Chapter 11 – Recovery
Loren shot up sucking in violently. She got up out of the bed and walked towards the bathroom. She felt as if the room was spinning. She grabbed onto the door frame trying to steady herself but she felt as if the world was falling away. Suddenly she felt the sensation of falling and the cold tile hitting her body as she fell. She heard Eddie yelling her name. But it sounded distorted and distant.
…
Eddie looked down at Loren. She looked so tiny lying in that hospital bed with the oxygen tubes in her nose. She lifted her hand and kissed it softly. It was surprisingly warm, the only sign of life in her. The doctors had said she had received too much chemo therapy resulting in her body beginning to shut down. The hospital admitted they were at fault. Everything was a mess. But Eddie was concerned about getting back at the hospital he just wanted to make sure Loren was okay. Max and Katy had stopped by but they weren't allowed to see her since it was family only. Eddie had gotten an exception because he lied and said he was her fiancé. He hadn't left the hospital in three days.
He rubbed his thumb along her cheek before he got up to go grab some coffee. He walked down to the cafeteria and saw Phil and Melissa Sanders approaching him.
He sighed, "Hello… What can I do for you guys?"
"We wanted to come see how Loren was?"
Eddie glared at Phil, "Oh you wanted to see how Loren is huh?"
Mel stepped in between the two boys, "Guys stop it! We all want to make sure Loren is okay!"
Eddie scoffed, "Well its family only."
Eddie shoved past Phil walking away. Melissa rushed over and grabbed his arm. "Eddie please I know you don't like Phil but I need to know how Loren is. Please Eddie?"
Eddie sighed, "She is still sleeping, and she needs to wait for the chemo to work through her body."
Eddie pulled away and smiled sadly before he walked out of the cafeteria. Mel turned and raised her eyebrows at Phil who just smirked and shrugged.
…
Ian opened the door to see a short girl with black wavy hair. "Can I help you?"
"Umm hi I'm Mel… I used to be good friends with Loren… Can I come in?"
Ian scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "Yeah… sure I guess…" He opened the door wider and she walked in. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, "you do know they aren't here right…"
Mel sighed, "Yes I know she is in the hospital… But I was hoping I could help get things ready for when she comes home since I can't visit her in the hospital?"
Ian rubbed his temple, "Umm well actually everything is pretty much in order…"
Mel raised an eyebrow, "You won't mind if I check then?"
She started walking towards the kitchen before he could answer.
…
Eddie walked into the waiting room and saw Max and Katy sitting there. They rushed up and gave him a hug.
Katy pulled away, "How is she doing?"
Eddie shook his head, "They still have her sedated. I'm worried ma."
Katy put her hands on both sides of his face. "Eddie you listen to me. She is going to be fine."
Eddie nodded he kissed her cheek and squeezed his dad's arm before he walked back down the hall to Loren's room.
…
Loren felt as if her mind was trying to come out of a fog. If she even twitched it felt as if she was getting stabbed by millions of needles. She slowly began to open her eyes. The room was dark. Reality finally smacked into her like a ton of bricks. She heard the steady beat of a heart monitor and felt the prick of an IV in her arm. She felt the oxygen tubs in her nose; she turned her head to the side and saw Eddie asleep in a hospital chair with a blanket draped over him. What had happened? She couldn't remember anything after playing video games with Ian. She went to talk but nothing came out her throat was too dry. Her breath suddenly caught in her throat and she began to cough.
Eddie jumped awake and rushed over to her. He grabbed a cup and put the straw in her mouth. She took a small swallow and pulled away. "Thank you" she croaked.
Eddie put the cup back down and rubbed his thumb along her cheek. He kissed her forehead, "I'm going to go get the doctor."
The doctor came in and looked her over. "It seems like everything has worked through your system. We will observe you through the rest of the night and you should be okay to go home tomorrow."
"Thank you Doctor." The doctor nodded at Eddie before he left.
Eddie sat down next to Loren and grabbed her hand kissing it before he rested his forehead on it. Loren lifted her other hand and ran it through his hair. "I'm okay Eddie really."
Eddie shook his head looking at her. "Lo you don't understand. I saw you fall to the tile floor and blood came out of your nose. You looked so lifeless…"
Loren nodded holding back tears. "I know Eddie… But I'm not going anywhere. You are going to be stuck with me for years. But I do have a question for you…"
Eddie raised his eyebrows in response.
"Did you really say you were my fiancé?"
Eddie only smiled in response.
…
"I can't believe they are confining me to a wheelchair!"
Eddie laughed, "Babe you are still weak it's just a precaution."
Loren groaned, "But I should be trying to get stronger! How can sitting on my butt being pushed around help me with that?"
"Lo for once just except the fact that you have to sit your tiny little butt in the chair until the doctors say otherwise."
