Locked Eyes

18. Genevieve

"The stitches will take a couple of weeks to heal, but it's not big," The nurse smiles at me and I return the gesture even if I don't feel quite happy. I see her check where I'm basically being fed, the tubes in my nose. "You're taking the refeeding well," She applauds and I mentally lift a fist and go woohoo but I hold back. "Are you up to try some soft foods?" She asks me.

In the corner of my eye, I can see Sebastian lift his head up at the question and he's waiting for my response "Umm, I guess? isn't it too soon?" I rub my hands together.

"I don't think so, you are doing well on the tube. There is no pressure on eating soft foods and if it doesn't happen, we can take a step back," She shrugs. I sigh and look to grandma who holds hope in her eyes. This is one of my fastest recoveries.

"Sure," I shrug and the nurse smiles before excusing herself for a minute.

"Soft foods are better than a tube in your nose dear," Nana reminds me.

"I know but the thought of actual food makes me want to throw up," I tell her playing with the hem of my hoodie, well Sebastain's actually, I'm also wearing leggings. Thank god for Imogen who brought some clothes over.

"Baby steps," Nana smiles and I nod back. Her phone rings and she excuses herself, it's most likely grandpa, doing his hourly checkup.

"So are you almost done with your summer class?" I ask Sebastian, he's been staying with me since I've been here.

"Yeah just about, thankfully we don't have to do a final exam," He sighs, I watch him click a few things before closing the laptop screen.

I pull the sleeves of the hoodie over my hands, I'm freezing and hospitals always make me cold. Sebastian notices and moves off the wooden hospital chair and slides onto the bed with me, I immediately curl up beside him. "Your so warm," I shiver and he shakes his head.

"Penny says she's coming home now, Aunt Kara has business she can't speak about so," He shrugs. From what I know his Aunt works for Interpol which is crazy cool. The nurse comes back and I move away from Sebastian to face her.

"It's going to hurt," she says in a sorry tone.

"Nothing I'm not used to," I sigh and give her a pained smile. She does what she needs by unplugging the machine that's feeding me. She slowly rips the tape off my face that's keeping the feeding tube in my nose.

"Alright brace yourself," she says and I nod. I feel Sebastian's arm slowly unwraps from around my waist and he placed a hand on the back of my head, I reach over to grab his other hand as she slowly starts to pull the tube.

I grimace and my eyes start to water up, "oh god," I groan out, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Almost there," The nurse says. I'd rather she just rip it out instead of going so painfully slow. "Alright there we go," She gives me a smile and I sigh leaning back, I rub my nose and Sebastian hands me a tissue.

"I'm going to bring in some apple sauce, we'll start there, sound good?" She asks and I nod.

"Thank you," I tell her, and she gives me another smile before leaving, grandma comes back and tells us she has to head home and I assure her I'll be okay. She leaves with a quick kiss on my cheek.

"Oh god, I hate having those things taken out,"
I mumble rubbing my nose. Sebastian turns my head and wipes my cheeks. "Hotter?" I joke balling my tissue up.

"Cindy it doesn't matter if you are in a fucking hospital gown with your ass hanging out, a tube taped to your cheek or if you've got your usual outfits," he tells me and I smile.