Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ugh. I feel like hell formed an ice rink. My head is pounding right out of my head. She opens her eyes to the full realization of the hospital room she is staying in.
"Roxy LeBlanc?"
She slightly nods her head in acknowledgment.
"I'm Dr. August. I'm glad to see you starting to come back around. You had quite a fall back there."
She reaches above to feel an even bigger goose egg than she remembered. Still wincing at the pain, she remembers what put her in the hospital in the first place.
"My friends…where are my friends?"
As if fate was reading her mind, Denise walks up to the doorway. She forces a smile on her face and wipes the fresh tears from her eyes, not yet wanting to reveal the news she had to bear. She gains her bearings before she pokes her head through the doorway at that moment carrying a fresh batch of flowers from the gift shop. The doctor nods and leaves the two friends to do some catching up.
"Oh, Denise. You're okay. Thank goodness you're okay."
"I feel bad. I think I was the least hurt out of everyone, and I don't know why. I was right there with you guys. I got flowers for the rooms. I know it's not much, but…"
"Denise. You're wonderful, but don't you dare be feeling guilty about not being hurt. That's a good thing, you hear me?"
"I brought someone with me. She was worried sick, and I thought it would cheer you up."
Roxy's heart almost skipped a beat and a huge smile lights up her face when she that red hair through the doorway.
"Oh, Pamela…am I ever glad to see you! I am so glad you didn't have to go through that. You see, a good deed, aka watching the kids, pays off every once in awhile."
Even through her concern, Pamela can't help but giggle a little bit.
"Well, I see even a concussion can't slow down your sense of humor."
"Girl, I probably haven't learned much in life, but I have learned that when life throws you lemons, you add some sugar and make lemonade. But the others, they're okay, right?"
Pamela and Denise exchange concerned looks and try to think of the right thing to say at a time like this. Roxy seemed so happy at that moment, it just didn't seem right. Denise slinks down and stares at the floor while Pamela tries to break the news gently. She figured she'd start with the good news and go from there.
"Claudia Joy is doing wonderfully considering. She's still slipping into unconsciousness every once in awhile, but she's having more and more lucid moments. The doctor said the prognosis is really good. She doesn't know about Amanda yet."
"Amanda?"
"Despite efforts made by Denise and the paramedics, she was just in too close of proximity to the…"
"Please don't finish that statement right now."
Everyone looks down at the floor for a moment of silence. Nobody is smiling anymore. It takes a moment before Roxy can speak again.
"And Roland? What about Roland?"
"I'm so sorry, Roxy…"