Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 51

December 2nd, 2019

*Eli*

Another hour later, we were nearing four o'clock in the afternoon and we still didn't have an update on Mia. For the most part, I think she was okay, but all the possibilities were killing me.

Cato had been able to get in touch with a social worker and had gotten the okay for a DNA test. He hadn't explained much about it, but I think he was also in the process of becoming her legal guardian too. I knew next to nothing about the law - unless it came down to avoiding it - but family court had always been Cato's thing to deal with.

"Hey! Hey!" Alan nudged me as he scrambled to his feet, making me glance up from my phone as the others all quickly stood to greet the nurse approaching us.

"How is she?" Cato asked before she could say anything.

The nurse offered up a comforting smile. "There were complications with her chest tube, but the surgery took care of everything just fine. She's been on watch for the past hour, but she should be waking up soon,"

"So can we see her?" Colton asked eagerly, glancing at Cato for permission.

The nurse nodded. "You can go up and wait in her room if you'd like," She left us as quickly as she'd come, leaving us all bubbling in our own emotions. At least she was okay now.

"Let's go!" Javi told us all, tugging on my hand in an attempt to pull me down the hallway.

"The kid's right," Alan said, moving to follow him.

I let Javi lead me until we reached her room, and then he let go of my hand and ran to Mia's side. I hurried forward and grabbed him, preventing him from climbing up in the bed with her. "Let her rest," I told him gently, sitting down on one of the chairs with him.

I studied Mia from where I sat, trying not to cry. Her skin was paler than usual and her face looked sunken, aside from the visible cuts and bruises on her skin. She had an oxygen mask around her nose and mouth again, though her chest was barely rising anyway. She looked sick, and that made me sick.

"I should've been there," I muttered to myself, tearing my gaze away. "She wouldn't have left if I'd been there,"

"Eli, you can't blame yourself," Cato told me softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You couldn't have known,"

"But I should've," I argued.

"They both would've found a way to get you to leave, she'd already made up her mind," he continued. "She's safe now, and that's all that matters,"

"I guess you're right,"

Mia shifted in her bed, and all of our attention snapped to her.

Javi slid off my lap as Alan stood up, tentatively staring. "Is she okay?" Javi asked worriedly, turning to look back at us, his big blue eyes wide.

Mia stirred again, groaning softly before her eyes fluttered open. She coughed a few times, shifting her head so she was watching us. Her expression looked pained, and her green eyes were dull and tired. She scanned over us a couple of times before she turned her head away, closing her eyes and taking several slow breaths before she opened them again.

"Venire qui," she mumbled.

Javi obediently went and climbed up with her at her gesture. She briefly spoke to him, making sure he was okay.

"Hey," Alan said, moving to stand beside her. "How are you feeling?"

Mia mumbled something incoherently, coughing again and trying not to close her eyes. She managed to lift her arm and grasp Alan's hand, forcing a tiny smile on her face. She didn't say anything else but Alan looked happier nonetheless.