The sunlight streamed through the blinds, cascading cylinders of light onto the pristine white of my hospital room. A cool spring breeze floated through the ajar window sending in the refreshing smell of freshly cut grass. I lifted my hands above the bed and let them hang there, swaying them now and again, letting the pollen spores float through my fingers. Enjoying being able to move again, to breathe, to live.
I let my hands drop and moved my eyes to the clock at the wall opposite me. 12:30. I had two hours left. Two hours until I could leave this stifling, restraining prison of a hospital room. I hadn't been allowed to leave since I woke up. It been two weeks since I had woken up. The world had come back into focus and the movement back into my limbs, the only thing tying me down was the drip I was connected to. I had been allowed to wander around my boxy room but never outside it. This is how I would spend my days, lying on the thin sheets, wrapped in Cosima's cardigan, my only means of comfort when I was alone. I would stare out the window for hours, looking at the people outside enjoying the sun and fresh air. I was so close to that now.
The only thing I had to look forward to every day was visiting hours. In the morning Kirsten and Cosima would come visit me telling me different tales of what they had been doing. Then in the afternoon just Cosima. Each day she would bring me a different type of flower, just one. Until I had a whole bunch of different flowers which all sent a different scent floating around the room and getting rid of the clinical smell of the hospital. She spent our hour each day teaching me how to dance lying down by moving my arms in floaty fashion. Or she would lay next to me on my hospital bed and run her hands through my hands through my hair until I drifted off to sleep. The only peaceful sleep I got was when she was with me. The only other sleep I got was scattered with nightmares of me tumbling down through the dark, being chased by his drunken insults.
I had been instructed to take a weeks bed rest then I could return back to Paris, back to my "home". But I felt like I was leaving my home. Leaving my real home, leaving the cosy, comfortable flat. Leaving Kirsten and leaving Cosima. God leaving Cosima, having to say goodbye to Cosima. I felt a lump rising in my throat when ever I thought about it and pushed that thought into the back of my mind. Blocking out the negative thoughts.
I stepped out of the stuffy hospital in to the cool spring air. The leaves rustled in the trees sending whispers floating throughout the air around me. The smell of freshly cut grass swirled around me, dancing on my senses. I breathed deeply, cleansing my lungs with the fresh air.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see a grinning Cosima with one hand behind her back. She whipped out a bouquet of flowers from behind her back. One of each of the ones she had got me in the hospital. I smiled and ran to hug her. I met her with a kiss on her cheek and hugged her tightly, wanting to keep her close.
"Woah there, you glad to be out then?" she laughed. God I missed that laugh when she wasn't around.
"Definitely" I grinned, pushing my hair behind my ears rather bashfully.
"Hungry?"
"Oui!" My eyes lit up, I hadn't eaten anything but hospital food (and the odd melted Eskimo Pie Cosima would smuggle in for me) for weeks. My mouth watered at the mere mention of proper food.
"Good I know the perfect place. They do excellent bagels" she winked at me and took my hand in hers as we merrily strolled down the street.
We ate cream cheese and smoked salmon bagels in the little cafe we had eaten our first meal together. Joking and chatting to each other, catching up on lost time.
The sun was begging to set as we finally left the cafe, turning the streets of San Fransisco into a deep amber beset with dancing yellow lights.
We walked hand in hand, Cosima trailing my hospital bag in her spare hand and me clutching my bouquet of flowers in my other.
There was music floating out of the flat window and I could see the twinkle of fairy lights from the window. The steps echoed as we clambered up them.
Cosima opened the door to reveal the room in the front of me. Cushions, blankets and pillows littered the floor, even more fairy lights had been bought and strewn around the ceiling. The small coffee overflowed with treats of all kind, marshmallows, Popcorn, chocolate coated strawberries, wine, and, my eyes lit up, Eskimo pies. On the wall was a large cloth banner with "Welcome Home Delphine" written in big multicoloured letters. I was being welcomed home, to my home. Kirsten came rushing towards me and hugged me in a tight squeeze.
"Sorry I couldn't come to pick you up I was kinda sorting out all this" she blushed apologetically.
"Non, it's fine, seriously, wow. Thankyou, so much" a lump in my throat had risen due to their generosity. I felt like I had know them forever. Both of them my best friends and Cosima a little more than just friends. I couldn't think about leaving. For now I was here in my paradise, happy and safe. With my family.