CHAPTER FOUR
Renee was stroking my hair, a comforting yet strained smile upon her face.
"Hey mom" I whispered. My voice was hoarse and it hurt my throat.
"Oh darling" Renee soothed. "You're going to be ok. You're going to get better". It sounded like she was reassuring herself more than me.
My throat was still burning so I didn't reply. Instead I darted my eyes around the enclosed space around me. Four, spotless white walls loomed over me, making my feel faintly claustrophobic. On my right side, a small white table stood, with a little vase of flowers. On my other side hung a bag of thick blood, and I noticed my heart rate accelerate on the heart monitor when I saw it. Apparently so did everyone else as the sound of a new voice startled me.
"You're in Forks hospital, Isabella" A man in a white coat, who I know presumed doctor, explained. "You've suffered a broken leg and lost a lot of blood, but we've given you a few transfusions so don't worry. You're awake earlier than I'd expected which is a good sign"
I tried to smile in response. This man seemed very affable, but there was still something else gnawing away at my brain. Something I didn't particularly want to think about, but had to.
"What… How did I…"
Charlie seemed to understand what I wanted to know, so cut me off to spare my voice.
"Your car crashed Bella. Pretty bad too"
"But how… did I…" I stuttered between quickened breaths.
"Well, er, you were lying outside the hospital when we found you. You probably stumbled around for a while, which is why your leg is worse than a normal break" Charlie elucidated. There was a nervous look plastered on his face. He obviously didn't want to answer this question.
"I don't remember" I said blankly.
"That's good. Most trauma patients don't remember their accidents. You're healing very well so far" The doctor reassured.
I smiled at him. Renee was still stroking my hair. Hushing noises were escaping from her mouth.
"It's okay mom. I feel fine" I lied.
I flinched in surprised when Jacob, who had been standing at the end of my bed uneasily shifting his weight from foot to foot, ran out the room slamming the door behind me. Was it just me or did he seem taller, and more muscular. The door had been banged so hard, it swung back revealing the busy hospital outside.
I stared at Renee for some answers, but she seemed as perplexed as I was. It was Charlie who came up with a logical answer.
"I wonder what that was about. He seemed so anxious to see you when he heard about the accident. It probably hurt him to see you like this. He's been talking about you a lot lately".
I blinked in astonishment. But the feeling of my eyelids softly resting on my eyes was too good to ignore. I attempted to keep them open, but Renee, Charlie and the doctor saw through my feeble attempts.
"You need you sleep" Renée hushed. "You sleep and we'll go talk to Jacob. Don't you worry about him." Charlie nodded in agreement.
The doctor, whose name I still didn't know, followed them out of the door and closed it softly. My soft white pillow seemed to engulf me, and after all I had just witnessed, I found myself smiling as I succumbed to a peaceful sleep.
* * *
Several weeks later, I was feeling much better. Renee and Charlie spent a lot of their time at the hospital, surprisingly not arguing. I had repeatedly demanded for them to go home, but they frustratingly, continuously refused.
Mike, Angela and Jessica had visited me. Jessica's lips moved so fast, while explaining the latest gossip to me, I almost couldn't keep up. Mike asked me how I was, and joked a lot. He was still going out with Jessica, I think. I'm sure something about Mike slipped out of Jessica's mouth. Angela gave me a book, for which I was thankful. As well as I was feeling, hospital life was still monotonous.
The one thing that bothered me was Jacob, and the way he petulantly stormed out of the room. He still hadn't come back, and whenever I asked my parents about it the changed the topic of conversation hastily.
I had my head stuck into the book that Angela had given me, when Renee gently rapped on the door to my room.
"Come in!" I called, quietly yet cheerily.
Renee entered, followed by my doctor, whose name I had discovered was Dr Winston, and Charlie. Their faces looked pleased, so I assumed this could only be good news. I placed the book back onto the table beside me that was overflowing with cards and gifts.
"Well then Bella" Dr Winston said through smiling teeth. "We have some good news. You've been healing very well, and I believe that there is nothing more that the hospital can do, except provide physiotherapy".
Renée continued his speech.
"We've contacted the school and warned them of your condition. They couldn't be happier of getting you back Bells, and you won't have to do PE either".
I struggled to suppress a grin.
"You'll be quite weak, and you'll have to use crutches, but the best way for you to gain up your strength is to be in the real world".
"When can I leave?!" I squeaked.
"Just give us a few weeks to make sure that you're up to it" Dr Winston said. "But I doubt we'll have any problems.
"Thanks doc" I smiled. I was finally escaping the tedious white walls and stinging chlorine smell.
* * *
The next few weeks past irritatingly slow. I suffered a few tests, while Charlie moved the things he had brought into the hospital for me, back into the house. Knowing I was feeling better, Renee went home to Phil, who had sent his love. On more than one occasion, I had had tried to walk around the hospital in my crutches, but I had overestimated my strength as, in simple terms, it hurt like hell.
I had been sleeping restlessly, so when Charlie cam bursting through the door, I woke easily. He backed out the moment he saw I was sleeping.
"Oh, sorry Bells, I didn't know you were asleep". He apologised.
"No no" I almost shouted. "I can't wait to get out of here"
Charlie grinned as Dr Winston entered the room.
"Good morning Bella. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know you're leaving today. There's just some paperwork your father needs to fill in and then you're free to go!"
Dr Winston signalled Charlie to follow him and they left me alone. I stared out the window aimlessly. I had been doing that a lot recently, but I'd never really looked. Surprisingly, it was a clear day. Not bright but certainly not raining. The forest lay ahead and I wondered if the remains of my poor truck were there. I wondered if I should have a funeral…
The thoughts about my truck brought back with them memories of the day I crashed. I couldn't remember much, except the brakes in my truck not working, and ramming into a tree. I must have blanked out then.
I didn't think much of not remembering. Dr Winston had said it was normal. I shrugged it off, wincing from the unnecessary movement.
"Hey Bells" Charlie looked happier than I had ever seen him.
Dr Winston followed him in with a wheel chair. A nurse assisted him lift me into it.
"What about my crutches" I asked.
"This is just for getting you home in" he casually explained. "But if walking is too painful, you can always use it".
I thanked him for all his help as an ecstatic Charlie wheeled me out of the hospital.