Chapter 20:

"Ariel, you have been in a coma…for a month." the words played over and over in my head and I felt like my head was going to explode from the random pains that kept hitting me. How could I have been in a coma for a month, I mean, that was impossible, I was awake for Emmett and Rosalie confrontation in my room last night. Wasn't I? I blinked and wished I could rub my head, maybe this pain would leave me alone.

"Ariel, may I come in?" I heard a voice and called a response, maybe I could talk a nurse into giving me more pain meds. Esme came in, holding a small tan basket covered up. She sat in the chair beside my bed and placed the basket on the table. "How are you feeling?" "Fine. Where is Carlisle?" I fired the question and her eyes showed the worry for me, but also something else. "Ariel, please understand, he isn't sure about your situation at the moment-"

"So he's just going to leave me here to die huh? After all something happened to me while I was with your 'family' members." I knew my voice was harsh and she didn't deserve it, but I was frustrated and pissed and confused and just wanted out of this stupid hospital. "You know what happened to you?" I sighed and nodded. "Somewhat. It's all bits and pieces. Everything seems real and yet they say I've been in a coma and should still be in one. What I don't understand is why I was in a coma in the first place."

"Well that was my choice." we looked and saw Carlisle walking into the room holding a clipboard of papers. "Excuse me?" I asked and never took my eyes off him. He touched Esme's shoulder, as if her touch gave him strength. "When you came to the hospital, you were in really bad shape, your body was broken, we hooked you up and tried to fix the broken body as best we could. We were taking a rest for your safety when you came to in here."

"After that, you seemed to be confused and still badly hurt so that night, I asked Edward to come and try to read your thoughts. Your mind was open to Edward and he said that it was all jumbled up and broken in ways he couldn't read. I decided if we didn't act fast, you were going to die." he paused and kept a careful eye on me, to watch my reaction. "Continue." "I decided to heal both at the same time, by slipping your mind and body into a comatose state. Your body relaxed a bit, your mind went dark to Edward, but we knew you were not dead. I decided the faster you healed your body, the better your mind would heal as well."

I realized that I must have thought Edward slipping in to read my mind was Rosalie that night. So everything that happened after that was just a dream in my head. I was so confused and the pain was back times three. "Can I have a minute, and some pain meds, my head really hurts." when they didn't jump up to leave like my family would, I stared. "I believe it would be best if you were placed back into the coma Ariel, I never knew you were going to come back so quickly."

"I don't want to. My head hurts that's all, I'm fine." I even raised my arm as proof, then realized what I just did. "No way…" "That's impossible…" "Oh goodness…" we all said at the same time and I quickly dropped my arm. He came over and began to quickly check every part of me, I was feeling my arms and chest, but not my legs. "This is amazing, how can this be? You're healing as if you were bitten and turning into one of us."

I stared at Esme, she had tears in her eyes and smiled at her. "I'm human. No one has bitten me that I know of and I don't feel like eating people." I explained and they both took a breath, as if they were truly worried about it. "I really would like some meds, and for you to tell my family that I'm awake and getting feeling back." Esme stood up and nodded, "Since you are able to move your arms, here you go, just don't push yourself." she placed the basket on my lap and I smelled something sweet.

The basket was filled with cookies and bread and all kinds of different things. "You need to eat sweetie, this is good for you." then she touched Carlisle's forearm and smiled at him. I felt like I was prying, so I lifted a weak arm and picked out a cookie. "Very well, perhaps a month coma is enough time to heal you this much." "Maybe it's because I'm a Seer." I said with a mouth full of cookie, it was so good and I felt like I was starving.

"That could very well be the case." he said and they left me alone, I was so tired, yet hungry, yet confused.

I watched them for a moment, they stared at each other like the world was ending and then Esme kissed his cheek, then walked out, saying she would inform my family of my current situation. Carlisle waited until she was probably far enough away to not hear us speaking when he took her spot in the chair, his face looking grim and his hands laced together in front of him. "What is it?" "Were you dreaming of Emmett and Rosalie here that night Edward came in?" I nodded, assuming he still believes one of his family members are responsible for my injuries.

"Carlisle I can not remember what happened. Hell for all I know, everything I thought has happened could have just been dreams. I do not believe your family is the cause of this." I said, gesturing to my body with my hands. He sighed deeply and looked at me, his golden eyes shining bright. "Ariel, I fear that it was one of my family, if it is true, then we will have to leave." I sat up as best I could. "Why? I'm not dead, I'm getting better and I'm going to be fine."