I finished an exam earlier than expected which enabled me to write this, but I don't know when the next part will come, probably over the Easter hols. Sorry it's only short. Thanks for your reviews.
Chapter 7 - Imaginary
"So you're going home tomorrow." Two weeks later I was still at County, there had been a slight complication meaning I'd had to stay longer than Dr Coburn had thought.
"Yeah, I can't wait, I can finally eat something that tastes good!"
"I'm so jealous! Is Leah going too?" Leah and I were sitting in Susan's room, like we had been for the past half an hour.
"Yep, the Dr. gave her the all clear this morning. She's growing well and put on a tonne of weight."
"I can see, she's looking good, she's a fighter."
"Sure is." I look down at her sleeping peacefully in my arms - a little angel for the moment. "I don't know how I'm going to cope with looking after her all by myself."
"As soon as I'm out of here I'll be around helping you. Just you wait, you won't be able to get rid of me!"
"You might regret saying that." I smile at her. "When do you get out of here anyway?"
"A couple more days. I'll be all lonely without you to talk to." She pulls a really sad looking face, just trying to make me feel guilty for getting out.
"Chuck will still be in to see you though."
"It's not quite the same thing." She laughs. "When does Maggie get here?"
"Tomorrow, which should be fun! Luckily Eric's staying in Minnesota so I don't have too much to worry about. I suppose it'll be good to see her again."
"And she'll be useful to have around - enable you to get some rest."
"I suppose there's that! No, I do miss her, well at least until I spend anytime with her! That's what it's always going to be like I guess."
"Oh well I suppose we both have our fair share of family problems."
"Does your family even know you're in here?"
"Nope, I have no idea where Chloe is and my dad wouldn't move from his chair anyway."
"I'm sorry, I always complain about my family, I tend to forget that other people have their own problems."
"I think you have more problems than most. And anyway you have your own little family now, with Leah."
"I wouldn't really call it a family with just the two of us, but I'm happy with everything the way it is."
"Even with Carter?"
"Even with him, he knows about her yet he's still in Africa and hasn't been in touch since I told him, so it's just the two of us from now on." I meet her eye, trying to make sure she knows I mean it. I've had plenty of time to think about it over the past few weeks. I know I can manage on my own, I've proved that. Since he left I've gotten on with my own life, done what I wanted to. I'm happy.
"Hey girls, how's it going?"
"Hi Chuck, we're good," I smile at Susan "I better be getting downstairs anyway."
"Need a hand?"
"Would you be able to find a nurse to take me back, thanks." He disappears again as quickly as he came.
"I'm glad you're all right with how things are." I flash her a smile.
"I'll be up tomorrow before I leave."
"You better be, I don't want to be lonely for any longer than I have to be."
"Say bye bye to Aunty Susan, Leah."
"Bye bye Leah, see you later Abby."
"Bye." I say as the nurse wheels me out of the room and Chuck settles down next to Susan. I see her face light up as she laughs at one of his comments before I disappear round the corner.
I'm happy.
Chapter 7 - Imaginary
"So you're going home tomorrow." Two weeks later I was still at County, there had been a slight complication meaning I'd had to stay longer than Dr Coburn had thought.
"Yeah, I can't wait, I can finally eat something that tastes good!"
"I'm so jealous! Is Leah going too?" Leah and I were sitting in Susan's room, like we had been for the past half an hour.
"Yep, the Dr. gave her the all clear this morning. She's growing well and put on a tonne of weight."
"I can see, she's looking good, she's a fighter."
"Sure is." I look down at her sleeping peacefully in my arms - a little angel for the moment. "I don't know how I'm going to cope with looking after her all by myself."
"As soon as I'm out of here I'll be around helping you. Just you wait, you won't be able to get rid of me!"
"You might regret saying that." I smile at her. "When do you get out of here anyway?"
"A couple more days. I'll be all lonely without you to talk to." She pulls a really sad looking face, just trying to make me feel guilty for getting out.
"Chuck will still be in to see you though."
"It's not quite the same thing." She laughs. "When does Maggie get here?"
"Tomorrow, which should be fun! Luckily Eric's staying in Minnesota so I don't have too much to worry about. I suppose it'll be good to see her again."
"And she'll be useful to have around - enable you to get some rest."
"I suppose there's that! No, I do miss her, well at least until I spend anytime with her! That's what it's always going to be like I guess."
"Oh well I suppose we both have our fair share of family problems."
"Does your family even know you're in here?"
"Nope, I have no idea where Chloe is and my dad wouldn't move from his chair anyway."
"I'm sorry, I always complain about my family, I tend to forget that other people have their own problems."
"I think you have more problems than most. And anyway you have your own little family now, with Leah."
"I wouldn't really call it a family with just the two of us, but I'm happy with everything the way it is."
"Even with Carter?"
"Even with him, he knows about her yet he's still in Africa and hasn't been in touch since I told him, so it's just the two of us from now on." I meet her eye, trying to make sure she knows I mean it. I've had plenty of time to think about it over the past few weeks. I know I can manage on my own, I've proved that. Since he left I've gotten on with my own life, done what I wanted to. I'm happy.
"Hey girls, how's it going?"
"Hi Chuck, we're good," I smile at Susan "I better be getting downstairs anyway."
"Need a hand?"
"Would you be able to find a nurse to take me back, thanks." He disappears again as quickly as he came.
"I'm glad you're all right with how things are." I flash her a smile.
"I'll be up tomorrow before I leave."
"You better be, I don't want to be lonely for any longer than I have to be."
"Say bye bye to Aunty Susan, Leah."
"Bye bye Leah, see you later Abby."
"Bye." I say as the nurse wheels me out of the room and Chuck settles down next to Susan. I see her face light up as she laughs at one of his comments before I disappear round the corner.
I'm happy.