Leah:
I was in the elevator traveling back up towards my parents only this time my arms were full of sandwiches and drinks from the cafeteria. When I got to the 3rd floor my parents were sitting in the same spots as before I left.
"Did you find Sam?" My mom asked, gratefully taking two sandwiches from my arms and examining their ingredients. She handed the turkey one to my dad and kept the ham for herself, no doubt in an attempt to restrict his sodium intake like his doctor had suggested the year before. I shook my head and handed him a bottle of water, smiling apologetically. He huffed but accepted it and I passed my mom her water, knowing she would want to show my dad support with solidarity. I kept my diet Pepsi and Italian sub and we each took a seat on either side of my dad.
We ate in silence. Every so often a nurse would rush by or a crackly voice on the hospital PA system would interrupt the stagnation but none of us would acknowledge them.
Long after the sandwiches were eaten and the wrappings discarded a nurse walked purposefully towards us instead of rushing past, a solemn smile on her lips.
"Hello, you are the family members for Miss Emily Young, correct?" She asked politely.
My mom stood quickly nodding her head. "Yes we are; I am her aunt, this is my husband and daughter." She said, gesturing to us. We both nodded in greeting but stayed seated. "Her parents are still on their way."
"Well I have some great news. They were able to save your niece's eye. We won't know exactly to what degree it is functioning until she wakes up and can perform a few eye exams, but the tissue was able to be successfully reattached and is receiving adequate blood flow. I've never seen stitching as intricate as Dr. Cullens. Her scarring should be as minimal as one can hope for with such severe injuries." She said cheerfully. I wasn't as comforted by her words as she clearly thought we should be, and it didn't look like my parents were either. She must have noticed because she tried again.
"She's going to be okay. Surgery is over but they will be keeping her sedated for at least 24 hours to minimize her discomfort. I suggest you all head home. Make sure you stop by the front desk and leave yours and her parents' contact information with Shirley, she's great about calling with updates. She won't let you miss a thing." The well meaning nurse smiled and reached out to pat my mom on the arm but my mom lurched back. The nurse nodded understandingly and walked away, fiddling with her fingers as she went. I watched her high ponytail swish back and forth down her back until she was out of sight and then turned to my mother to await her verdict.
She looked torn but started walking in the direction of the long desk anyway to speak to the woman named Shirley. Once she was done we stood and joined her as she walked mechanically towards the elevators. No one said a word until we were out of the front doors of the hospital.
"Leah I'm guessing you'll be driving yourself home?" My mom asked, digging for keys in her faded brown leather purse. My dad waved over his shoulder but otherwise didn't stop walking towards their car.
"Yeah, see you guys there." I responded, glancing to the spot where my car now sat just like Edward said it would. I tried to bite back the small smile and failed, but my back was now turned so she couldn't see it. I felt her suspicious eyes on me as I walked but I didn't turn back towards her and by the time I got to my car she had given up.
The door was unlocked and in the passenger seat sat my keys, sprawled across a sheet of white paper.
Let me know when you make it home safely. I miss you already
-E
The drive back to La Push went by quickly. I had seen my parents stop at the Thriftway in Forks so I knew I would beat them home. Seth jumped anxiously off of the couch when I walked in and I cringed internally when I realized I had forgotten to call him with the update.
"What happened? Is Emily-?" He said, his poor face puffy and red.
"Oh buddy," I interrupted him with a bear hug. Honestly I probably needed it just as bad as he did. "She's fine, she's going to be just fine. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner." He yanked back like the little shit he is and wiped his eyes, nodding.
"That's good I was really worried. Don't tell anybody I was crying okay, please?"
"I won't. Mom and Dad should be home soon but I'm exhausted, it's been a long day. I'm gonna grab a snack and hit the sack early."
He flopped back onto the couch and resumed flipping through channels on the television, sniffling periodically. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a strawberry pop tart out of the cupboard before trudging up the stairs.
I threw the pop tart on my bedside table and slid out of my jeans and bra, not bothering to find pajamas. I fished my cell phone out of my pants and tossed it onto the bed before walking across the hall to the bathroom. Once I was done washing my face and brushing my teeth I walked back to my room and collapsed into my bed.
I picked up my phone and typed out a message to Edward, my eyelids already drooping and making it harder to see than it should have been.
I'm home. I miss you already too. Too tired to keep my eyes open any longer.
I closed the phone and plugged it into its charger before rolling over and tucking my arms around my pillow and my blanket up under my chin. I heard the soft vibration of an incoming message but I was far too gone to read it.