~ * * * Chapter 3 * * * ~
Light.
No! Why can't I just stay in this place where there is nothing?
I hear paper rustle to my left and peek out the corner of my eye.
Emmett is sitting in the rocking chair reading.
"Don't you have a job or something?" I whisper.
Em smiles his dimply smile and raises a brow at me, looking up through his lashes.
"I do Baby Girl, but it's Saturday."
"Oh."
He folds down the corner of the page he is reading, sets the book on his thigh and looks at me.
Deep breath.
"So, what's wrong with me?" I ask.
"Surprisingly not much." He says and shakes his head. "Your left collar bone and your right foot are broken. You've got a nasty gash on your forehead. And it seems you've got some memory loss, but Carlisle's pretty certain there's no permanent damage. You seem to remember everything else."
He squeezes his eyes shut and lowers his head.
Okay, not that bad.
"When can I get outta here?" I hate hospitals.
"What?" He snaps his head back up to look at me. "Bella, you just regained consciousness a few days ago and haven't walked for two weeks."
"So?" I'm a stubborn brat. "I need to get out of here. I need to see him."
"Bella, he's –"
"I know. I just - I need to see it. To know it's real. I don't even – I don't even think that it will, make it real. But I have to go."
My lip starts to quiver.
"Is Rose okay?" I ask, my eyes filling with tears.
"Yeah, Baby Girl, Rosie's fine. Don't worry about her." Em grabs my hand.
The panic is hitting again.
I hate this place.
Hospitals are creepy. They're cold and bare.
Empty.
And they smell weird.
"I can't breathe in here Em. You have to get me out."
"Okay Baby Girl, calm down. We'll get you out. Relax." His other hand comes up and strokes my forehead. "I'll get you out."
Hmmmmmmm…..
"I'm so tired Em." The forehead rubbing is making me sleepy.
"You sleep Babe. When you wake up we'll start getting you ready."
"MmmmHmmmm."
Who is talking?
Why can't I just sleep?
It's okay. Em's gonna get you outta here.
Right.
Okay.
Emmett and Alice are whispering in front of the window.
"Em."
They turn to me, smiles on there faces.
"Hey Baby Girl, you're awake."
"I am Emmett. Now, what do we need to do to bust me out of this place?"
Alice smiles at me.
"If you've got enough strength to walk to the bathroom we can kick Em out and call the nurse."
"What would we need to do that for?"
She raises her brows and points to my nether region, "Catheter" she mouths.
Oh man, this'll be fun.
"Okay! Let's get me up!" I am determined. "I need to get the hell outta this place."
I shuffle myself up the bed a little, which is tricky with one arm. I swing my legs carefully over the side of the bed and sit up straight.
"Whoa." Slowly.
Emmett and Alice are each on one side of me. Em grabs my right elbow and hand. "You alright?" He asks steadying me.
"Ya, I'm good. Just a little lightheaded."
You'll be fine Bella. Suck it up.
"All right then." He smiles. "The nurse said it's fine to put some weight on your foot, but not too much. It'll be kinda tricky 'cause Al can't really help much on the other side because of your collar bone."
"Yes sir, Dr. Emmett, sir." He flashes his dimples at me and I smile back. "Just get me up so we can go home." Home…
"Ready?" He asks.
"Ready." I answer and shimmy my butt to the edge of the bed.
It's hard to balance most of my lower body on my left foot with Emmett supporting my right side, but I'm shuffling across the room. Alice is walking along with all the bags of stuff I'm hooked up too.
"Okay," I breathe out as we turn back to the bed. "Get lost and send in the nurse."
"Do you want me to help you back?" He asks.
"I'll be fine. I want to try on my own and Ali is here if I need help."
I am doin' this. I've got to do it all on my own.
"You're doin' really great Baby Girl," He smiles at me and rubs my back as I start to shuffle back.
"Thanks Em!" I'm beaming. If I wasn't so exhausted and broken I'd do a happy dance right now.
"'Kay. I'll be back…. in a bit…. When it's safe."
"Go!" Ali and I both tell him.
He turns and rushes out the door.
"You really are doing great."
"Thanks Ali." She gently grabs my arm to help me shimmy back up the bed. "I just have to not be here, you know?"
She nods at me.
"Hospitals make me feel sick," I laugh softly.
"I know Bella. You've never liked to be in here long."
Wide-eyed, scared looking Ali is back.
Huh? "What do you mean? Like I spend a lot of time in the hospital?"
She takes a huge breath in.
"Bella." The nurse breezes in. "I hear you are able to walk yourself to the bathroom."
I nod at the nurse, but I'm still watching Alice. "Ali?"
Her eyes spill over as she turns to the window, the nurse is jabbering on about… something.
I can only concentrate on one thing at a time.
Nurse gets you closer to discharge.
Nurse it is.
