I blink my heavy eyes a couple of times and look around the bright room. The room is very large and has several hospital beds. A few beds down to my left I see a nurse working on another patient. I try to say something to get her attention and I notice that there is something blocking my throat. I try to take a breath and I can't so I start to panic a little. I lift up my hand and bang it on the mattress trying to get someone's attention. The nurse turns around and sees that I am awake. As she makes her way over I close my heavy eye lids finding it hard to keep them open. I open my eyes again and see the nurse looking at my chart.
Nurse: Are you awake? I can't remove the tube unless you are going to stay awake.
I nod my head indicating that I was awake. She puts the chart down and starts fiddling with the machines.
Nurse: When I tell you to blow I will remove the tube ok?
I nod my head again and she tells me to blow. I do so and I feel the tube being dragged up my throat and out my mouth. I immediately start coughing and grab my side as it hurts every time I breathe.
Nurse: Just relax and try to steady your breathing. Don't take deep breaths just breathe normally.
After a few minutes I gain control of my breathing and the nurse puts an oxygen mask over my face telling me they will move me to my room shortly. I nod my head and start looking around the room again trying to stay awake. Soon a young man comes by with the nurse and they start unhooking me from some machines and moving the iv bags on to my gurney. Then the man starts pushing the gurney rather quickly down the hall and on to the elevator. We get off the elevator and he takes me down the hall and around some turns quickly and I start to feel sick. I try to tell him to slow down but my voice is so hoarse that everything is a whisper and he doesn't hear me. As we get closer to my room I see my mom and sisters waiting outside the door. The nurse and orderly get me settled on the bed and I try to tell them that I am going to throw up, but with all the commotion no one hears me. My mom finally figures out what I am trying to say and reaches for a basin but before she can get to me I vomit all over myself. I look down and realize it is all blood. I look back up at my sisters and the three of them quickly leave the room as my mom comes over to help me. The nurse and my mom quickly clean me up and get me settled back in bed. I am so out of it I don't even notice that the nurse is asking me a question until my mom gives my left hand a squeeze.
Nurse: Don't worry about the blood, its just what you swallowed after you were shot and your body can't digest blood. Are you in any pain?
Paige: No
Nurse: Just push the button when you feel any pain and we'll up the medication. I'll be back later to check up on you.
I nod my head and look over to my mom. She gives my hand another squeeze and looks at me with tears in her eyes.
Paige: What happened?
Mom: Do you remember what happened with Victor?
I lean my head back against the bed and nod my head and tears star welling in my eyes.
Paige: I'm sorry. I-I tried to stop him
Mom: It's not your fault sweetie. You have nothing to be sorry for.
Paige: How are they?
Mom: Well they're better now that you're awake. You scared us. You were in surgery for a long time. When he shot you he hit the bottom of your left lung. That is why you are having problems breathing and talking. Want me to go get your sisters?
Paige: Yeah.
My mom leaves the room wiping tears from her eyes. I look at everything I am connected to and before I know it everyone is back in my room. Piper quickly comes over and gives me a soft hug followed by Prue and Phoebe. They step back and I notice the blood all over Piper's shirt.
Paige: Guess I owe you a-a new s-shirt
Piper: Yeah well when you get out of here we'll go shopping and you can get me one.
Paige: Deal.
Everyone sits around my bed and I can tell that each had been crying earlier and the room goes into an awkward silence. I can't imagine how they must feel having their father killed right in front of their building.
Paige: What time is it?
Prue: Around 9 pm.
Paige: M-missed Thanksgiving
Mom: We can make it up once your better.
Phoebe: You took forever to wake up the surgery ended around 5.
Piper: Yeah, they said every time they thought you were awake you would fall back asleep before they could even walk over to your bed.
Prue reaches for my right hand and holds it before I yank it out of her grasp and cradle it in pain.
Mom: Whats wrong?
Paige: hand...hurts
Piper: I totally forgot to tell them about your hand.
Mom: Let me see it Paige.
I carefully let go of my hand and let her take a look at it as Prue pushes the nurse call button.
Mom: Well it's a little bruised and looks swollen.
Phoebe: How did you hurt it?
Paige: I hit Victor a lot when we were fighting for the gun.
