Bad Timing - Jiara (JJ Maybank & Kiara Carrera)

Chapter 9

"heard you got a hole in your lung so I came to visit as your official 'friend' now" The boy jokes as a chuckle was forced out of Kiara's mouth facilely. 

"Funny, you're still funny" Kiara mocked satirically as Ryan placed the flowers in his hands along with the many others Kiara got.

"how've you been?" Ryan questioned with an authentic tone as he sat himself on the couch to the left of Kiara's bed.

"Stiches are out, still got that tube then I'll be out of here!" Kiara says enthusiastically, using her hands animatedly.

"that's awesome, I've been well, but let's not talk about me, you're the one who almost died!" Ryan matched her fervor even with the negative words he was uttering, for Kiara seemed ready to joke about it. Was she?

"oh come on, don't be so dramatic, it was just an accident, I'm fine" Kiara ducked her head as she waved her hand contemptuously.

"Were you driving alone? And why the hell were you speeding? Are you mad?" They both were purely chucking at the accident that is supposed to be traumatic, but instead, Kiara was just laughing about it like it was nothing.

"No, actually, uh, Sarah was with me, but she's fine, she's...she's fine."

"She wasn't hurt? Not one bit?"

"yeah, I know, it's a miracle" Kie attempted to fake her joy, and a part of her wanted that joy to be genuine, but the other part of her resented Sarah, not for loving the guy she was with, but for the issue to drive her out of town without any hint or goodbye.

"Lunch is here" The nurse suddenly walked into the room with a tray in her hands. She strolled the over-bed table after placing the tray on it, proceeding to roll it over Kiara's lap.

"Kale soup? That's so bland" Ryan waited till the nurse left the room to say rather mockingly. It seemed to have made Kiara giggle, so he kept going, unaware of JJ's far presence that was still enough to allow him to hear and see the laughs escaping the room through the open door.

"And apple juice? Really? might as well just murder yourself with a lunch like this" The snickers were loud enough to drive JJ away, despite not saying the words he planned to tell Kiara.

"Do you want me to tell her that you're here to see her?" One of the nurses interfered JJ almost leaving, followed by JJ stammering his words before just shaking his head helplessly. Maybe leaving was best for Kiara right now. Perhaps she needed a break from him, after all, he was the one who put her here, he was the one who caused her suffering, and with Sarah gone, he might as well just leave too. Maybe then Kiara could get the happy ending he so desperately wanted to be a part of but alas didn't' have a place in.

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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 50 percent of American adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives.

A traumatic incident can involve a nearly fatal accident, grief, and physical assault, and for Kiara it was all three. There are three phases after a traumatic event; safety and stability, working through and reassessing traumatic memories, and lastly, community reintegration and connection.

Phase 1: Safety and Stability

"On a scale 1 to 10, how bad is it today?" JohnB questions Kiara, warily observing her reactions, which remained blank, complete blank that it looked inhumane, like a frozen picture with no movement whatsoever.

"Probably a seven" She said as she stiffened her back, cautiously cracking her neck, for it hasn't been long since the cervical collar from around her neck.