/Temari/
Spending the night in that hospital meant no sleep, I kept begging the doctors for answers with Ino and Naruto until two in the morning, when they finally informed us that he was ready for visitors. With the answers they left and left me to look after him with the promise of returning tomorrow morning.
Seeing him in that bed, even if he looked minimally normal, apart from the excessive sleep due to the medication, made me even more worried. I held his hand all night and didn't bat an eye, worried that if I did, when I woke up he wouldn't be there.
In the morning the doctor came in and said he had the results, I woke Shika up tenderly and he listened carefully to the doctor. I saw the sparkle in his eyes disappear when he learnt what the injury was, and the lump in my throat only got bigger.
Now, at the end of the day, we've received the news that he'll be operated on tomorrow at 4pm by the doctor who was here this morning and his team, who seemed very competent. They explained the recovery process and he listened without opening his mouth and with a blank stare. For the last 24 hours I've been doing the talking to the health professionals, he's still in a state of shock about the whole situation.
I know football means a lot to him, but I can't help thinking he's dramatizing it. I'm glad that the only stumbling block will be a few months of physiotherapy and a few more without being able to do much, it could have been a lot worse, and I hate thinking about those scenarios.
- Go and get some rest Temari, I'll stay with him today! - Naruto came over to be helpful and even though I didn't want him to, I'm grateful, the excessive amount of coffee I drank won't cover up my lack of sleep forever.
- I'll be here early tomorrow morning and I'll stay until the operation, I'm not leaving until you get back! - I say and kiss Shika before leaving.
I'm already more relieved than yesterday, I know he'll be in good hands and Naruto will occupy his free time.
- So, how is he? - Tenten asks when I get inside.
- He's ruptured his cruciate ligament, he's going to have an operation tomorrow, the most worrying thing is that he won't be able to play football any more. - I explain.
- And how are you?
- I'm alive I guess, I just need to get some sleep, tomorrow after the operation I'll be more relaxed, I'm sure he'll recover very easily. - I say.
- Let's hope so, go and rest, if you want to eat there's some dinner on the kitchen table.
- Thanks, but I'm not hungry, I'll see you tomorrow. - I say and go upstairs while she answers me.
Despite my tiredness, I wake up several times at night and, when it's six o'clock, I give up fighting and get ready to go back to the hospital, I can't stand another minute without getting updates.
For the first time in a long time, I borrow Tenten's car, I don't like driving, but it's an emergency and the hospital is too far to walk to. I park the car when I arrive and go into reception where I give my name and they let me in.
They're both still asleep when I enter the room. Naruto doesn't seem to be in a very comfortable position in that hospital chair, but he's so peaceful that I don't have the heart to wake him. Unfortunately for both of them, a nurse wakes them up to deliver breakfast.
- Are you here already? – Uzumaki asks confused when he sees me.
- I couldn't sleep any more, I just got here and didn't want to wake you. Thank you for staying here! - I say and he hugs me before leaving.
- Good morning! - I hear Shikamaru mumble from the bed and I turn round.
- Good morning, your food is waiting for you. - I kiss his forehead and he closes his eyes again with a smile - Did you sleep well?
- I think so, the medicine helped. Did you?
- I slept better than I thought I would! - I say without lying, I didn't think I was going to sleep at all yesterday – You better eat now, they probably won't let you have lunch because of the operation!
- I sure will, just let me wake up a bit more! - he says, still a bit groggy, making me laugh.
- Rest up, you'll have your operation soon and you'll be running around the football field again in no time.
- I'm getting tired of your optimism, I'm not going to play again on this season, not even with a miracle. I just want to do this operation to get out of here as quickly as possible, I don't like intoxicating myself with medication. - he says a little more upset and my smile fades as I hand him his food. We sit in silence while he eats until we're interrupted by Ino, who has the morning off.
- Good morning! - she says with a big smile - I came to see you before your procedure, you couldn't go there without seeing me, they say I'm good luck.
- I'm sorry to say that they've been lying to you. - he says and I give a stifled laugh at the look on Ino's face - But I appreciate your visit, dear cousin. Start talking and the hours will go by faster when you tell your whole life again. What's new with Sai? - his question seems to have been the perfect one, and she starts talking about her relationship almost without pause.
