Cassie's Story

Chapter 3: Hospital Bound

As it had been just hours since Cassie's crash, she had fallen unconscious again; she had been hooked up to machines to help her until she regained consciousness. Angel Dust sat outside Cassie's room, unable to summon the courage to enter. He got up and paced around a little, starting and stopping until he heard a voice. The voice belonged to Dr. Rodriguez, Cassie's attending physician, who emerged from the room with a solemn expression. He approached Angel Dust and gently explained that Cassie's condition was critical but stable. The news sent a wave of anxiety crashing over Angel Dust, intensifying his fear of facing the unknown inside that room.

"Well, when can I see her?" Angel asked with hopefulness in his voice. Dr. Rodriguez sighed and empathetically replied, "I understand your concern, Angel. However, due to the severity of Cassie's condition, we need to limit visitors for now. We will do everything we can to keep you updated on her progress." Angel went pale. "No, no, no, you need to let me see her!" Angel's voice trembled with desperation as he pleaded with Dr. Rodriguez. "I can't bear the thought of not being by her side. Please, there must be something I can do to help her." Dr. Rodriguez gently placed a hand on Angel's shoulder, offering him a reassuring smile. "I know it's difficult, but right now the best thing you can do is trust our team and let us take care of Cassie. We will make sure she receives the best possible care."

"Do you know if she has any other family members?" The doctor asked, and Angel shook his head. "no. She has nobody else thanks to that goddamn crash!" Angel's voice cracked with emotion as he clenched his fists. "I can't believe this happened to her; it's just not fair." Dr. Rodriguez nodded understandingly, his eyes filled with empathy. "I understand your anger and frustration, Angel. We will do everything in our power to support Cassie and provide her with the care she needs. You are not alone in this; we are here for both of you." As Dr. Rodriguez went back into Cassie's room, Angel sat down, finally bursting into tears, feeling a mix of sadness and relief. The weight of the situation had finally caught up to him, and he allowed himself to grieve for a moment. He knew that Cassie's recovery would be a long and challenging journey, but having Dr. Rodriguez's support gave him a glimmer of hope for the future.

Half an hour later, Angel heard a familiar voice. He looked up and saw Cherri Bomb standing in the doorway, a concerned expression on her face. Cherri had been Cassie's best friend since childhood, and Angel was grateful for her presence. Cherri rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly, offering comfort in the midst of their shared pain. Together, they knew they would be a strong support system for Cassie as she embarked on her difficult road to recovery. "How is she?" Cherri asked Angel, who took a deep breath before responding, his voice filled with both exhaustion and hope. "She's stable for now," he replied, "but the doctors say it's going to be a long and challenging journey ahead. Cassie's strong, though, and with all of us by her side, I believe she can overcome this." Cherri nodded understandingly, her eyes reflecting determination as she squeezed Angel's hand reassuringly.

"Cherri, I should've gone with them..." Angel's voice trailed off, filled with regret. "I can't help but blame myself for not being there to protect her." Cherri gently squeezed his hand again, offering him a comforting smile. "Angel, you can't blame yourself. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. The important thing now is to support Cassie and be there for her every step of the way."

Angel began to pace as minutes became hours; Cassie still couldn't have visitors due to her critical condition. Cherri watched him with concern, knowing that his worry and guilt were eating away at him. "Angel, we just have to trust that the doctors are doing everything they can for Cassie. Let's focus on being patient and staying positive for her sake."

"Cherri, it's been 4 hours now, and I can't help but feel helpless. I just want to be by Cassie's side and comfort her during this difficult time. But you're right, we need to trust in the expertise of the medical team and have faith that they are doing everything possible to help her recover. Let's continue to send our love and support to Cassie and believe that she will pull through." Cherri took Angel's hand to calm him down. She gently reminded him, "Remember, Cassie is strong and resilient. We have seen her overcome challenges before, and I believe she will do it again. Let's stay hopeful and keep reminding ourselves that she is in good hands." Seconds later, Dr. Rodriguez came out of the room with a solemn expression on his face. He approached Cherri and Angel, his voice filled with empathy as he said, "I'm afraid Cassie's condition has worsened. We are doing everything we can, but it's crucial that we all stay strong for her during this difficult time." Cherri and Angel exchanged worried glances, their hearts sinking with the news.