Downfall of the nation's hero

Chapter 12

"Wake up, Miss Matonis, it's time."

Someone's voice announces. I can't tell how close or far the person is. My eyelids are still too heavy, and my body doesn't feel like mine. It's not obeying any orders I try to give it. It's straight-up refusing to do anything. Just five more minutes. Give me five more minutes.

"Come on, Audra, you've slept enough already." A different person says.

I know that voice from somewhere. But from where? The curiosity is strong enough for me to try opening my eyes again. It takes tremendous effort but after some struggle, I finally manage to overpower the fatigue. I take a look around the unknown, unpleasantly white room. Where the fuck am I?

"Well hello there."

I turn to my right side from where the sound came from, only to find Mom sitting beside my bed. My head is spinning and I don't think I've ever felt this dizzy.

"It'S jUsT yoU?" My tongue almost twists when I try to speak. "i WaS hoPiNg fOr SoMEone elSe."

Mom laughs at me, which I'm pretty sure she hasn't done in a while.

"Oh really?" She pats my head. "And who might that be?"

"rEn, oF CoUrSE." I respond to her utterly stupid question. It should be fucking obvious. Who else would I want to see besides her?

But Mom doesn't get the hint. "Ren?" She repeats after me. "Who are you talking about, Audra?"

The whole thing becomes hilarious for me and I start giggling uncontrollably. "reN mArTIn, i FuCking loVe tHat gIrL."

Mom's smile disappears as she shoots a concerned look towards a nurse, who I've just noticed is present in the room. The older woman comes closer to me and squeezes Mom's hand.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Matonis," She reassures her, "Audra is still a bit under the influence of the anesthesia. Most people say stupid things in this state, it's completely normal." Then she smiles and winks at me. "I think we should give this naughty one a little bit more time to recover. We'll keep her here for maybe a day or two to ensure everything is okay."

Mom nods understandingly. "I think that's my cue to leave." Our eyes lock and she kisses me on my forehead. Then she turns back to the nurse. "Is everything scheduled with the university?"

I don't know what she's talking about, but the lovely woman clarifies everything: "Yes, Mrs. Matonis. Audra's coaches have been notified about her progress and once she's discharged from the hospital, they will take care of her as you had wished."

Oh. Of course. Mom's going back to Andover, and she isn't planning on revisiting me here. That's fine, I guess. She must have a lot of work to do. Maybe both of my parents do. Cause there's no way my Dad wouldn't come with her otherwise. I contemplate asking her, but she gets up and leaves without saying goodbye. And that hurts. Have I said something wrong?

"Why that long face?" Sophie bursts into the room and behind her, Ren Martin is following.

"oH hEy GuYs!" I light up again, almost forgetting about being sad because of my mother. "wHaT aRe yOU dOInG hERE?"

Ren and Sophie exchange a short glance and Sophie exclaims. "Oh my god, this is gonna be so fun! Mattie, you're higher than the Empire State Building!"

Ren giggles at that, but her smile quickly fades away. It catches not only my attention but Sophie's as well. Before I form the words of the question on my twisted tongue, Sophie puts her right arm over Ren's shoulder and tells her: "Don't take it personally, Audra's mom doesn't like anyone." Then she arches her eyebrow at me. "But to be fair, Ren, I think the reaction to your presence was triggered by something else. Or should I say someone, Audra? What did you tell her?"