WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

14.Where Healing Begins

Astra held Vanessa close, her arms wrapped around her gently yet firmly, as though she could shield her from all the hurt of the world. Vanessa had calmed down, her breathing steadying against Astra's chest, and soon enough, both girls drifted back to sleep. The room was quiet, except for the rhythmic hum of the machines that monitored Vanessa's heart rate. It was a comforting lullaby, weaving through the dim glow of the hospital's morning light, which seeped through the blinds and cast soft shadows on the walls.

The warmth of each other's presence kept them asleep until the door creaked open. A doctor entered, clipboard in hand, the sound of his footsteps softly reverberating through the room. Astra's eyes fluttered open first, and she registered the scene, Vanessa still nestled close, their arms entangled. The doctor cleared his throat lightly, trying not to disturb the tender moment. Astra gently disentangled herself, careful not to jostle Vanessa, and slipped off the bed.

"Morning, doctor," she murmured, her voice thick with the remnants of sleep, trying to give him a polite smile as she ran a hand through her disheveled hair.

He nodded, offering a professional yet understanding smile. "Morning. I'll just do a quick check on her, if you don't mind."

Astra glanced back at Vanessa, whose eyes were barely opening, and gave her a reassuring squeeze on the hand before stepping out of the room. She closed the door behind her, leaning against the cool wall outside, her thoughts tangled with worry and exhaustion.

Inside the room, Vanessa blinked as she adjusted to the sterile light of the morning. The doctor's presence brought her fully awake, and she propped herself up slightly, wincing as her ribs reminded her of their injury.

"How am I doing, doc?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse from sleep but laced with a determination to cut straight to the point.

The doctor glanced at her chart and then back to her with a reassuring nod. "You're out of any immediate danger, Vanessa. The surgery went well, and your vitals are stable. But you should rest more. Take it easy for a while."

Vanessa's brow furrowed slightly, processing the information before she asked the question already forming on her lips. "So, can I go home today?" She spoke with a mixture of hope and urgency, as though the idea of staying in the hospital longer was unbearable.

The doctor regarded her with a small smile, a knowing look in his eye. "Yes, you can go home, but you must have someone with you. You still need to take it slow and avoid putting any strain on yourself."

Relief washed over Vanessa's face, and she managed a grateful nod. "I've got someone here," she replied, thinking of Astra just outside the door. She was not gonna ask to astra to stay even more with her, but in that moment she was her card to get out of the hospital.

Their conversation had barely ended when the door opened again, revealing Dr. Bellamy. His presence filled the room, an air of authority softened by genuine concern. Vanessa's eyes widened at the sight of him, a mix of surprise and gratitude crossing her features.

"Professor Bellamy," she greeted, her voice tinged with an edge of formality she hadn't realized she'd adopted.

Dr. Bellamy approached with a slight smile, his expression gentle. "Vanessa, I heard what happened. I'm glad you're okay," he said, pausing to study her face, the concern evident in his eyes. "I came by to see how you're doing, but it seems I won't have to worry too much."

Vanessa offered a grateful, albeit tired, smile. "Thank you, Professor. For everything. I know... it could've been worse."

Dr. Bellamy nodded, his gaze shifting to the chart by her bedside. "Yes, it could have. But it wasn't, and I'm glad to see you on the mend. The surgery went smoothly, nothing too complex, we just removed some blood excess and repaired some vessels, but you should really give your body time to heal. Those ribs of yours won't take kindly to rushing things."