IMANI: ILL-FATED

01-Hospital Rivals and Hiccups

"Four."

"What?" I glared at Nurse Jane, my frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. She stood there, arms crossed, a mixture of concern and annoyance etched across her features. The discharge letter she handed me felt like a mockery, a bitter reminder of my situation as I struggled to read the tangled mess of its contents. Once again, I had landed myself in a hospital bed, a situation that had become all too familiar to me.

It may sound strange to some, but I have learned to tolerate hospitals. You could say they are, in a way, my second home.

"This is the fourth time, Imani," Jane chastised gently, but with an edge of exasperation, now replacing her usual cheerful demeanor. Her voice softened, revealing the layers of concern beneath her words. "You can't keep signing up for these crazy activities. I get it; you love the adrenaline rush, but at some point, you have to take care of yourself."

"Just doing my part for hospital revenue," I joked, my voice a little too bright, trying to lighten the mood. My adrenaline-junkie spirit refused to be dampened, even while I was trapped in a hospital bed, my wrist wrapped in a gaudy, neon splint that practically screamed "accident prone'. "Plus, you wouldn't understand, Jane. It's not just about the rush. It's about living."

"Living? Or nearly dying? You've got the air of a daredevil, but you need to be careful. They're calling you the 'hospital's favorite patient' at this point."

I couldn't help but let out a laugh. In my mind, I could picture the doctors rolling their eyes at my antics. If only they knew how satisfying it was to check off " Car chasing" from my bucket list. Sure, crashing into a tree wasn't part of the plan, but hey, no pain, no gain. The giggle turned into a yelp as a sharp pain flared in my ribs.

Nurse Jane raised an eyebrow and tapped her pen against her clipboard. "You may want to save your giggles for the doctor who will be checking in on you today."

"Who? Valentine?" I scoffed at the name. "The world's most arrogant doctor? No way. Tell him to shove off and get me the next best thing."

She didn't even bother hiding her smirk. "Sorry, Imani. He's on your case. There's no getting out of this one."

I leaned back against the pillow, irritation settling in. Valentine was a cocky, self-assured man and wouldn't miss an opportunity to remind me of the stupidity that brought me to this point. He'd probably have the audacity to lecture me like I was some immature child who needed to be taught a lesson.

Just then, the door swung open, and in strode Dr. Valentine, radiating confidence like it was a cologne he wore. "Well, well. If it isn't Imani. The thrill-seeker." He flashed a smug grin, and I felt my blood boil. 

" If it isn't the arrogant doctor hiding behind  a stethoscope in his ivory tower of superiority."I retort, my voice sharper than my injuries. 

He lifts a brow, clearly unfazed, and his confidence is maddening. "It's called medicine, Imani. You should try it sometime instead of throwing yourself off moving cars."

"Only if you stop pretending like you own this hospital. News flash: You're not that great."

He studied me for a good minute, rolling his eyes as if I were the world's most obnoxious circus act, and then he sighed. "Do you hate your life that much?"

"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence despite knowing exactly what he meant.

"No sane person would jump off a moving vehicle with roller skates on."

"Then I guess I'm not sane." I shrugged nonchalantly, a bind of joy sprouting in my chest at his irritation.

"You are one stupid girl," he spat, a mix of exasperation and something else simmering beneath the surface.