Piper: How did they miss that when they were checking you over.
Prue: Probably too concerned with her serious injury.
The nurse walks in and my mom explains the problem and I am immediately transferred to a gurney and taken to x-ray. I am told that I broke one of the bones in my hand and I am put in a cast. By the time I get back to my room it is 11 pm. My mom tells my sisters to go home and get some sleep. They reluctantly agree and each give me a hug before they leave. I shift around on my bed trying to get as comfortable as possible while sitting up.
Mom: Are you in any pain?
Paige: Hurts to breathe.
Mom: Next time say something. I'll call the nurse so she can increase your pain medication.
The nurse comes in and increases the drop on my iv and I start feeling the effects quickly. I start feeling groggy and eventually fall into a restless sleep.
I start to wake up for what feels like the thousandth time and I can hear voices whispering back and forth. My eyes are heavy so I leave them closed but I try to remove the oxygen mask over my face. The mask has been bugging me all night and I just want it off for a few minutes. As I start to knock the mask away someone grabs my hand and puts the mask back on. I try to lift my hand again but someone is holding it. I turn my head and blink open my eyes and see that Prue is the culprit.
Prue: Morning squirt.
Paige: I want it off.
Prue: What do you want off?
Paige: Mask.
Prue: Nope, it stays on. It is helping you breathe.
I lift up my hand with the cast and try to remove the mask, but someone else grabs that arm as well. I look over and Piper gives me a smirk.
Piper: Nice try, Missy Paige. Mom says you have been trying that all night, what is the problem with the mask.
Paige: Annoying. Makes noise and it's not comfortable.
Piper: Maybe later today you can take it off. We'll see what your doctor says.
Paige: Where's mom and Ph-phoebe?
Prue: Mom went home to shower and change. We let Phoebe sleep in so mom will bring her up when she comes back.
Piper: Heard you had a rough night.
I look at Piper totally confused. I don't remember anything about last night except constantly waking up.
Piper: Mom said you woke up with nightmares a lot and you were in a lot of pain.
Prue: How are you feeling now?
Paige: Back is sore and it hu-hurts to breathe.
Prue: Well I'll call the nurse and she can up your meds.
Paige: N-no! I don't like the meds, they ma-make me feel weird.
Piper: Well let us know if it gets worse and we'll call the nurse.
Paige: ok.
Prue: The police are going to stop by this morning. They need to question you about yesterday.
I nod my head and close my close my eyes. I can't look at them knowing that I am partly responsible for their fathers death. I feel the hot tears gathering behind my eyelids and I am fighting to keep my breathing under control
Piper: Sweetie are you alright?
I burst into tears and my breathing starts becoming uneven making everything extremely painful.
Paige: I-I'm so sorry. I sh-should never have told you g-guys about the pa-past. My...my fau-fault.
Piper carefully sits next to me on the bed and pulls me into a sideways hug. While Prue moves next to Piper and holds my hands.
Prue: Ssh. Squirt this is not your fault and you need to believe that. We know you never wanted any of this to happen. Don't you ever be sorry for telling us about him abusing you, we wanted to know and are so happy that you opened up about everything.
Piper: Paige you need to calm down. I can tell that you are in a lot of pain from breathing so erratically so you need to relax.
I try and relax but I can't get my breathing to stabilize and my chest hurts so much that I can't concentrate on anything else. I hear the machines around me start to beep alerting whoever that something is not right.
Prue: Piper can you hit the nurse call button she is in a lot of pain. I can barely feel my fingers she is squeezing my hand so tight.
After a minute or two a nurse comes in and injects something into my iv and the pain starts to float away and I loosen my grip on Prue's hand. My breathing starts to even out and I slowly go back to dreamland.
My world starts to shake as someone is trying to wake me up. I hear several hushed voices in the room as I try to open my eyes. After a couple of minutes I am finally awake enough to see the police in the room and I look over to my mom waiting for an explanation.
Mom: Sweetie they just want to ask you a couple of questions about yesterday and then you can go back to sleep.
I look back at the police and give them a look indicating to ask away.
Policeman: Can you tell us what happened before we arrived yesterday.
Paige: I was coming back from my run and just before I opened the lobby door Victor shot me in the back. Then we star-started fighting for the gun.
