Pieces Of Grace

Chapter 18

The sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the air as I walked through the hospital corridors, my footsteps echoing in the quiet space. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mix of anxiety and relief swirling inside me. Today was the day I would finally see my dad awake, no longer trapped in the coma that had held him captive for weeks.

As I reached his room, I hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. The sight of him sitting up in bed, his eyes open and alert, brought a rush of tears to my eyes. He looked pale and fragile, but he was alive and conscious.

"Dad," I whispered, stepping inside.

His gaze shifted to me, and a faint smile touched his lips. "Hey, sweetheart," he said, his voice weak but filled with warmth.

I rushed to his side, careful not to jostle him as I hugged him gently. "I missed you so much," I murmured, my tears soaking into his hospital gown.

He patted my back with his good hand, the other still bandaged and resting on the bed. "I missed you too, Alice. How are you holding up?"

I pulled back, wiping my tears away. "I'm okay, Dad. Just glad you're awake."

He nodded, his expression serious. "I heard about the accident. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault. The important thing is that you're here now."

We talked for a while longer, catching up on everything that had happened. It was comforting to see him awake and responsive, even if he was still badly injured. The doctors had said it would be a long road to recovery, but I was just grateful he was alive.

After spending some time with Dad, I decided to take a break and grab a coffee from the café down the street. As I walked into the café, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped me, providing a brief respite from the overwhelming emotions of the day.

I ordered a latte and found a seat near the window, hoping to clear my mind for a moment. As I sipped my drink, I glanced around the café, my eyes landing on a familiar figure. My stepmom, Karana, was sitting at a table near the back, deep in conversation with a man I didn't recognize.

They were seated close together, and from the way they were talking and laughing, it seemed like more than just a casual conversation. I felt a pang of confusion and unease. Who was this man, and why was Karana here with him?

I watched them for a few more minutes, my mind racing with questions. The man reached across the table, touching Karana's hand lightly, and my stomach twisted in knots. Unable to bear it any longer, I grabbed my coffee and left the café, my thoughts a jumbled mess.

When I returned to Dad's room, Karana was there, sitting by his bedside and chatting with him. She looked up as I entered, a warm smile on her face.

"Hey, Alice," she said. "How was your coffee break?"

I forced a smile, trying to push the confusion and suspicion to the back of my mind. "It was good," I replied, taking a seat next to Dad. "How are you feeling, Dad?"

He smiled at me, the exhaustion evident in his eyes. "Better now that you're here."

We spent the rest of the afternoon together, talking and laughing as if nothing had changed. But the image of Karana with that man lingered in my mind, a nagging doubt I couldn't ignore.

Later that evening, as I lay in bed, I couldn't help but wonder what was really going on. Was Karana seeing someone else? And if so, what did that mean for our family? The questions swirled in my mind, keeping me awake long into the night.

The next day at school, I tried to focus on my classes, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Karana and the man at the café. During lunch, I confided in Alya, telling her what I had seen.

"Maybe it's not what you think," Alya suggested, her brow furrowed in thought. "It could be a colleague or a friend."

I nodded, wanting to believe her. "Yeah, maybe. I just can't shake this feeling that something's off."

Alya reached across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "If you're really worried, maybe you should talk to her. Find out what's going on."

I considered her advice, knowing she was right. But the thought of confronting Karana made me anxious. What if it was something more? What if it shattered the fragile sense of normalcy we were trying to hold onto?

Later that evening, I was at home, trying to distract myself with homework. My mom and her boyfriend were out for a few hours, and Alya had come over to keep me company. We were sitting in my room, the sound of rain pattering against the windows.

"Hey, Alice," Alya said, breaking the silence. "You okay? You've been really quiet since you told me about Karana."

I sighed, putting my pencil down. "I don't know, Alya. I just have this bad feeling. I mean, I never really liked Karana that much to begin with. She always seemed... I don't know, off."

Alya nodded. "I get it. But maybe you're jumping to conclusions. People can be friendly without it meaning anything more."

"Maybe," I said, though my doubts remained.

We talked for a while longer, Alya doing her best to reassure me. But even as we laughed and chatted, the image of Karana with that man at the café haunted me. I knew I couldn't ignore it forever. One way or another, I would have to find out the truth.