Never Apart

The Injury

I wake up in a plain room with simple grey walls and tile floor. Ugh, my head is pounding. My knees are numb and I can't feel my wrist. My breeches and show jacket have been replaced with a long teal hospital gown adorned with daisies. What happened? I spot my mom and dad. They are sitting in chairs watching me in the dim lit room. They look at me sympathetically. "Wher-where's Vinny?" I ask, clearly worried about my horse and loyal companion.

"He's at the vet right now sweetheart. You and Vinny took a pretty bad fall at the show." 

"Wi-will he be okay?"  

"Yes, but you won't be able to ride him for awhile. He has a sprained tendon and a very lightly fractured leg. Luckily it wasn't as bad as it could've been, and with some rest and hydrotherapy, he should be able to walk on it soon." 

"Oh my gosh! When can I see him?" I almost left out of my hospital bed at the thought of Vinny being that hurt. 

"Well, you also got pretty hurt. You broke one leg, fractured your other ankle, and sprained your wrist. You have a bad concussion too. Once you heal and can get home, you can see him." Her voice was comforting, but not comforting enough for the trauma I had been through today. 

"How long will that take?" 

"A few months at the most."

"How is Lauren?" 

"She's fine honey. She's been worried about you. You should call her when you get the chance." 

"I will. Do I have to go to school tomorrow?" Mom looks at dad with a concerned look. 

"Honey, it's Friday. You were unconscious for six days." 

My jaw drops, wondering why and how I can't remember anything. It seems my short term memory has blown away like grains of sand in the wind. "What?!" 

"Yes sweetheart, don't underestimate how bad your bad fall actually was." 

"Whe-when can I go home?" 

"Tomorrow or the next day, I think is what they said. But for now, you just need to rest and concentrate on getting better. I think Lauren's gonna ride to the hospital later to come see you, you should try and get some rest before she comes." 

"Okay," I say, dazing off into a deep sleep.

        I wake up, Lauren perched over my bed. She hugs me and then takes a seat on a plastic chair next to my bed. "Amy! I missed you so much!" she exclaims. "How are you feeling?"

"Hi Lauren! No cast huh?" I asked, seeing that she was fully healed. "I guess alright, uncomfortable, but alright. I mean, I'm not dead, right?" That comment earned an eyeroll from mom, which I ignored and focused on my friend. 

"Yeah, I'm fine now. You took a bad fall out there on Sunday. Are you sure you're okay?" Lauren had a look of concern on her face. 

"Yeah, I think the painkillers are wearing off though. My legs are starting to hurt." I had a throbbing pain in my leg that was more annoying than painful. 

"That's too bad. At least we're both off from school now for another couple weeks." 

Smiling I said, "Yeah, I miss Vinny though. And what's the point of being off from school if you can't ride at all during it?" 

"Yeah, he'll recover soon though. You and him both." 

I start to feel kinda woozy being under all this medicine, so I haphazardly drift off into another deep sleep.