Chapter 14:
Dr. Martin inhaled deeply, and then replied. "You haven't been in the best condition. You were in serious condition for the longest time and with your stroke happening we are keeping you in the intensive care unit to keep our eye on you. When you are stable enough they will come interview you."
"One more question, has Frost come to visit me?"
"No, we are only allowing family, and," he paused and held out his hand to indicate he was talking about Maura, "Maura to be present in your room. Anymore questions?"
"No, that is everything." With that the doctor nodded his head and exited the room to retrieve the wheelchair.
That was about two and a half weeks ago. I had gone through the operation to fix my temporary paralysis in my spine. And, the police did come to interview me. An officer Korsak had asked me questions that I had a hard time answering, but I still answered them. I was also informed that he was the one who had tackled the suspect before he could kill me or any more people. Furthermore, I was told that six people had been killed by the boy, whose name is Rick Dawes. I was shown the picture and I immediately recognized it as the boy with dark hair who had been walking in the other direction of the school the day of the shooting, and the boy that had gotten beaten up by Joey Grant.
With surgery out of the way I had to start therapy, both physical and mental. Maura was with me throughout all of them. She encouraged me when I had doubts and cheered me up when I was depressed. I couldn't quiet walk yet, so Maura was by my side whenever I attempted to walk down the hospital corridors with a walker.
I was so grateful for Maura being there with me all of the time. If she wasn't there I would have rather died than be without her.
In the meantime, Frost had only come to visit me once. I had assumed that he didn't want to see me so vulnerable and crippled as I was. And Ma, ma had to go home to take care of Frankie and Tommy. She didn't stay the whole time like she used to. The partial reason is Frankie and Tommy. They were getting too rowdy and ma couldn't handle them in such tight spaces.
It was late at night, and all the activities for that day were done. I had my own special room. The room I was in was specially made for patients like me. Maura had gotten ready for the night and sat in a recliner reading some National Geographic book.. I, on the other hand, sat in a bed similar to the one I had in my hospital room. "Maura?" She looked up from her book when I called her name.
"Yes, Jane?"
"Can I ask you a – a serious question, and can – can you please answer it honestly?"
"Of course Jane, you can ask me anything, and I can't lie, remember?" Maura replied in complete seriousness.
I scoffed, rolled my eyes, and chuckled. "Maura, you are one of a kind." There was a pause before I spoke up again. "Ok, here's my question that has been bothering me. Did you trust me? I mean, like during the whole incident, did you ever doubt me or not want to trust what I was saying at all?"
Maura put down her book that was still in her hand and inhaled sharply before she answered. "Yes, yes Jane, I did doubt you. I was in a panic and had no idea what was going on. I was frozen, but Jane, remember that you saved my life. Without you I wouldn't be here right now. I could have been dead in the school hall or in the parking lot, but you didn't at all hesitate to get out of there and you had put others safety before yours, and I deeply appreciate everything that you had done for me. And, to be honest, I didn't have complete trust in you before that day."
Maura had now piqued my interest. She had given me my answer and she was about to give me more.
"A few days before, you and I were at school after it was over. You had basketball practice and, I, of course, stayed in the bleachers waiting for you to be finished. During your practice I had to use the bathroom. When I walked in, Debbie, Emily, and Kate were in there. They had surrounded me and told me that you were using me for my grades so you could continue to play basketball. I believed them to some point. I was so confused. I couldn't decipher the difference between a lie and the truth. That is the day I asked why you were my friend. As I look at it now, you gave me the most honest truth there was. Foolishly, I didn't really believe you and I still questioned the sole purpose of our friendship, but now I know that our friendship is real and no one is trying to take advantage of the other. I want to thank you because I've never had a friend before and you saved me. Thank you."
I sat on my bed speechless. Maura had probably confessed one of her deepest darkest secrets and I had no words to say. What could I say? How can anyone respond to that? I didn't know.
"Maura—" I began.
"Shh, don't answer. Let's just go to sleep."
I looked at Maura with astonished eyes. "Did you just shush me? Only my ma shushes me." I joked.
"Yes I did. Now, get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow." Maura rolled over to her side on the recliner and shut off the lamp. I stared at the silhouette of Maura made by the moon seeping through the window before I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
Hey guys! Sorry for me not updating in a long time. WRITER'S BLOCK SUCKS! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review or comment or whatever you feel like doing. And, I don't know when the next time will be when I update because, like I said, writer's block sucks.