Solid Ground

Chapter 21

//This chapter is dedicated to the one and only yellow duck!!:) haha I'm just kidding sassoo. Thank you so much for you support and your comments. Thank you so very much. PS. I read each and everyone of your comments. Hope you like the chapter:) guys feel free to follow the yellow ducky ^^

Sorry, but this chapter hasn't been edited. Sorry with a cherry on top.

Riley

"Daddy, I tied my own shoelaces."

"Dad, me and mom made you breakfast."

"Daddy, I accidentally poured Coke on your car seat..."

Everything came back to me in flashbacks. A kaleidoscope of memories came to me in waves. Wave after wave, it didn't get any easier.

I kept my eyes closed. I wanted to stay in my kaleidoscope of memories and away from reality. Away from the thousand of things that could wreck my emotions havoc.

The air in the hospital was freezing. Goosebumps were all over the surface of my dry skin. I tucked my hands under my head and tried my best to fall back asleep. God knows how long I've been asleep.

"Riley, hey, Vivian's here to see you." My mom gently shook me awake.

The bright lights made it even impossible to open my eyes for the first few seconds. I sat upright placed both of my arms on my knees. I kept my gaze on the floor, not wanting to see anyone at the moment.

"Riles, I know your not okay..." She sat beside me, putting one arm across my shoulder.

"It's going to be okay. Marcus is going to save him... Right?" I heard her voice shatter. She took in a long breath and the air between us was filled with sadness once again.

"What are my chances?" I whispered softly. Almost sounding like I was talking to myself.

My heart took one deep fall after another. Optimism doesn't even begin to fall into place.

"Riles, right now your chances might be a million to one, but in reality..." Before she could finish I stopped her.

"Bullshÿt. A million to one, I have better chances of finding a unicorn at this rate." I chuckled.

My heart was cold, my emotions were ice.

I must've scared Vi after saying that. She took her arm off my shoulder and kept silent. This side of me must have been new to her. New to me even.

"Then find your stupid unicorn. You know what, reality sucks, heck, life sucks! But that never stopped anyone from living! You know who are the dead, not the people who died but the people who gave up." Her voice was firm... But I could have cared less.

I finally lifted my head at her. And I just grinned. "Your not the one with the dying dad..." I said smugly.

The next thing I knew, I was being smacked by Vi's leather purse. She stood infront of me, and flung her purse at me. Again and again.

"Stop!" I yelled at her.

"No you stop! Stop it! Give me back the Riley I knew. The Riley I knew was a fighter. The Riley I knew would never give up. Ever! Go find your stupid unicorn, I'm leaving. Just... Tell me the outcome." Tears ran down her cheek, and she turned away and walked off.

"Wait, Vi. I'm sorry, I can't do this. Not alone." I cupped my face with my palm. My eyes making puddles of tears.

She turned around and walked back towards me. She squatted down to my level, so she could look at my face. "Your not alone. You have a friend who loves you. A mother who needs you. And a husband who is fighting for you dad's life. This is far from being alone."

Somehow what she said made me the slightest bit happier. And gave me at least the faintest ray of light.

"Riley, your dad was just out of the surgery room." My mom ran to me and said.

My eyes widen as I paced down the hallway into his ward.

Please, please, please, dad I need you. Don't leave me.

When I pushed open the door, I saw a man who was still on the bed. A little too still. But when I went closer, I saw his stomach moving up and down. He was breathing.

Thank god.

My mum hugged me from behind and tears of happiness came spilling out of her. My gazes soften and my legs felt like air. I was thrilled and relieved till the point every muscle in my body was giving way.Then Melanie came through the door and patted me on the back. "Mr Anderson had business and went back. But I'm so happy for you Riley. By golly, this is the best ending possible."

Melanie helped my mom to a nearby chair and sat down with her. She lend her a pack of tissue and comforted her with her very British accent. Not that it was a problem.

Not long after, Marcus came through the door. With his surgical gloves still on.

I wanted to run over and hug him. But my jelly like legs wouldn't allow me to do so.

He gave orders to a nurse nearby and put my dad under close observation and intense care. He came back and announced to us.

"The surgery was a success. But at this point I can't use the word stable on him just yet. He is still an on off switch, but I'm sure the odds are in our favor now. And if my judgment is right, he'll wake up in a day or two..."

And Riley, I never want to see you cry again. You did great staying strong for your family." His tone went soft. He came near me and I could feel his warm breath near me. He placed a kiss on my cheek before leaving the ward.

Fuzziness filled me. And at that split second I felt like I had the world's best husband.

"Awwwww..." Vi couldn't help but say. "See I told you everything was gonna turn out fine. Kiss your fairytale unicorn goodbye because you got that one in a million, right here, right now. That unicorn will just have to wait." She joked.

I smiled. Through this agonizing day, I finally smiled.

**********

Hi guys. Im really tired. It's like 12 midnight over here. So yeah... Anyways, I hope you like what happened. I'm really happy for Riley. Thank goodness everything turned out well...

Thank you all of you for reading once again. I can never thank you enough. Reads, votes, and comments are much appreciated. See you guys soon:)

And I have some great news. I'm on a one week holiday, so I do expect myself to update more often:)

xoxo Rachel.