Knowing that he'll be entertained, I leave the room to go to a machine to get something to eat, and when I do, I take the opportunity to get some air; if I don't allow myself to rest from time to time, I think I'm going to burn out.
The air, even outside, seems heavy, after all hospitals are never a happy place. I look up at the sky and pray that everything will get better soon and I can get back to normal.
- You've come to get some air too? - I'm startled by a male voice speaking next to me, as I look in that direction I notice that he's looking in my direction and I assume the question was directed at me.
- Yes. - I reply simply, not knowing what to say, sometimes outgoing people scare me. The man next to me, who I assume is around my age, keeps smiling.
- Not everything that happens in hospitals is bad, I've just become a father. It wasn't planned, I'm still very young and I haven't even finished school yet, but I'm stupidly happy. I had to come out here or I'd faint, I think my girlfriend thinks I'm going to run away even though I say I want to be present in the child's life. - he says too quickly and I sigh with a half-smile on my face.
- I'm here because someone I love has torn a ligament in his knee and is going to have surgery this afternoon.
- Best wishes to that person! - he says seriously, but without ever letting go of his smile.
- Congratulations on becoming a father! - I say and start walking back to the hospital.
- My name is Lee, by the way.
- I'm Temari, nice to meet you, you've brightened up my day a bit. - I turn round to speak to him.
- That's great. I hope to see you around. - he says with a smile, which I return before going inside.
When I get to the room, I see that Ino is still talking and, even if it doesn't seem like it, I know that Shika is listening. He pretends not to be interested, but he cares about his cousin and likes to know how she's doing. He smiles at me when he sees me and I smile back.
- Oh, I almost forgot - Ino interrupts herself - I've already spoken to your mum and she's up to date with everything, they'll call you later after the operation.
- Thanks for letting me know, I hadn't even thought of that. - I say, disappointed by my distraction.
- Don't worry about it, it's already taken care of. - she assures me with a smile.
- Good then! - I smile back.
- I've got to go, you cuties, hang in there! - she says before grabbing her things.
- Thank you! – Shikamaru says.
- I was talking to Tema, it takes a lot to put up with you! - she and I laugh as he sulks with hatred.
- Don't worry, I'm still here. - I say and take his hand to reassure him, and his smile returns.
The rest of the day follows. I eat lunch quickly and soon the operation is approaching and with it, the worries I've tried to avoid become evident. I start tapping my foot as I listen to him talk and often get lost in his story. When the operating gurney enters the room to take him away, I stand up with a jolt and grip his hand tighter.
- I want to kiss you, to make you feel alright, but I can't go with you.
- And I want to feel afraid, I want to cry, but all my tears have been used up. See you later, my princess! - is the last thing he says to me and I let go of his hand as a single tear escapes from my eye.
There's nothing I can do, I can only hope and pray for the best.
The hours that follow are some of the most agonising of my life. The feeling of uncertainty makes my chest tighten, the memories of his sad look when he was taken away make me swallow hard to hold back the tears.
Being alone makes everything worse, I can't go home without news and people can't stop living because of me. I stand there in the empty room, its odour mixed with that of a hospital.
Is it an easy surgery, because it seems to take so long? I think stress makes us lose track of time, anxiety makes the hands of the clock slow down. Or so it seems.
When two hours pass, I try to force myself to eat, but that's another failed attempt.
My worries are only lessened when I see the bed returned to the room. The nurses place him on the bed in the bedroom in silence and then look at me.
- He'll wake up in a few minutes, just call me. - I assume they're smiling behind their masks and leave the room.
When I touch his face it's warm and that calms me down, he seems fine, the only altered part is covered and apart from the tubes that help him breathe he's the same as when I left him.
I remember to text Ino to let her know that he's out of surgery and will wake up soon. Now it's back to waiting, I haven't done anything else today, but at least now I'm less worried.
It's almost an hour before I hear him breathing more heavily and see his eyes open with difficulty.
- Tem? - he asks in a low, weak voice as I get up.
- I'm here with you! - I remind him - I'm not going anywhere.
I wait for him to return to some semblance of normality, which he slowly does. His mobile phone starts ringing and I rush to answer it, knowing it's his mother.
