Frank and Francine
Francine sat at her desk at the U.S. Department of Energy. Her fingers tapped on her keyboard as equations and data danced across her screen. She loved her work—evaluating the sustainability of cutting-edge energy projects was not just a job, it was a mission. Her office was lined with awards and certificates, each a reminder of the impact she had made in the world. But the numbers on the screen blurred as her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the caller ID: Elissa.
Her heart skipped a beat as she answered. Elissa was her best friend from childhood, someone she had shared all her dreams and secrets with, from their grade school adventures to navigating life's winding roads as adults. But it wasn't Elissa's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hello? Is this Francine?" an unfamiliar voice asked.
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Dr. Reeves from Saint Agnes Hospital. Your friend Elissa has had a stroke."
Time seemed to slow as Francine processed the words. Her mind raced with questions, but none of them seemed to matter. Elissa needed her. That was all she needed to know.
"I'm coming," Francine said firmly. She hung up the phone and walked straight into her boss's office.
"I need to leave work," she said, voice unwavering. "My best friend needs me."
Her boss nodded, understandingly. Francine didn't wait for any further permission; she was already out the door, heading to her car. As she drove to the hospital, her thoughts swirled around Elissa—their laughter, their shared stories, the bond that time hadn't diminished. She wasn't just going to visit Elissa; she was going to stay.
When she arrived at the hospital, Francine found Elissa's room and gently knocked on the door. Elissa was lying in bed, pale but awake. She smiled faintly when she saw Francine.
"They say I'll be here for at least ten days," Elissa whispered, her voice soft and strained.
Francine walked over to her friend and sat down beside her. "Then I'll be here too. Every day, every night. I'll stay on the sofa." She gestured toward the couch underneath the window in the hospital room.
Elissa shook her head weakly. "But what about food? You can't live on hospital cafeteria food for that long. You're going to need something better."
Francine smiled, her confidence unwavering. "Frank will take care of that. He'll bring me meals every morning."
Elissa's eyes widened. "Frank? Every day? How is that possible?"
Francine laughed gently. "You've never seen Frank when he's in full chef mode. He lives for moments like this. Cooking isn't just a job for him—it's his way of caring, of creating. He'll wake up early, prepare three meals for us, and bring them here every morning. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all gourmet, all from his heart."
Elissa looked at her in disbelief. "If this were a story, I wouldn't believe it."
Francine grinned. "I know, but this is real. I've got you covered, and Frank has me covered. That's how we work."
True to her word, Francine stayed by Elissa's side every night, sleeping on the hospital couch. And every morning, Frank rose early. The kitchen became his canvas, where he poured his love into every meal. He packed them carefully into containers, labeling each one with a note— "Lunch, a bit of sunshine for you both, "Dinner, a taste of home to bring you comfort."
Frank would arrive at the hospital each morning, his arms filled with bags of food, and Francine would meet him at the entrance. They would exchange a brief but meaningful hug, and she'd take the meals to Elissa's room, presenting each one as if it were a feast.
As the days passed, Elissa's strength returned, buoyed not just by the medical care she received but by the love surrounding her. Francine's unwavering presence, Frank's culinary magic—it was all part of her healing.
By the end of the ten days, Elissa was ready to go home, and Francine packed up her things, tired but content. They left the hospital together, with Elissa whispering as they walked, "I don't know how I'll ever thank you."
Francine smiled. "You don't have to. That's what friends—and family—are for."
And as they stepped out into the fresh air, the warmth of the sun on their faces, the two childhood friends looked over at each. Friends for life. Friends for living and for life.
She glanced at the caller ID: Elissa.
Her heart skipped a beat as she answered. Elissa was her best friend from childhood, someone she had shared all her dreams and secrets with, from their grade school adventures to navigating life's winding roads as adults. But it wasn't Elissa's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hello? Is this Francine?" an unfamiliar voice asked.
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Dr. Reeves from Saint Agnes Hospital. Your friend Elissa has had a stroke."
Time seemed to slow as Francine processed the words. Her mind raced with questions, but none of them seemed to matter. Elissa needed her. That was all she needed to know.
"I'm coming," Francine said firmly. She hung up the phone and walked straight into her boss's office.
"I need to leave work," she said, voice unwavering. "My best friend needs me."
Her boss nodded, understandingly. Francine didn't wait for any further permission; she was already out the door, heading to her car. As she drove to the hospital, her thoughts swirled around Elissa—their laughter, their shared stories, the bond that time hadn't diminished. She wasn't just going to visit Elissa; she was going to stay.
When she arrived at the hospital, Francine found Elissa's room and gently knocked on the door. Elissa was lying in bed, pale but awake. She smiled faintly when she saw Francine.
"They say I'll be here for at least ten days," Elissa whispered, her voice soft and strained.
Francine walked over to her friend and sat down beside her. "Then I'll be here too. Every day, every night. I'll stay on the sofa." She gestured toward the couch underneath the window in the hospital room.
Elissa shook her head weakly. "But what about food? You can't live on hospital cafeteria food for that long. You're going to need something better."
Francine smiled, her confidence unwavering. "Frank will take care of that. He'll bring me meals every morning."
Elissa's eyes widened. "Frank? Every day? How is that possible?"
Francine laughed gently. "You've never seen Frank when he's in full chef mode. He lives for moments like this. Cooking isn't just a job for him—it's his way of caring, of creating. He'll wake up early, prepare three meals for us, and bring them here every morning. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all gourmet, all from his heart."
Elissa looked at her in disbelief. "If this were a story, I wouldn't believe it."
Francine grinned. "I know, but this is real. I've got you covered, and Frank has me covered. That's how we work."
True to her word, Francine stayed by Elissa's side every night, sleeping on the hospital couch. And every morning, Frank rose early. The kitchen became his canvas, where he poured his love into every meal. He packed them carefully into containers, labeling each one with a note— "Lunch, a bit of sunshine for you both, "Dinner, a taste of home to bring you comfort."
Frank would arrive at the hospital each morning, his arms filled with bags of food, and Francine would meet him at the entrance. They would exchange a brief but meaningful hug, and she'd take the meals to Elissa's room, presenting each one as if it were a feast.
As the days passed, Elissa's strength returned, buoyed not just by the medical care she received but by the love surrounding her. Francine's unwavering presence, Frank's culinary magic—it was all part of her healing.
By the end of the ten days, Elissa was ready to go home, and Francine packed up her things, tired but content. They left the hospital together, with Elissa whispering as they walked, "I don't know how I'll ever thank you."
Francine smiled. "You don't have to. That's what friends—and family—are for."
And as they stepped out into the fresh air, the warmth of the sun on their faces, the two childhood friends looked over at each. Friends for life. Friends for living and for life.
(This story is donated to the public domain.)
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He/Him/His
"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
"Learning happens thru gentleness."
"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
"Learning happens thru gentleness."
"We must reinvent a future free of blinders so that we can choose from real options." David Suzuki
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