PRM ch 32
A/n: Here's the next update...I wanted to give it to you all a little early or a little late, depending on your time zone;)
I know you are all ready for Tanya to get hers...trust me, I am too but there is still story to tell before that can happen...so, please continue to bear with me.
THANK YOU so much to BNJWL...she makes this story what it is with her red pen. I flove her hard core and will always be grateful for the day she popped into my life. It was truly divine intervention...and if you haven't read her work, Love The Way You Lie...run and do it...you won't be disappointed. MWAH, BB!
Three Weeks After Coma
EPOV
My mom followed me into my room as I returned from physical therapy.
"Hi Edward. I brought some new clothes for you to wear home today." My mother's voice was cheerful and excited as I smiled at her.
"Thanks, mom. But, you know I'm not cut free yet, right? I still have to wait on Ben to come by and give me the final okay to go." I said as I moved to sit on the bed and rub down my calves.
One of the after effects of my brain surgery and lying in a hospital bed for three weeks was weakness in my muscles, so I had to attend therapy twice a day to regain the strength in my arms and legs. After a lot of hard work, I was finally able to walk with a cane instead of a walker.
I had also begun to see a psychiatrist once a day while I stayed in the hospital. It was hard to deal with all the new aspects of my life; I had my freedom, I had my family back and I had to learn to accept Bella's friendship. I knew that in order to take back my life and be free from Tanya's hold on me, the therapy was a necessary step I had to take.
"What would you like for dinner tonight?" My mom asked as she started to unpack a pair of jeans, a few shirts and other clothing items.
"Whatever you feel like you want to make, mom. Please don't go out of your way for me." I said as guilt once again settled over me. I still had not gotten used to being around my family on a regular basis. Certainly not to the point where I was able to voice my own needs, wants or fears yet. Dr. Lang assured me that I shouldn't worry or push too hard for everything to return to exactly as it had been in the past too quickly.
She had told me to take things at my own pace and to accept each day as it came, even hour by hour if I felt that it was too overwhelming to focus on a whole day.
"Well, I think that I will crave a few of your favorites," She said with a hint of sassiness in her tone and written on her face.
"Mom, I just don't want you to go to a lot of trouble for me. I'm quite capable of fixing my own meals. Hell, I've been the only one who cooks in my own home for the past three years." I said hastily and instantly regretted the snappiness to my voice.
My mom turned away from me so that I couldn't see her face, but, I could hear her sniffles and knew that once again I had ben the cause my mother's tears.
I ran a hand through my hair and gritted my teeth. When would this shit ever end? My pain, my families pain, I mean, hadn't we all been through enough already?
Just then my cell phone rang with Bella's ring tone. I quickly reached to answer it, "Hello?"
"Hi Edward, are you excited to go home today?" Her friendly voice chimed through the receiver.
I huffed, "I'm not going home, remember? I'm going to my parent's house." I snapped.
I heard her small intake of breath. "Bad day?" She said quietly.
I took a deep breath and sighed, "I'm sorry, Bella. Yea, I'm a little on edge. To answer your question, yes, I'm ready to leave the hospital. We just have to wait on Ben to come by and discharge me now."
"Good." Bella said. "I plan to come to your parent's house for dinner. Jake has news for us, apparently Tanya has been chomping at the bits to get her plan into action." Her voice sounded hesitant to share anything further over the phone.
"Great. I can't wait." I said sarcastically. I hated that I sounded angry and bitter. I just wanted all of this to be over with already, so I could move on with my life.
The wait for Tanya to strike had been painful for all of us. Every morning when I turned on the television I worried that I would see my face plastered all over the news. Fortunately, nothing had happened, which caused me even more stress. Tanya was maniacal and wouldn't be kept in the dark for long, that much I knew.
A knock on the door startled me, as I saw Ben's head pop in the door before he walked into the room.
"Bella, I have to go. Ben is here. I'll see you later, okay?" I knew it was shitty that I used Ben as my excuse to get off the phone with Bella, but I really did want to go before I said something terrible to her because of my anger at the situation.
"Sure Edward. Good luck. Bye." She said cheerfully then hung up the phone which only served to make me feel even shittier.
I set the phone down on the table and watched as Ben greeted my mom with a hug before he turned to me.
"So, are you ready to bust out of this joint?" He asked jokingly as he laid my chart down onto the bedside table.
"Yes. I really am." My voice was noticeably flat and monotone as I answered. I was agitated and frustrated still. I was not typically a rude person but today it seemed that I could do nothing but behave that way when I spoke.
I would need to lie down and think about what pissed me off once I got into a quiet place alone, hopefully that would be soon.
"Here are your prescriptions, you'll need to get those filled before you go home or you can have Dr. Cullen fill them and bring them to you at the end of his shift." He handed me some papers which I held onto. It was my responsibility to fill them, not my dads. I would take care of it.
"Here are a few things that you need to remember while you are still in recovery; no lifting anything over five pounds, no strenuous activity other than your physical therapy, no driving, no alcohol and no sexual activity." He put some paperwork in a folder and started to hand it to my mother but I quickly grabbed for it.
I was an adult and it pissed me off that everyone seemed to think that I couldn't handle things for myself. "I'll remember those instructions, Doctor but really, no driving? How the fuck am I supposed to get to and from all my appointments and work?" I said, angrily.
"Edward, are you okay? You seem rather...defensive." Ben asked as both he and my mom stared at me with concern written on their faces.
"I'm perfectly fucking fine but everyone seems to think that I'm a complete invalid. I can fill my own prescriptions. I can remember simple rules and I can most certainly drive myself where I need to go." I said as I stood rather quickly and fought off the dizziness before I had to grab the bedside table to steady myself.
Fuck.
I sat back down and put my elbows on my knees before I put my face in my hands.
"Edward, we know that you're an adult and you are able to care for yourself. However, you're still recovering from some very serious injuries and they have left you minimally incapacitated. Therefore, it will take you relying on the strength of your friends and family to assist you. But only until you are fully recovered." Ben said thoughtfully.
My mom came to sit beside me on the hospital bed, she put an arm around my back, and it should have felt comforting but it was still so very foreign to me.
I sat there and took a few deep breaths before I looked up at both my mother and Ben and nodded.
Ben continued, "Alright, let's get you checked out so you can get on your way." He said as he pulled a pen out of his jacket pocket to have me sign a few forms.
Forty-five minutes and seven filled prescriptions later we pulled through the front gates of my parent's estate. It was both a thrill of excitement and a pang of dread to be home again because the circumstances that surrounded this homecoming were overshadowed by evil.
Thank goodness we knew when it all would end in a few short hours.
I needed it to be over.
Now.
A/n: This will probably be the last update until next week...RL has crept in and because I was down and out for the past few weeks I have to get all my Christmas stuff done in the next few days...but, never fear, any free time I have will be dedicated to write this fic. I'm hoping to have it completed by the end of the year.
Tootles, Kyla