Chapter 25
EPOV
As we left I stopped of the nurses' station and told them, Bella is awake, but very angry.
Jake went with us and Seth stayed with Bella.
BPOV
At 7:00 PM, they brought me broth, jello and water. The nurses offered to help me, but I sent them away. I pushed the tray away and just lay there and sulked. I finally fell asleep and every time a nurse would wake me up during the night, I would bite their heads off. About 8:00 am, my door opened and in came someone carrying food. I could smell it. I barked out, "Go away; I don't want any food."
Then I heard, "Bella you need to eat. Let me help you."
"No Edward, just go away."
"Bella, I'm not leaving; I love you. I'm going to help you get through this. Hopefully, this is only temporary; but if it's not, we'll make it work. Now let me help you, please."
"No Edward, just fucking go."
"I'm staying and please just eat some fruit."
"Fine, if I eat my fruit, would you please leave?"
"No I won't." He came to my bedside and gently kissed my lips; but I pushed him away.
"Stop that," he said.
"No, this sucks. My whole life has been flying and architecture. If I can't see again, what can I do?" I started crying and pounding on Edward's chest.
"Bella, go ahead and let it out." He just held me for the next hour; then when he felt the tension start to fade, he said, "Will you eat some fruit for me please?"
"I suppose," and he fed it to me. Then he got me to drink some water. And as I pushed the tray away, other people came in.
"Hi Bella," I heard my parents say. My mom kissed my forehead. I said hi back to my mom and dad.
"Did you eat something?" my mother asked.
"Yes, Edward helped me eat fruit. Who else is in here?" I said.
"I came in too," Jake said. "I missed going with you to classes. So I decided to come and see you."
"I smell something."
"I brought you roses to make your room smell better than the boring hospital room's smell."
"Jake, are you here because the press already knows?"
"Yes," Edward said. "Someone at the airport must've called in the accident. My mom is even on her way to see you and my agent has released a statement for us."
"Edward, she doesn't need to. I really don't want to see anyone. What was in the press release?"
"That's too bad; she'll be here this afternoon. The press release said that there was an accident on the plane and you had to undergo surgery. We were now in a waiting game to see how you heal. Robert also asked for the press to respect our privacy," Edward said.
"I'm tired, do you guys mind letting me take a nap?"
"Sure that's fine. We'll be back in a while," my mom said.
So I thought everyone left and I rolled and tried to get comfortable but I couldn't. I finally mumbled, "Damn IVs."
Then I heard Edward say, "You can't get comfortable, can you?"
"No, but I asked you to leave?"
"Well, I'm not,"
"Are you going to be a fucking pain in the pass to me this whole time and never leave me alone?"
"Yes, I am." Edward pressed the nurse's call button and asked, "Can you please come help Bella get to the couch so that she can lay in my lap and be more comfortable?"
She agreed and she even found me a little robe. I was able to get comfortable in Edward's lap and fell back to sleep. Two hours later, Edward and the surgeon woke me up. They helped me get back in bed. She asked that Edward close all the blinds and turn off the lights. She removed my bandages and quickly looked in my eyes, and covered them back up.
"Well?" I said.
"Bella, they need time to heal. I say you have a 50/50 shot. You may have to wear glasses; but all we can do is wait. I'm sorry to say that to you."
"What happens if I cry right now? Or spend the next two weeks crying?"
"That's fine. I couldn't expect you not to cry. But try and find something to do to take your mind off of this for part of the time."
"Next, can I have my damn IV and my catheter removed?"
"On two conditions, you eat and you get up and go to the bathroom."
"Fine. Lastly, how long do I have to stay here?"
"Can you survive until tomorrow? You'll have to arrange for someone to come change your bandages and I have an associate in Las Vegas that can check your eyes. You have to come back here in five days and then again in another week."
"Fine."
"Doctor, she's very."
"Shut up, Edward."
"Bella and Edward, it's okay. If she wasn't sad and pissed, I'd be concerned. She's allowed to be depressed."
"But what, can we do about it?"
"Edward, just let her try and be independent, yet be there for her?"
"So how about I check on you in the morning and if all looks okay, then you can go home?"
"And my IVs and catheter can come out now?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Go send a nurse right back please."
"There's one more condition to your release. You need to be at home with someone. I don't want you left alone."
Edward piped up, "Not a problem doctor, I'm not shooting right now. I plan on bringing her back to my place to take care of."
"Good, if you need help, you should be able to get a nurse to come out and help. Bella, are you okay with that?"
"Yes, as long as, I can get out of here. With these bandages on my head, can I wash my hair?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, I'll show Edward how to temporarily bandage your eyes so he can help you wash your hair."
"Fine. I'll see you oops; I mean hear you tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Edward, you can go for walk while the nurse is here."
An hour later, my IV's and catheter were removed, I turned on my side was almost asleep when everyone came back in. "You guys I'm fine. You don't need to be here with me."
"But I wanted to see how you were doing." I heard Esme's voice.
"I'm sorry Esme; I didn't mean to be rude. This just su…." And it all stopped as I could feel the tears coming down my face.
Esme pulled me into a hug and said, "Go ahead, let it out. I understand you are wondering why this happened to you. Maybe it's as simple as you needed a break and now you are getting it."
"A sprained ankle would have been a better way."
"No it wouldn't have, Edward would have just carried you everywhere and that wouldn't have slowed you down."
"Bella, you can be mad and grumpy. I give you permission to use and abuse Edward if need be."
Just then the door opened and I heard Edward say, "Hey Mom, quit telling my fiancé that she can use and abuse me."
