Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 23- Voicemail

Ava woke with her hair stuck to her pillow. Wiping her eyes she felt a sense of unease, trying to remember why today was so important.
Ava gasped suddenly as it dawned on her, home.
Ava sat up in bed, shaking her foot anxiously as she waited for breakfast, her last hospital meal. The nurse came around and Ava was all smiles to her, glad for this to be the last day.

"I'll get started on your discharge papers"
"Thank you" Ava said to the nurse as she placed a Cotten ball over the hole in Ava's arm from the IV. Ava swung her legs off the edge of her bed, pressing the ball into her skin.
Ava saw a shadow appear in her doorway, "Leaving us so soon Dr. Bekker?" 
"Oh I know you'll miss me Dr. Charles" she teased him getting off her bed. Ava looked at him, throwing her arms around him suddenly.
"Thank you, Daniel" she sighed
"For everything" she smiled, her eyes watering slightly.
"Don't be a stranger, Ava" he told her placing a hand on her arm.

"Is Dr. Rhodes around?" She asked carefully.
"I believe he was called in late last night for an emergency surgery, he's probably resting"
"Oh, yeah, of course. I just wanted to say thank you to him. For everything" she said pulling her bag onto her shoulder.
"Oh, speaking of Dr. Rhodes" Daniel felt his pockets, "he gave this to me several weeks ago to try track down some family members for you, but to no avail. And your house keys"
Dr. Charles handed her phone and keys, Ava gave Daniel one last hug before leaning her room, slipping them into her pocket. Ava sighed her discharge papers and went to the CT lounge to retrieve her bag from her locker.

Ava's car was in the same spot that she left it in on the 25th of September. She unlocked the car, wiping some leaves and frost off her windscreen. It took a minute to start but then the engine purred to life. Ava sat back in her seat, closing her eyes she exhaled through her nose before pulling out of the car park. Leaving Gaffney in her rearview.

When Ava go home she dropped her bag and went into the bathroom, tripping over the empty wine bottles at lined her wall. Tying up her hair into a messy bun Ava ran around her apartment opening all the windows, the air in her apartment had become dry and suffocating. She got bin bags and clean out the empty bottles and pill packets. She changed bed sheets and filled Filling the sink with water, submerging her noticeably dehydrated plants.
When Ava was done the apartment was sparkling, striping off she threw her dirty clothes into the washer and walked into her bathroom. She stretch her muscles under the hot water, over a month in hospital really dose a number on your muscles.

Settling down on her bed Ava curled up under her blankets and the familiar scent of them. Pulling her phone out of her bag she flicked it on as the screen lit up.
She had several messages, mostly recent ones from the last few days from people at med, get well soon messages. Her phone pinged with a message from Daniel Smith, her old army friend.

Danny:
Looking forward to meeting her godmother!
Love you lots angel 💓

Attacked was a photo of Danny's new baby daughter. Ava smiled to herself before checking her other messages.

Her phone rang in her hand and she answered, "Hello?"
"Angel! Ava how are you, I heard about everything that happened, are you okey?"
Ava exhaled shortly, happy to hear his familiar voice, "I'm okey Danny, I just got out of hospital today"
"I saw, I've been cyber stalking you to see when you got online" he laughed.
"How's my godchild?" She smiled.
"Good, Elizabeth, Eliza smith"
"Can't wait time meet here, where are you stationed at the minute?"
"Arizona"
"Ohh, desert, lovely" Ava joked.
"We'll be moving again once Eliza's settled, I'll give you my new address and you can stop by if you get a chance"
"That sounds great Danny, I'd love to keep talking but I'm really tired"
"Of course, get your rest. I'll talk to you later, bye"
"Bye" Ava hung up, noticing an alley in her voicemails.