Policeman: Why did he shoot you?
I looked at my mom and then nervously back down at my lap.
Paige: I ruined his family.
Policeman: What do you mean by that?
Paige: I...I told them wha-what he did to me.
Mom: She told us that he has been abusive towards her for the past 8 years.
Policeman: Is there anything else you can think of regarding the assault?
Paige: No
Policeman: Ok, that is all we have for now but we might come back for more questions. Mrs. Halliwell can we talk to you in the hall.
Mom: Sure. I'll be right back sweetie.
I watch as my mom and the police leave my room and step into the hall. I can still see them but I can not make out what they are saying. I try to listen closer but all of a sudden Phoebe distracts me with a big hug.
Phoebe: Don't you scare me like that ever again.
Paige: I'll try.
Phoebe: You still tired?
Paige: No, just feel kind of loopy.
Prue: Yeah well they gave you a pretty good dose of pain killers last time.
Phoebe: So how are you feeling besides loopy?
Paige: Ok. Can I have some water?
Piper: Sure. I'll go get you some fresh water, since this has been here all night and is warm.
I keep trying to listen to the conversation in the hallway but as Piper comes back in the room she shuts the door behind her. She pours me a cup of water and hands me the cup. I go to take a sip but realize the mask is in my way and I try to remove it with my other hand but the cast is in the way. Immediately Prue slides the mask down around my neck so I can take a drink. Finally the stupid mask is off! I finish the water and Piper takes the cup back from me. I look back at the door wondering what is going on. I wonder what arrangements are being made for Victor and how my sisters are holding up. I feel someone moving the mask back over my mouth and I try to stop them. Piper grabs my hands and I give in knowing that this is a losing battle.
Paige: Where's mom?
Phoebe: I'll go take a look.
She opens the door and I see mom and a doctor talking. My mom turns to look in my direction and I can see the worry in her eyes. They both walk into the room and my mom takes a seat next to Prue.
Mom: Paige this is your doctor, Dr. Taylor.
Paige: Hi.
Dr. Taylor: Hey there, how are you feeling today?
Paige: Ok.
Dr. Taylor: Well how about I check you out and then explain what is going to happen the next few weeks.
I nod my head and the doctor asks my sisters to leave the room for a little bit. I nervously look over at my mom as the doctor starts reading through my chart. The doctor then starts checking me over and explaining everything I am hooked up to.
Dr. Taylor: Your pretty lucky Paige if the bullet was a little higher you'd be dead right now. The bullet entered your back and buried itself in your left lung. This caused your lung to collapse and that is why you are having trouble breathing and talking. We were able to get the bullet out fairly easily, but you are going to be pretty sore the next few weeks. Right now you have a chest tube draining the fluid from your chest cavity. That will have to stay in for at least a week while the whole in your lung heals naturally. If the hole doesn't heal in two weeks we will have to go back in repair the lung, but that is a last resort.
Paige: How long do I hav-have to stay here?
Dr. Taylor: I'd guess two weeks. We have to watch you carefully and make sure you don't get pneumonia. Then we'll release you, but you will have to limit your physical activities until the lung is fully healed. I'd guess you could resume your everyday activities by mid-January and strenuous activities could probably be resumed in late February.
Paige: I have school. I need to re-report back by Monday.
Dr. Taylor: We can talk to your school I'm sure they'll let you make up everything. You might even be ready to go back before next semester. Where do you go?
Paige: Westpoint.
Dr. Taylor: Cool, I was a doctor in the Army for 15 years before I left. Don't you worry I'm sure we can work something out. In the meantime get some rest and I'll check on you tomorrow.
Paige: 'kay. Thanks.
The doctor leaves the room but the nurse stays behind writing stuff down in the chart and fiddling with the machines again.
Nurse: You can go for short walks around the halls as long as someone is with you. You just have to take this (she points to a post on wheels with iv bags and a little machine attached to it) with you. Don't strain yourself or you'll just set yourself back.
I nod my head looking at the thing she was talking about as she leaves the room. I look back at my mom and notice how tired she looks.
Mom: Any questions, sweetie.
Paige: What...what uh is happening with Victor?