"No, I won't; I expect you to do everything that Bella wants you to do."
"I'm trying mom; but your driver is waiting downstairs so that you can catch your flight to New York."
"Thanks Edward and take care of yourself, Bella. If he misbehaves just call me, and I will set him straight."
"Thanks for coming bye Esme. It means the world to me." I felt a kiss on my forehead and she was gone. Edward was then sitting next to me on the bed just holding my hand. I rolled to my side and said, "Edward, I'm tired. I was almost asleep when your mother came in. Do you mind?"
"I'll make you a deal. We'll leave you alone; but you have to get up and walk with me for five minutes."
"I don't want to."
"Bella, will you please go for a walk with your fiancé and then we'll let you take a nap," my dad said.
"Fine," and I started to turn my body to get out of bed. Edward, Renee and Charlie were right there helping me.
Once I was standing up, my dad said, "Are you okay so far? No dizzy feelings?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Good Edward. Take care of her and not too far."
"Yes, Charlie."
Edward took my arm; we slowly walked out the room and down the hallway. I never spoke; then I turned around and said, "Let's go back."
"Okay," then it was silent again.
EPOV
On our return trip, I walked her past her room until he found a corner and stopped me.
"Edward, what? I know you went passed my room."
"You can be angry and sad; but don't lock me out. You can cry, be mad, hit me and do whatever you want; but let me in. I know you don't understand this; neither do I, but I still love you."
"Edward, can we go back to my room?"
"In a minute," I said. I kissed her, but she kept it soft.
Then Bella said, "Please take me back to my room." I led her back to her room and helped her climb in the bed. She was turning into a shell; she wouldn't let me in. As soon as she was settled in bed, she rolled towards the window, said, "I'll talk to you guys later." I watched her as she fell off to sleep.
BPOV
Finally I was falling off to sleep with a headache. As I started to wake up my headache was worse. I pressed the nurse call button and ask for something for my headache.
"Okay."
A nurse brought me some medicine. When the nurse left, the door reopened and Edward came back in and asked, "You have a headache."
"Yes."
"Where at?"
"The base of my neck going all around my head."
"Okay, Bella will you scoot forward; I think I can help."
I did reluctantly. Edward slid back behind me and started rubbing my back and neck.
His hands were amazing. "Thank you, Edward."
"You're welcome."
A nurse came in with a tray of food and asked, "Are you up for lunch?"
"I guess."
Edward sat next to me and helped me through lunch. I finally blurted out, "Edward, what do I do to get through the darkness? I'm bored during all of this."
"Bella," and he whispered into my ear. "We can make love."
"Edward," I said almost with a smile.
"Bella, I'm kidding at least for right now. What would you like to do? Sit around and be bored and worried."
"But I'm going to go stir crazy."
"Well, we can use my pool and hot tub plus I can help you in the gym."
"Edward, I haven't been dependent upon anyone for over six years."
"We can always start planning the wedding."
"No, Edward, I don't want to," and tears starting pouring out of my eyes at the thought of not seeing my own wedding.
"But."
"No Edward, just go away."
He said, "I'm sorry." He kissed my neck and said, "Goodbye I'll see you tomorrow." I just sat there and cried.
An hour later, I got up and tried to get to the bathroom. I stumbled, bumped and cursed when I couldn't find the wall to lead me to the bathroom. Then the door opened and Jake came in. "Bella, let me help." He took my hands and led me the next 10 steps to the bathroom. Once I was in the room, he closed the door and I went to the bathroom. I got up put myself back together. I took steps towards the door and ran into it. Jake opened the door and whispered, "Step back."
So I did and bumped into a wall again. "Damn!"
Then Jake got the door open and took my hands and said, "Now count your steps until I tell you to stop and turn."
"Fine."
So I did, he said, "Stop. Now turn towards my voice and put your hands in front of you. Count the steps until you feel the bed." I did and then he stood next to me as I climbed into the bed. "Now remember that for the next time."
"Jake, thanks."
"No problem. My sister is blind from an accident five years ago. She went through the same thing. Bella, I know this maybe temporary; but I know you're also mad because you suddenly lost your independence."
"Yes, Jake you're brilliant."
"No, I just watched what my sister went through and how she learned to handle it. So though this may be temporary, I suggest you work for partial independence. It'll help you feel better and make the time go by faster too."
With that they brought my dinner in, the nurse asked, "Do you want help?"
"No. Jake will you stay and help me plus just talk to me?"
"Sure."
The nurse left and then I asked, "What do I have?"
"Perfect. Chicken tacos, jello, apple and water."
"How do I eat tacos?"
"Just like you use to; but sit up very straight so you're over your plate."
"Okay."
"Gently find your plate and your tacos are right in front of you. Hold the flap of the tortilla in the back in, so you don't have anything falling out the back." Jake helped me some and then I started eating. I managed to only spill about half the taco, plus I ate my jello, apple and drink the water.
"I'm going to go back outside your door now, "Jake said as he pushed my tray away from the bed for me.
"Please wait just a minute, so that I can go back to the bathroom."
"Alright, let's see you do this."
"Do you remember the count?"
"22 and 10."
"Good. I'll stand in front of you just in case." I carefully went the 22 steps turned and then went 10 and I made it to the bathroom. I did my own mental cheer. When I was done I tried to leave and I still ran into the door because I didn't know how many steps. I just backed up two steps and off I went. Jake clapped for me and then I got back to bed.
"I'll see you later, Bella. If you need me, just holler."
"Thank you, Jake."
"No problem, it's nice to almost see a smile on your face."