Different Doesn't Mean Broken

Chapter 10 - Mia

I heard Michelle telling the other five counsellors that Alex was still missing. At first, I was glad. But as dinnertime approached and I recalled that Alex was diabetic, I became quite concerned.

Though I couldn't really run, not safely, I abandoned my crutches beside my bed in the cabin. Then, I rushed over to Michelle, Emily, and Sally, who were looking at a camp map and discussing where Alex might have wandered off.

"Can I help find her? Please? I know she hasn't been very nice to me, but I'm sure she's at least a little scared." I looked at Emily, who was calling the camp director.

Emily nodded. Then she looked me up and down. "Yes. But you have two options. Borrow a wheelchair from the infirmary or bring your crutches."

"But I can walk!" I argued. Not very well or steadily without the infuriating things, but still.

"Fine. But if you start feeling dizzy, let us know. And go get your knee braces on." Sally stated. She looked at my cabin mates.

"Does anybody else want to help look for your cabin mate?"

Nobody else volunteered, so the remaining three counsellors stayed, and the four of us headed off.

Sally and I began looking around the overnight tenting area—no Alex.

We looked around the ropes course and heard crying. I looked at Sally, and she smiled and nodded.

I ran ahead of her, though technically, I shouldn't have, and rushed to follow the sound of crying.

"Alex? Alex, if that's you, please yell out for help!" I rushed towards the sound.

Sally and I found Alex crying near a rock. The poor girl looked scared and was sweating profusely.

Sally noticed and immediately took out her phone. She called Michelle, then the nurse.

The nurse drove up with an ATV and checked Alex's sugar.

"She's low. We need to get her back to the infirmary now."

"Is she going to be alright?" I asked just as Alex passed out.

The nurse rushed Alex into the trailer attached to her ATV.

Soon, we returned to Camp Big Pine and the infirmary. I sat beside Alex's bed as the nurse gave her an injection in her abdomen.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Glucagon. It'll help her. Now all we do is wait."

"Can I wait with her?" I asked.

Michelle shook her head. "No. It's dinnertime, Mia. Let's go."

I looked back, frowning as we headed to dinner.

Soon after mealtime, me and the rest of Thunderstorms were brought back to our cabin. There was still no sign of Alex as we got ready for bed, not even when Sally turned out the lights.

During the morning routine, I asked about Alex.

"If she's feeling better, I want to be her partner during free swim lessons. Please."

Michelle nodded and wrote my name beside Alex's.

"She woke up this morning, the nurse said. Just be aware she might be a bit groggy today." Michelle warned.

I nodded and finished getting dressed, grabbed my medical backpack, and then waited to be led toward meds.

After meds, we all went to breakfast. We were in the middle of mealtime when I heard someone sit down.

After finishing my meal, I looked over. Then smiled.

"Welcome back, Alex. Feeling better?"