“If there isn’t a nurse in here within the next five minutes I swear I’m going to—” I loved her, but Aunt Maggie seriously wouldn’t shut up. She’d been fretting over me for well over an hour, and although I really appreciated the fact that she cared for me and didn’t mind showing just how far her love went, I could really do without the constant pestering. Rolling my eyes and opting to keep my mouth shut, I turned my gaze towards the hospital window, looking out at the deep blue sky that was littered with white fluffy clouds. It was unfairly deceiving, almost creating the look of the warm summer days that I missed so much. A small smile pulled up my lips at the thought of spending my summer wrapped in Rome’s arms. “This is ridiculous!”
“Maggie!” I laughed, lifting my hands in an attempt to calm her ever-flaring temper. Her sharp gaze sliced over to me, and then softened immediately. “Seriously, I feel fine.”
“But there hasn’t been a nurse in here for a routinely checkup. You might have something going on in your body that you don’t even realize!” Maggie exclaimed, looking extremely stressed. I shrugged, trying to convey her irrationality.
I’d been in the hospital for a week now, and my face was finally starting to heal up from all the gashes and bruises it’d been scarred with for too long. As of now, no one knew what had really happened to me. I’d told Maggie and the doctors that some man had cornered me on the sidewalk and beaten me up. I don’t know why I didn’t rat Mrs. Madden out. Something inside of me was urging me to talk to her about it first. I hadn’t forgiven her; I’d started bawling my eyes out the moment I set eyes on my mauled up face, so forgiveness wouldn’t come that easily. But I was still willing to give her a chance to explain.
I also hadn’t been able to see Rome at all in my time at the hospital, which peeved me to no end. The doctors tried to explain to me that Rome and I both needed time to rest and recover from our trying situations, but I couldn’t really believe them or care about their tripe excuses. I wanted to see Rome, point blank. Although, I was slightly hesitant in my persistence after examining the destruction of my face. I looked absolutely horrifying.
“Good afternoon, Miss Julie,” A nurse chirped brightly, walking into my room. I glanced over at Maggie, finding her face tight with annoyance. I stifled laughter. “How are you feeling?”
“Ugly,” I muttered, eliciting a laugh from the young nurse. She smiled at me, coming over and doing her usual checkups. At that point, the only thing I felt was wrong with me was my face. There was practically no pain anymore. Just the constant reminder that my face was hideous.
“Well you seem to be in perfect shape. You’ll be up and out of here in no time,” The nurse assured me, sending another smile in my direction. I smiled back, wishing more than anything that my face would heal and I could go kiss Rome. That’s what I wanted. Sure, the staff were really nice and I got to sleep a lot, but the food was getting kind of bland—disgusting, more like—and the white color of everything was getting to be too much. I needed fresh air. I needed home. I needed freedom.
“Your face is looking much better, Jules. I promise you,” Maggie reassured me once the nurse left the room. I shrugged, pretending to act like my ugliness didn’t bother me. It did. A lot. “Really. Plus the doctors said nothing would scar. Have you looked lately?” I shrugged again. I hadn’t looked since yesterday, but I didn’t really feel like facing myself again.
“You know what I’d really appreciate looking at?” I questioned innocently, widening my eyes towards my aunt. “My fiancé.” Maggie sighed, shrugging at me helplessly.
“That’s not up to me, dear. The doctors insist that you both get plenty of rest and recovery time. And I’m sure that they know what’s best,” Maggie said, looking at me with pity as I felt my eyes begin to water. I know it was stupid; crying over not being able to see Rome. But it had been so long since he’d actually looked at me. Since he told me he loved me, and I ran like a coward into the dangerous night where he couldn’t protect me. I was such an idiot. “It’s okay, dear.”
YOU ARE READING
Rome & Julie
Teen FictionDespite their uncanny names, Rome and Julie think of their relationship as anything but the one of Romeo and Juliet. They were set up at birth, and are both indifferent about it. But, when they find something in each other that they didn't see befo...
