Chapter 20: Photo Album.
When I woke up in the hospital the day after the finals, I was feeling groggy, dysfunctional and in pain…lots of pain, I was lucky when a doctor came in with pain pills and I thanked him as I quickly took the pills. They said I'd need to stay in the hospital about a week or two before my leg healed enough to go home, but mainly they were concerned about my head when I fell…saying it could have done some really bad damage; I sighed and let my head fall back on the cushy pillow.
"Knock Knock." I looked to the door to see Rosa looking very glum, when she saw me in the hospital bed she had tears falling from her face as she raced towards me and clasped my hand. "I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry!" she wailed and I chuckled softly shaking my head slightly even though it hurt to do so; I took my hand from Rosa and caressed her hair with it making her look up at me with her teary eyes.
"This isn't your fault Rosa." I told her and she wiped a few tears away before they were replaced with new ones. "Amber is the one to blame, not you." I said and Rosa looked down sadly and sniffed.
"I just feel so guilty, you did it to help me…and it should be me in that bed not you." She said and I rolled my eyes with a chuckle.
"Rosa, I'm fine, just a really bad headache and a broken leg, no big deal." I said and she glared up at me and looked as if she was tempted to hit me which made me smile. "Rosa I'll be fine, I'm not dead nor dying." I told her and she took a deep breath and released it slowly.
"Fine, but I still feel guilty." She said sniffing and wiping the rest of her tears away when there was a knock at the open door to my hospital room, I looked up and saw Leigh with a beautiful selection of flowers, there were red, pink, purple, and orange gerbera daisies and some lavender and rosemary accompany the bouquet, there were also a select few of red roses, I smiled as he blushed slightly and sheepishly smiled as he entered the room with timid movements.
"Uh…" he cleared his throat. "Um I uh brought you these…I heard you were going to be in here a while and um figured I'd brighten up the place a little." He said with a sheepish chuckle rubbing the back of his neck and handing me the flowers, I took them gratefully and smelled the heavenly essence they emanated.
"T-They're beautiful." I said blushing slightly. "T-Thank you Leigh." I said and he shrugged slightly.
"Sure…um no big deal." He said awkwardly and I knew it was a big deal, if I'd learned anything about Leigh Ravenwood it was that when he did something it, he put a lot of time and effort and thought into whatever it was he did. That's when Castiel barged in placing a big stereo on the window sill.
"So when we breaking ya out of here shorty?" he asked. "Or should I call you cripple now?" he asked with a quirked brow chuckling slightly with that ever present smirk of his. Lysander was right behind him with a small stuffed teddy bear that held a small stuffed bouquet, I smiled as he put it on the dressed next to me.
"T-Thank you guys." I said and Lysander smiled.
"A pleasure." He said and I smiled before looking to Rosa who was still looking at the flowers Leigh had given me smirking slightly, obviously hiding something that I'd talk to her about later…if she'd tell me.
Nathaniel came tumbling into the room, before apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry Selene, I had no idea, I can't believe Amber did actually I can but oh god I'm so sorry!" he ranted on and I just chuckled slightly.
"Shut it golden boy, we get you're sorry for f***** up sister." Castiel said with a roll of his eyes and I tried to hide my smile as Nathaniel blushed slightly and looked away rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Yes…well…um…" he stuttered looking for the right words and I held out one of my hands for him to come towards me and he did placing his hand in mine. "I'm really sorry Selene." I smiled slightly shaking my head.
"I-It's not your fault Nate, its Amber's and even though you're related to her that doesn't mean you're solely responsible, understood?" I said and he looked away with a small grimace on his fine features, I pulled at his hand to get him to look at me and when he did I looked into those golden eyes seriously. "I'm serious Nate, it's not your fault, so quit it, that goes for you too Rosa!" I said and Rosalya and Nate looked at one another before looking back at me and nodding, I smiled satisfied with their understandings.
I noticed that Leigh had slipped out of the room and Lys had too, he followed him out and I wondered what had happened…I looked to Cas and he just shrugged nonchalantly. "Selene, I have to get back, I have lots of work to do, Bri said she'd help so I'm meeting her at the school…I'm really sorry for what happened to you and I hope you get better." He said before kissing my forehead and headed out I waved goodbye and looked to Castiel.
"S-So what kind of music did you bring f-for me to play?" I asked and his smirk grew before pulling out a CD.
"I brought you four mix tapes, The best of Winged Skull, the best of Lys and I, the best of the 80's and a bunch of good rock socks you can rock out too while you're getting you're a** better." He said as he put in one of the tapes, he put in the Winged Skull one, I should have guessed he would.
"T-Thanks Castiel." I said and he shrugged.
"No problem Shortstuff. Just get better hospitals are f****** depressing as all f***! I hate them!" he said with a shudder making me chuckle slightly. "Shut up it's not funny they freak me out." He said and tried to hide my amusement to no avail, Cas rolled his eyes and came over to me and playfully socked my cheek. "Get better, I don't want to have to come here anymore than I have too." He said before leaving saying goodbye to Rosa and Lys and Leigh who were still in the hallway.
"I have to get going too, I promised my mom I'd look after Rain…he's really worried about you…he's saying you're his new favorite superhero." She chuckled and I joined her shaking my head in amusement. "You're mine too." She said kissing my cheek before waving goodbye to me, I said bye and waved her out before smelling the bouquet Leigh gave me again. They really were extremely beautiful.
I looked out into the hall to see Lysander leaving waving goodbye to me before heading out and a few moments later Leigh came back in with a sigh and slightly sad smile.
"So um how're you feeling?" he asked awkwardly as he sat down in the chair next to my hospital bed, I smiled slightly.
