from her. When they pulled up carol thought to herself what a nice neighborhood it was. The houses were all very lovely and looked expensive. They pulled up in front of a two story brick house. The house was very beautiful. Carol walked around and helped Chris out of the car. As they walked up the steps carol told Chris that he had a beautiful house. Well thank you he said with an amazing smile on his face. When they got into the house Chris showed her around. The house had four bedrooms, two baths, a big kitchen and a lovely living room. They went and sat down in the living room carol opened up blinds to light the sun into the room. She then asked Chris if he was hungry. He told her yes but he didn't know if he had anything to fix. She told him that if he didn't that she would run to the store and get something.

In the kitchen carol didn't find much most of the things in the fridge were bad. She decided that she would run to the store and pick up some things to make dinner. She told Chris that she was going to go to the store. She drove to the little grocery store a few blocks away. She had decided that she would make spaghetti and mashed potatoes. Chris had told her that it was one of his favorite dinners. She hurried and got all the things that she needed and even picked up ice cream for desert.

In no time she was back at Chris's house cooking dinner for him. She thought to her self this feels so comfortable. They had only met two weeks earlier. Was it fate that brought them together? She was falling in love with him but he hadn't said anything about how he felt about her. Did he think of her like she thought of him? Carol had so many thoughts racing through her mind. She had to know if he felt something for her. She decided that she would try and ask him after dinner. Dinner was done and carol helped Chris into the dining room so that they could have dinner. They made small talk and ate. Chris told her that it was the best dinner he had ever ate. Carol just smiled at Chris thing that he was the kindest and most handsome man. They then went back into the living room and carol served the ice cream. After they were down with the ice cream carol went to do the dishes. While putting the dishes up carol found a bottle of champagne and decided to pour them both a glass and take it into the living room. He told her thank you.

Chris thought to himself how beautiful she was and how perfect she was. But how could he tell her how he felt. They stated talking about life and carol asked him if he believed love at first site. Oh my Chris thought to himself does she feel the same as I do. He told her yes that he did believe in love at first site. She was so excited she thought for the first time that he felt the same way about her. So she was a little more bold and just came right out and told him how she was feeling. Well Chris I want to tell you something is how she started. Then the rest just flowed out she told him how she was thinking of him all the time. After she was done she sat there feeling embarrassed by what she had said. Chris just sat there and then he told he that he felt the same way about her but didn't want scare her away. They both sat there and stared into each other’s eyes. Chris asked carol if she would stay with him that night. She decided that she would but had to go home and get some clothes.

Once in her car she thought to her self this is all happening so fast. She drove home and got her clothes and checked her messages. She decided to call her mom and let her know where she would be. Her mother was a little concerned but told her she was happy for her. Carol then drove back to Chris's house. When she got there she put here things in the bedroom and then went back down stairs to be with Chris. Carol had to work the next day so she couldn't stay up long but she wanted to talk to Chris. They talked for an hour about how fast things were going and if they were ready for it carol told him that she was ready for it all. They talked about her moving in to his house for good. She said she would sleep on it and tell him when she got back from work the next day.




The next day carol went to work as normal. When she got to the hospital Ruth another nurse and a good friend of carols was there. Carol decided that she was going to talk to Ruth and see what she thinks she should do. Ruth was shocked when carol told her. She told her first I can't believe that you spent the night with him already. Second you hardly know him what if he is like your last boy friend and he hurts you. Carol I just don't want you to get hurt by another man you are to good of a person for that. Carol told her friend I know a lot about him. He has told me all about his family and we have the same interest. I really love him Ruth but I am afraid like you said that he will change. I think that I have to take this step and in the mean time I will keep my house so that if he does get like that I can leave. Ruth didn't understand carol but told her that she would support her no matter what happens. Ruth was ready to go home and told carol she would see her in a couple of days. Carol went the rest of the day thinking about Chris and how happy they were going to be.

It was finally the end of her shift and she went to her house and picked up some things to take to Chris’s. Once she got to Chris's she decided that they would try it for one month and if it all seemed right she would stay for good. Chris was okay with this because he loved her very much.

Chris continued to get better and went in for his checkup two weeks after he got home. The doctor told him that in a couple more weeks to come back and he might not have to wear the bandages any more. The two weeks past and carol again took Chris to the doctor’s office where the doctor took the bandages off and told them that they could stay off. As they left the doctors office carol told Chris they should go out to celebrate. They decided to go to a small Italian restaurant in the middle of town. They both ordered and after the waiter went to put it in Chris asked carol if she was going to stay for good with him. Carol already knew her answer; she told him that she was. With that Chris got down on one knee and asked her in front of the whole restaurant to marry him. She was crying when she said yes. He gave her a ring that he said was his grandmothers. She was so honored by him giving her the ring. They decided they would get married in the spring. That gave carol about five months to get everything ready.

It was thanksgiving when Chris got to meet all of carol family for the first time. He had met her mother right after they got engaged. Carol and her mother went to the bridal shop to pick out her dress a few weeks before Christmas. It was a beautiful lace and satin gown with beads around the neck line. She was so excited the dress was almost a perfect fit but it would have to be altered a little in the length. Everything was going along as planed carol asked Ruth to be her maid of honor and her niece would be the flower girl. But there was something missing Chris's family she decided that she would try to get him to at least invite them to the wedding. He told her that he would invite them but didn't think they would come. It was new years day when he called his mother and asked her if she would come and to his surprise she said that she wouldn't miss that for anything. She also said his brothers and sister would be there as well. He talked to his mother for two hours telling her everything that had happened. His mother was hurt that he hadn't called when he had been hurt but said that she understood and that she was glad he was okay.

It was finally their wedding day carol stayed with her mom the night before. Chris's family was at their house. They were the best in-laws that she could have asked for. Carol got to the church first so she could get ready. Her mom fixed her hair for her and helped her get into her dress after all the guest had arrived carol's father came and got her and walked her down the isle. It was a big and beautiful wedding and everything went right. After the reception carol and Chris had to hurry to catch their flight to the Bahamas. They made it just in time and were on their way to the Bahamas. They made it there and had a wonderful time. On the flight back home the plane had some trouble and went down. Everyone on the plane were killed instantly. Both family's were devastated but knew both carol and Chris had died loving each other.