STRIP

31.

Clementine Adams

I hate the smell of hospitals. It only reminds me of my mother laying in one for weeks. She got to be home for a majority of the time when she was sick, but the last few weeks she had spent in the hospital before she passed. 

My father and I would visit every day after school and he even let me take a week off at one point when we knew her time was nearing the end. 

He would have me stay with family or family friends on the nights when she was really bad so he could stay with her but I only got to sleep overnight with her a few times. I wish I got to hold her more. 

I can't imagine how Harry is feeling, I haven't even asked. We were too busy last night examining my body for me to even think about how he was feeling about being in the hospital. I don't know much about his parent's death besides it was a car accident but I would assume he had spent some time in the hospital. 

"Morning, baby," he mumbles next to me when he notices my eyes are open. He must have just woken up from the sound of his voice. "Are you alright?" He asks when I don't reply right away. 

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about how much I hate hospitals, I wasn't even thinking about it much last night but I've been up thinking about it for a while now," I tell him, turning my face to look at him. I want to leave the conversation open for him to tell me how he's feeling without directly bringing up his parents. 

I twisted and turned all night long, it seemed like the second I would get comfortable I would hear someone come into my room to give me more pain meds when in reality it was only twice they had come into my room to check on me. They mentioned I would be extremely tired but probably wouldn't sleep much without pain meds which is why they adamantly came in every four hours to give them to me. 

Even with the pain meds, my body was extremely sore. I couldn't find a position that would feel comfortable for more than thirty minutes. Laying flat on my back was the best way to lay, not pulling any skin or putting pressure on any part of my body but even that didn't last long enough for me to sleep a decent amount. 

"Because of your mom?" He asks after a few moments. 

"Yeah, I was lucky to, uh, spend a lot of time with her at home while she was sick but we spent a few weeks in the hospital with her as well. Now I just think of her anytime I've had to come here. I've never had to stay overnight like this or have an IV in my arm like she did so it just brought back memories," I tell him honestly. I know he can't relate to the exact memory but maybe my vulnerable state will open him up as well. 

"Well, we get to go home today, lovie, so you won't have to be here much longer hopefully," he tries to comfort me. 

"How are you doing? Being here? I didn't want to bring up your parents but I just assume this can't be easy for you either," I finally say. 

"I don't remember much of it," he sighs, turning his eyes away from me. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I wasn't in the right state of mind, baby," he opens up just as we both hear a knock and the doctor walks in. 

"Ms. Adams, how are we feeling this morning?" She asks with a wide smile. 

"Uh, I'm alright, still sore but that was expected," I tell her, turning onto my back again as Harry sits up. 

"You'll probably be sore for a few more days but that should wear off, again, rest will be your best friend. Now, we have the police here for you to speak to, hopefully, they can gather some more information for you to help answer some questions but they will need to hear your side of the story first," she explains.