CHAPTER NINETEEN
The next time Aria awoke, she found herself in darkness and panicked for the briefest moment before her brain emerged from the fog it was in. She could see the faint glow of the monitors next to her bed and was immediately reminded that she was in hospital. A warm light filtered in from under the door of her room and she could see shadows moving outside. She wanted to call out for someone, but the pain in her throat reminded her that she couldn't speak. She felt the prickle of tears and a heat rising in her cheeks, but before she could release the sob that was building in her throat, the door to her room gently opened.
"You're awake." An older lady remarked and Aria recognized her as the same nurse who rushed in to help her when she first awoke.
The woman walked briskly to the windows and pulled back the blinds. The sun had not yet risen, but the tell tale swirl of oranges and pinks signaled the dawn.
"How are you feeling?" The nurse asked, but stopped short as if silently chiding herself. "Pardon, I forgot you're unable to speak." She picked up the clipboard from the end of the bed and made a quick note before returning it and looking up at Aria.
"Hungry?" She asked.
Aria sat silently, trying to gauge her hunger and then nodded meekly. Her stomach swirled and groaned in emptiness, but her appetite was non-existent, she accepted the food purely to ease the uncomfortable pains that came with hunger. The older woman smiled and pulled in a trolley that was waiting in the hall.
"I've had a special meal made for you." She placed the tray in front of Aria. "I know it's not the most appetizing food and nowhere near resembles a breakfast food, but it is all that your throat can handle for the moment."
Aria looked solemnly at the bowl of soup in front of her and made no move to try it. The nurse, seeming to sense her reservations, sighed softly.
"I can also offer you a coffee, although it will have to be room temperature."
Aria screwed her face in disgusted and was surprised when the nurse laughed.
"I understand." She said. "But I assure you it will be only for a few days. After that we can start you on soft foods like mashed potatoes and jelly."
Aria perked slightly at the mention of jelly, warranting another smile from the nurse, who moved fluently around the room, straightening and tidying as she went.
"We will move you onto more delicious foods as soon as possible, but for now you will need to eat as much as you can. But take it slow so you don't hurt yourself further." The nurse continued to busy herself with the instruments around Arias bed, occasionally jotting down something on her clipboard.
Aria nodded as she picked up her spoon and scooped up some of the brown, lukewarm liquid. She bought the spoon tentatively to her mouth and took a sip. She winced as her throat struggled to swallow the soup and then dropped her spoon back down in defeat.
"Try and eat as much as you can." The nurse reaffirmed. "In the meantime, I'll grab you a note book so you can jot down any questions you may have. Your doctor will be in at eight a.m, which is in about and hour and a half." She said as she glanced at her watch. The woman gave Aria one more reassuring smile before she left the room, closing the door behind her.
As per the nurse's request, Aria tried one more spoonful of soup, but found the pain unbearable and pushed her tray away. She sunk back into the hospital bed feeling defeated and forced herself not to cry. First; because it was to painful and second; because she didn't want someone walking in on her and feeling sorry for her.
Beside her bed, next to the blood pressure machine sat a phone, with a set of instruction stuck on top. She reached for the receiver eagerly, but stopped herself when she remembered she couldn't speak. She looked around the room for any sign of her mobile or handbag, but saw neither and then slumped back into the pillows. She was dying to talk to Ezra to find out what the hell had happened. Aria was yet to here from him and a small feeling of dread began to seep into her mind. What if something had happened to him? What if Byron had gotten to him?
Somewhere between thoughts her mind slipped away and she fell back asleep.
. . .
Someone was talking in a low whisper, and if they were trying to be quiet, they were failing abysmally. Aria woke slowly with a painful groan and silently cursed whoever had woken her slumber.
"Miss Montgomery?"
Aria turned her head to the voice in answer and was momentarily frozen in place. A young male doctor, who looked to be in his late twenties stood by the door, his blue scrubs wrinkle free and pristine clean. But the mans good looks where not what stopped Aria short, it was the familiar brunette who was standing beside him.
"Oh honey." Ella sobbed as she moved forward and gathered Aria up into her arms. "It's all my fault."
Aria breathed in the familiar scent of her mother; a mix of Red Door perfume and Este Lauder moisturizer. Ella felt exactly the same to Aria as her arms wrapped around her mother's body. She felt her mother's tears soaking through her hospital gown and tugged her tighter to her body, as if that would absorb her mothers sorrow.
"It's all my fault." Ella whispered again.
Aria could only shake her head. She knew no words would help her mother's guilt.
"If I had only stayed in Rosewood with you-"
Aria shook her head furiously and looked helplessly to the doctor who still stood at the door. He stepped forward, his clipboard held firmly to his chest, and cleared his throat to get Ella's attention.
"If I may Mrs Montgomery, we still have to discuss your daughter condition, and as it stands, it prevents her from speaking. So maybe it would be best to hold off on that conversation until Aria can speak again?"
Ella wiped and cheek quickly and forced a smile at the doctor, and then sat herself down next to Aria. Her arm wrapped gently around her daughters shoulders and pulled her gently toward her, like a mother bird with her baby under her wing.
"Scans and X-Rays where performed upon your daughters arrival into the emergency room yesterday morning. She was found to have a serve concussion and a crushed trachea. Fortunately there will be no lasting damage but you will find speaking almost impossible for a few days and eating and coughing will also be significantly painful."
Aria felt her mother grip tighten and she swallowed the painful lump in her throat.
"We are going to keep you for observation, but you should be discharged in the next couple of days."
Aria nodded her head in understanding. She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly stopped herself. The young doctor, who noticed her struggle, pulled a small note pad from his coat pocket and handed it to Aria.
I will be able to talk again? The paper read.
"Yes." He replied. "But it is important that you rest your voice to ensure you do not damage your chords further."
Aria nodded and twisted her fingers anxiously. Her head throbbed painfully and her mind tried feebly to process the last twenty-four hours. She had so many unanswered questions, but whenever she thought of the possible answers, she found herself choking back tears.
"Well," he doctor began, sensing Aria distress. "I will give you two some privet time. Just press the call button if you need anything." He gave them one last smile and closed the door gently behind him.
Aria sat in silence, unsure of what to do next. Would she have to tell her mother all the gory details, or could she brush over the basics quickly and put it behind her? Ella shifted on the bed and cleared her throat softly. She opened her mouth to say something but quickly shut it again and fell still again.
Aria twisted the pen in her fingers before writing the question she most wanted to know.
Is Ezra okay?
Ella shifted uncomfortably and cleared her throat. "He is okay." She started, and Aria released the breath she was holding, feeling relieved. "He is currently at the police station giving them his statement."
Aria nodded and they both fell into silence again. Ezra was okay, that was all that mattered to her. She didn't care what had happened to Byron; he could be dead in a ditch for all she cared. Aria flinched at the thought, but pushed the feeling away.
"Aria, what happened-" Her mother started, but before her Ella could finish the question her phone rang loudly in her pocket.
"Its Zack, I left him back in Austria. He's probably very worried." She pulled the phone from her pocket and answered quietly before ducking out of the room.
Aria sat back in her bed. She owed her mother a answer, but she knew that what ever she said, her mother would still blame herself. Aria took a deep breath and put her pen to the paper.
It started a week after you moved to Austria…
I hope my chapters aren't to short for you? Please review, because I love you and your reviews! P.s Lets just pretend the whole Zack and Hanna thing didn't happen.