"I-I'm alright…my head hurts pretty bad and so does my leg but the doctor's gave me some meds which are helping me tremendously." I said and he had the shadow of a chuckle upon his lips before it was gone and he fidgeted awkwardly.
"That's good…" he started and I waited for anything else he was going to say when he cleared his throat. "So uh how long are you going to have to stay in here?" he asked curiously trying to make small talk I assumed, I sighed and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"A few weeks, two at the most." I informed him and he nodded…something was off about Leigh but before I could ask him about it he looked up with such a sincere expression that it almost made me wonder if he was just being odd because he was worried I'd gotten hurt…but that was…I mean…I haven't known him very long and that would be a silly thing to think right? However Leigh was a kind soul, someone with a rather large heart and it was very possible that he was just acting strange because he was feeling bad I'd gotten hurt.
"Well…that's good at least…right?" he asked and I nodded, he bit the inside of his lip and sighed. "W-Well um…I think was really great that you protected Rosa….I'm just…s-sad you got hurt in the process." He said looking down at his fidgeting thumbs and I smiled putting a hand over his own making him look up at me with slight surprise. We sat there for a few moments just looking at one another before he cleared he throat looked away rubbing the back of his neck again and I sighed with a slight chuckle.
"Thank you." I said and he stood up walking away before turning to me then looking at his feet.
"For what?" he asked sadly and I rolled my eyes playfully.
"For caring." He looked at me with such sincerity that my heart felt constricted before I looked away and took a deep breath.
"I um…I should go…" he said and left, I bit my lip contemplating these feelings, they felt…raw and uncensored, it…they…almost hurt…
"Whatcha thinking about?" I looked up to see my aunt with her hands crossed over her chest as she leaned against the doorframe, I smiled at the fuchsia haired woman; She smiled back as she came over to me. "I gotcha something." She said pulling out a book…or rather a photo album, I looked at her curiously as she set it on the metal bar between us. "It was your mom's." she said and my mouth swung open as I felt tears arising.
"Ssheee told me….that when you were older I should give it to you…after she'd past." My aunt continued and opened up the album and a letter was right inside it in my mom's handwriting, I traced over it delicately. "Well…I just wanted to give that to you…I'll talk to you later baby." She said and kissed my forehead before exiting the room, I just stared breathlessly at the album in my hands.
[i]My dearest Selene,
If you are reading this than your father and I are no longer with you…and that your aunt Fae has given this to you. Within these pages are some of my absolute favorite memories of us, of all of your accomplishments and goofy moments, of all the happiness we've shared together…and I want you to keep these memories with you to show future generations of this family and to friends you consider family, to anyone you consider close enough to share these memories with...
Oh baby girl, you are such a strong, beautiful young woman and I am so proud of you! I'm sorry your father and I aren't there to keep you safe anymore, but we know that you will be okay…why? Haha because you're our daughter and we've taught you well…Because you are so bright…and you've done so much good in this world! I don't know…how your father or I past…well I mean I suppose I would by now since you're reading this, heh…sorry mom always making bad jokes..heh.
I find it hard to see this page now, my tears are working their way onto it…oh baby girl I know this has been hard for you, why? Let's call it mother's intuition. : ) I want you to do something for me okay? I want you to stay strong, I know you can, you're the strongest girl I know, and I've known a lot of strong women, but always…always you've been the strongest of those few…I want you to take care of your brothers and sister; I know that won't be an easy task as that bunch is pretty wild, haha but I need to know they're in good hands and if I put you in charge I know they will be.
I want you to know that your father and I are always watching over you, always looking out for you and your siblings, I want you to know that we've never, ever left you, and that just because we're gone…doesn't mean we're not with you in everything you do, except you know the creepy or private things, haha! : ) But I'm serious, no matter how alone you may feel, we're always there…I promise, and I want you to know that we're in a better place,
I mean it's not all sunshine and bunnies there are still rainy days for those who enjoy that kind of thing and well if we want all the flowers to stay happy and growing we do need rain and your father, goodness you know how that man loves his comedy shows, he never stops watching them! And I'm happy, I've got my art and my fashion, it's really fun…I even was lucky enough to get some of your artwork sent up for me, so in my room I've got pictures of you and your siblings, I've got pictures of the family, and you know me and Elvis well I got pictures of him too. Haha.
My point is don't stress okay? We're in a good place, it may not be perfect because I don't have my whole family, but at least I know you guys are safe and I know you will find your happiness, I know you will! I know because you are my daughter and ain't nothing gonna stop you from achieving your goals, and happiness better be one of your goals missy! Hehe.
Ah my precious baby girl…I love you so, so very much and every step of the way we'll be watching out for you, at your wedding, and the birth of your first child, at the birth of how ever many children you have, we'll be there for your graduation, for your first job…everything, we may not be there physically but by god we'll be there spiritually, now as my last request…
I want you to live a long and happy life. I want you to find the man of your dreams like I found mine, I want you to know the happiness of parenting, and the happiness of success…I want for your happiness…please baby girl…don't let me down…I love you...and this isn't goodbye, it's tata for now, haha…
Love always,
Your loving mother
Celeste Anabella Arten[/i]
By now the tears I was crying were falling freely as I read and reread my mother's note, I chuckled at all the parts she had and cried the whole way through, it made my heart feel lighter…like maybe things would be okay…I flipped the page and smiled at some of the photos she'd placed within the album.
There were photos of when I was just a child and met with Santa, or the Easter bunny, there were pictures of me at my first recital, at my first art gallery, at Savannah's first pageant, at Mark's first comedy act, at Tommy's first play…there were photos of the people I loved most all within one album…I thought I'd lost all my mementos in the fire…but my mother had saved the best for this album…I gently traced my fingers over the photos…"Thank you mom." I said into the silent room knowing that she could hear me…