Loren scoffed but sat there silently as Eddie got up to the apartment door. He held it open with one hand as he pushed her in with the other.
"What the heck?!"
Eddie looked to see why Loren was upset. He saw Mel sitting on the couch making out with Ian.
Eddie cleared his throat, "Umm Ian want to explain this?"
Ian pulled away from Mel and looked at them sheepishly.
Mel jumped up, "Lo you are okay!"
Loren folded her arms. "So you decide to come to my apartment and make out with our friend while I could have been dying in the hospital?"
"Lo I can explain!"
"Just get out please!" when Mel didn't move Loren got upset. "GET OUT!"
Mel hurriedly grabbed her things and left the apartment.
Ian breathed out, "Umm I'll let you guys get settled." He followed Mel out the door.
"Eddie will you take me upstairs?" Eddie picked her up and walked up to the bedroom lying her down.
He lay down next to her. "Lo I have a confession to make."
She looked at him curiously. "Phil and Melissa stopped by the hospital and I wasn't too pleasant to Phil."
Loren raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"
"I may have a gotten a little jealous…"
Loren smirked, "A little?"
Eddie laughed, "Okay maybe a lot."
Loren smiled, "I didn't think you got jealous."
"There is that smile that I love."
Loren laughed, "Well when it comes to you I can't help but smile."
Eddie leaned forward and kissed her softly. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Eddie rushed down and opened it for Katy and Max.
Katy looked around for Loren, "Is it okay if I go up and see her?"
Eddie smiled, "Of course I'm sure she would love that." Eddie turned to his dad, "Hey pops I was hoping you could help me do some shopping, mom do you mind staying here with Loren?"
Katy brightened, "Of course not! You boys have fun!"
Katy walked into the room and saw Loren trying to sit up. She rushed over to help her and Loren smiled.
"Man laying in a hospital bed sure takes a lot out of you doesn't it?"
Katy laughed, "Give it some time sweetheart you have been through hell. Now is there anything I can do for you?"
Loren smiled sadly, "Now that you mention it. I feel absolutely disgusting and I am too weak to stand… Do you think you could help me get to the bathtub? I couldn't ask Eddie… Well I mean I could but I would prefer that to not be the first time he sees me without clothes on."
Katy smiled and couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think Eddie would have minded. But I'm glad you asked me."
Loren laughed, she wrapped her arm around Katy's shoulders and Katy wrapped her arm around her waist and helped her to the bathroom.
…
Max laughed, "We have no idea what we are doing!"
Eddie laughed, "Well I thought you would have better luck than me! I thought mom would have you well trained!"
"Your mom does all the grocery shopping! You have been living on your own for like four years now. Haven't you gone grocery shopping?!"
Eddie scoffed, "Please I lived on fast food and restaurants for all that time. I am only eating better now because of Loren. She insists on having a full pantry and fridge."
Max smiled, "So this girl has been living with you for awhile. Any plans?"
Eddie rolled his eyes, "stop questioning me dad. I am going to do this my own way at my own time. Loren and I are just focused on getting her better right now. Everything else has been put on the back burner."
Max nodded, "That makes sense, and you are old enough to make your own decisions. No more butting in I promise!"
Eddie smiled.
…
Katy was sitting on the couch reading when Eddie, Max, and Jeffery came walking in with grocery bags. Katy looked up and Eddie could tell she was visibly exhausted. They set the groceries on the kitchen counter. Eddie tipped Jeffery before he left. He helped Katy off the couch.
"You two get out of here."
Katy shook her head. "No I still need to help with Loren."
"I got it. You guys go and get some rest. I'll see you soon."
Max pulled Katy out as she continued to protest. Eddie shut the door behind them and hopped up the stairs two at a time. He found Loren in a bubble bath. He walked in and kissed her lips. Her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at him.
He couldn't help himself he leaned in and kissed her again. She wrapped her wet arms around his neck.
He pulled away, "Come on I'll help you get out."
Loren shook her head, "No."
Eddie looked at her confused, "Why not?"
Loren sighed sinking farther into the water. "Because… It's not that I haven't you know wanted to do that. But I don't want the first time you see me to be like this."
Eddie scrunched his eyebrows, "What do you mean like this?"
Loren spoke quietly, "Like with me all frail and full of cancer and everything."
Eddie grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him. "Loren never think that. It is not true and you know it. You are the same girl I saw in the diner the same girl I fell in love with. No amount of cancer will ever change that."
Loren pulled him into a kiss. He lifted her out of the tub and this time she didn't protest as he carried her out never breaking the kiss. He set her down on the bed ripping his wet shirt off. She ran her hand down his chest. She saw him looking at her and she turned her head away. He turned her head back and kissed her breathing out "beautiful" against her lips. She finally let herself relax as she folded herself into him her doubts leaving her mind.