- Good afternoon, he's awake and well, I'll let him know it's you! - I say without delay and hand Shika the device and explain who it is.
- Hi Mum, what's up? - he says, still groggy - I'm fine. She's not a nurse, she's my girlfriend! - he replies and laughs.
I know it's just the effects of the anaesthetic talking, but his words filled my heart with hope, I can't even decipher what I want, I want to learn to love, but all my tears have been used up on another love.
He continues the conversation with short sentences and a light, drawn-out voice, and after a while he ends the call with a promise to call his sister when he's healthier.
As dinner arrives I prepare to spend the night in hospital when Sasuke comes to serve as prince on the white horse.
- Time for shift change, we have an agreement, you're not going to stay here and sleep, I know you're not going to get any rest on this uncomfortable sofa! - he says and picks up my things to hand them to me without letting me speak.
- I've already spent the last night at home, let me stay here tonight.
- No, go home please, for me! - Shikamaru says – I'll feel better if you sleep in a comfortable bed, you can sleep in my bed even if you want to.
- I appreciate that, but if I'm going anywhere, I'll go home, and I'll take the opportunity to have a hot bath. - I approach him to speak.
- I miss a bath, I'm glad I'm leaving tomorrow! - he says as if he's being treated very badly here.
- Let's wait, I'll grant your wishes and go home. - I kiss him before putting on my jacket and putting my purse on my shoulder.
- Tenten came with me since you stole her car, she knows you don't like driving, she just didn't visit you because there can only be two people here. - Sasuke explains.
- I don't mind, ask her to take good care of you for me. - he says and kisses my hand.
- I think you're the one who needs looking after. - Uchiha says and makes me laugh with the reaction it causes on Shika.
- See you tomorrow! - I say and leave them in their room, I'll be here again tomorrow morning.
- Come on, Ten, it's nearly eight! - I say, feeling stressed.
- We're already leaving, calm down, he can't walk out of there! - she says.
We get into the car and start the journey, which seems to take longer than usual. When I'm dropped off at the hospital door, I walk too quickly to the reception desk where I'm allowed in.
- I'm back! - I say, relieved to see them well and chatting happily.
- So that's my cue, I've got classes in the afternoon, I'm going to try and get some sleep. - Sasuke says goodbye and leaves the room, leaving me back alone with Shikamaru.
- So how was your night? - I ask, leaning closer to the bed.
- Troublesome, I was woken up every three hours to see if I was okay. But at least I've had confirmation from the doctor, I can leave at ten, I've done my training exercises and my knee is ready for crutches with the help of the pain medication, I'll have to use them for at least a week. - he explains.
- Good, I see you've got everything ready to go. - I say when I see his things already packed.
- Uh huh, and mentally I'm already a long way from here, I can't stand it another second. The nurse promised to give me a shower before I changed, and I'm more than happy with that.
- Oh yes, you love it when a woman touches you when you're naked. Watch out you don't get sued for harassment. - I say ironically.
- Don't be jealous, I could ask you to do it, but I'll save you the embarrassment. - he makes me laugh.
I tell him about my completely normal evening and the nice bath just to annoy him. Around 9.30 the nurse came to offer the bath and for the first time I had the chance to see him using his crutches to help him, he looked lost, how is it possible that a person with a healthy body like his needs help to do such a simple task.
The poor woman had to listen to his stupid jokes while he looked like an old man having a bath sitting in a chair. To his sadness, he didn't have any company, he was just instructed on how to use the shower.
When he got back to his room, he was already dry and, with my help, he could put on the clothes they had brought him.
- Thank you so much for your help, I feel much better now, I think the pain has even gone away! - he says to the nurse, who smiles at him one last time before leaving.
- We're going home at last! - I say happily.
- You don't have to say it twice! - he rushes out of the room and lets me carry his bag without retaliating.
It feels like a victory, but I feel like it's only the beginning of a great war. It hasn't hit him yet, but I know he won't like being dependent on others and two pieces of metal.
I just hope I'm strong enough to withstand it.
Nowadays many cases of slavery and human trafficking are uncovered, but many people suffer a lifetime without being discovered, unfortunately I live in a country where situations like this are still a reality, specially towards immigrants. If you support any story that glorifies this problem, you can stop reading mine.
Kisses❤