Kate Fleur's Love Soup

5. Memories and Misgivings

I slowly opened my eyes. I was in my hospital bed but the room was filled with nurses who rushes back and forth, their faces a blur. But one face stood out - Sancha, who was also in a hurry.

Sancha spotted me and rushed to my side. "Kate, oh thank God you're awake! Are you okay?"

I nodded, still trying to process what was happening. "Yes...but what's going on? Why is everyone..."

Sancha's expression was grim. "We're leaving, Kate. I'm packing your bags, and the nurses are helping me. We need to get you out of here, now."

I sat up, alarm bells ringing in my head. "No, no, no! I don't want to go with him! I will never..."

Sancha's hands on my shoulders calmed me down. "No, no, Kate! You're not going with him, okay? We're going to your home, where it's safe. Staying here anymore will be dangerous. Leo is still around the hospital, trying to get in..."

"Leo?" I repeated, my mind racing.

Sancha's expression turned dark. "Ahh...Leo, his name is Leo Ewans, the guy from earlier. We can't let him get to you, Kate. You need to change your dress, you're discharging today, and we're heading to your home."

I stood up, Sancha's hands supporting me as I swayed slightly. My heart was racing, pounding in my chest like a drum. I felt like I was going to collapse, but Sancha held me firm.

"Come on, Kate, you need to get changed," Sancha urged, leading me to the bathroom.

I stumbled inside, locking the door behind me. The mirror reflected a stranger - my grey eyes looked darkened, my hair was messy and tangled, and my face screamed exhaustion and fear. I looked like I'd been through a war.

My gaze dropped to the neatly folded clothes on the counter - a pair of jeans and a cardigan. Simple, comforting clothes that seemed like a lifeline in the midst of chaos.

As I changed, my mind wandered outside the bathroom door, where the nurses and Sancha were rushing around, their footsteps echoing down the hallway.

.........

Sancha drove the car and I sat at the passenger's seat. The scenery outside became a blur of colors and textures. I felt a sense of calm wash over me, the wind hitting my face like a gentle caress. Everything seemed new and exciting, like I was experiencing it all for the first time.

But as the car stopped, my calmness dissipated, replaced by a sense of unease. We had arrived at my apartment complex, a modern building with a sleek glass façade. I gazed up at it, feeling a sense of disconnection.

Sancha turned off the engine and turned to me. "We're here, Kate. This is your home."

I nodded, my heart racing. The wind that had caressed my face just moments before now felt like a distant memory.

I stepped out of the car, my eyes fixed on the apartment building. Sancha led me inside, to a lobby with a security desk and a bank of elevators. We rode the elevator to the fifth floor, and Sancha unlocked the door to my apartment.

I stepped into the apartment, feeling like an outsider in my own home. But before I could even take in my surroundings, a loud popping sound made me jump. I spun around, my heart racing, and that's when I saw her - a woman with blonde hair, wearing a black trouser and a white tube top, and a party cap on her head. She was standing on the table, surrounded by balloons and a giant banner that read "Welcome Back Kate".

Confetti flew through the air, and I stumbled backward, startled. Sancha rushed to my side, laughing. "Surprise, Kate! We wanted to make your homecoming special and Margaret's been planning this surprise party for weeks."