Him and Her

Thirteen

Thirteen

Ana

- The next afternoon -

When my eyes open, I am looking out the window. Snow lightly falls onto the ground. What happened? Why am I in a hospital room? My eyes travel to the door in the room. My father is talking to a doctor in a white lab coat and my mother has a nervous hand on my father's shoulder.

"Mom? Dad?" As soon as I croak the words, they all turn to face me.

My mom rushes over and holds my hand. "Hey sweetie!"

"Good morning peanut." My dad smiles down at me.

"How are you feeling? Mom questions.

Cold. Tired. Fuzzy. "I'm fine." I answer.

"Are you sure?" She asks again.

No. "Yes. What happened?"

"You were in an accident. You were in surgery for your leg to reline everything. You had torn some muscles, ligaments. Your knee was completely destroyed in the crash. You also have a small concussion." The doctor explains.

A scared tear runs down my cheek. "I'm sorry." I mumble looking down.

"What? No sweetie. Don't be. It wasn't your fault." My mom explains.

"He hit you." My dad assures.

I swallow. "What happens now?" I ask them and wipe the tear.

"You are cleared to go home today. But must be on bed rest for the next seventy-two hours." The doctor states.

Since today is now Thursday, I won't be back to school until next Monday! I am even missing today! The anxiety of missing school makes me nauseous. My stomach feels so empty. I'm starving.

"You will be in a wheelchair for a few weeks before crutches." He adds.

"Oh." Is all I think to say.

I look down at my leg that aches a little bit. It's covered by the thin hospital blanket, but I see something large and bulky covering from my hip to ankle. I go to touch my hair out of a nervous habit, but my fingers graze a small bandage. I wince in pain at the small contact.

"I am going to go and sign your discharge papers." My dad stands.

He walks out of the room with a male nurse while the doctor continues to walk to my mom about medical stuff. I just stare at the ceiling, choking back tears.

What about school? What do I tell Emma and Kimberly? What about tutoring? What do I tell Eric? Do I tell Eric? Goodness. Being in an accident is stressful. Both my parents work full jobs throughout the day. I am taking time from their work. I am missing so much school already. I don't miss days!

"Thank you so much." My mom says before the doctor nods his head and walks away. She walks toward me with a smile. "Before your father gets back, I am going to help you change."

I nod my head slowly. She takes my hand and helps me sit up and moves the blanket so I swing my legs around and off the side of the bed. My normal healthy leg bends at the knee at the end of my bed. The other one I feel is held up by a rod. I frown at it.

"I got you these." She pulls out a pair of really wide grey sweatpants with a giddy smile.

My mom never fails to make me smile.

She pulls the pants over my legs and the cast and helps it go over my bum. Once the pants are on, I quickly slip off the hospital gown and pull a black hoodie over my head and down my torso. A pair of pink hospital socks sit on my feet. They have small grippers on the tops and the bottoms.