Mom: Don't worry about that. Everything is taken care of.
Paige: I need to know.
Mom: His body is being sent back to San Fransisco tomorrow. I called your aunt and told her what happened and she is going to arrange the funeral for Monday.
I look down at my hands and try to stay in control of my emotions. I completely forgot all about my aunt.
Paige: Did you tell her about...
Mom: Yes, she needed to know why he would attack you like that.
Paige: How is she?
Mom: Mostly shocked. I'm going to get your sisters so I can tell you all about the funeral plans.
I keep staring at my hands wishing I could just turn back time. The four of them come back in the room and Phoebe curls up next to me on the bed careful to avoid all the tubes. She grabs a hold of my good hand as I continue to look down at the bed refusing to make eye contact with anyone. The rest of my family sits down in chairs around the bed.
Mom: Girls we need talk about the arrangements for you father. I called your Aunt Mary and she is going to plan everything for Monday. I called the airlines and booked some seats for Sunday night and have us returning Tuesday evening.
Prue: I'm not going.
Mom: I can't force you three to go but I think you should. If not for yourselves or your father then for your aunt. She lost a brother and is all alone right now, she needs our support.
Prue: Fine I'll go, but I'm not going for him.
Phoebe: Same here.
Piper: I'll go too. How about you Paige?
Paige: Can't.
Phoebe: We'll be there with you, you won't have to be alone.
Mom: Girls Paige is stuck here for the next two weeks. She couldn't go even if she wanted to.
Prue: I'm not leaving her here, not to go to his stupid funeral!
Mom: Prue lower your voice. As I said I am leaving the decision up to you, but I have to go. I have to take care of a lot of things at home while I'm there and I'd appreciate your help.
Piper: What do you think Paige?
Paige: Go. It's not like I'm going anywhere.
Mom: Well you girls think about it and let me know on Sunday morning so I can confirm our seats.
The room sank into an uncomfortable silence as we each contemplate the events of the last few days. The silence is interrupted when the nurse walks in with a tray in her hands. She places the tray on the small bed table and then picks up my chart.
Nurse: Here's your lunch try to eat as much as you can. I'll be back in later to check up on you.
I nod my head and stare at the covered tray sitting in front of me. I am pretty hungry but it hurt to just drink some water I can't imagine what eating is going to feel like. Piper removes the lid from the tray to reveal what the hospital considers a meal. On the tray is a container of juice, what I think is chicken, green beans, and of course Jello.
Phoebe: They want you to eat that?
Prue: Phoebe!
Mom: Paige just try to eat some of this and we'll bring you some real food later.
I reach for the fork with my right hand until I remember that it has a cast on it, so I clumsily use my left hand. I slowly manage to eat everything but the chicken substance.
Piper: Don't blame you for leaving that, it looks awful.
Prue: Still hungry?
Paige: No, just thirsty.
I take a few sips of the juice before I start coughing because some juice went down the wrong pipe. I almost drop my juice as my body reacts to the pain of coughing. Phoebe quickly take the juice from my hand and hops off the bed. I lean forward and try to hold my side as the pain increases. I finally stop coughing but my side is still killing me and my breathing is still not normal. Someone grabs the oxygen mask and puts it back on me. It helps a little and after some time the pain subsides and I lean back on the bed trying to relax.
Mom: Feel better honey?
I nod my head not wanting to talk and risk losing my breath again. I start feeling really light-headed as I hear someone else in the room start to talk. I look to my left and realize that someone must have gotten the nurse.
Nurse: Paige, coughing is going to hurt while your lung heals. Next time sit up and hug a pillow that should relieve some of the pain. I did increase your pain medication so you should be ok for now.
I groggily nod my head and the nurse leaves the room.
Mom: Well girls I think Paige is going to fall asleep pretty soon so how about we grab some lunch and we can bring back Paige some food and anything else she wants.
Phoebe: You guys were here with her earlier so I am staying now, just bring me back something.
Prue: Fine. Paige, do you want anything in particular.
Paige: My backpack.
Piper: How about food?
Paige: Don't care.
Phoebe: Cheeseburger, fries, and a coke for me.
Mom: How does that sound Paige?
I nod my head and start closing my unwillingly falling asleep.