Corpse Bride

7

Miranda took a huge breath as the sliding doors of the hospital opened. It has been six years since she last walked inside of this place. There was a new paint color and updated things but it still felt like everything was frozen in time.

As she walked, she noticed the way people glanced at her, recognition showing in their eyes, then changing into a strange, unsettled curiosity...like she was a ghost from a past they’d all but forgotten. In many ways, she supposed, that was exactly what she was.

She decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Lost in thought, she turned the corner searching for the attendings lounge,
when a familiar voice rang out across the hall.

"Bailey?!" Richard’s voice stopped her in her tracks. His face lit up, and before she could react, he was striding toward her with open arms, enveloping her in a warm, strong hug. She remembered him as the pat on the back type of guy but was pleased.

Miranda… it’s really you,” he said, pulling back to look at her with a wide, delighted grin. “After all these years, we thought you were… well, we didn’t know what to think. My goodness, Bailey, it’s been too long. I'm glad you are okay,”

"I know, I can explain," Miranda said quickly.

Just as she was starting to explain, another voice called out from down the hall. Callie approached quickly, her eyes wide and filling with tears as she took in Miranda’s face. Without a word, Callie rushed in and wrapped her arms around Miranda in a tight hug.

“Oh, my God, Miranda! I missed you so much” Callie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes as she looked Miranda over. “We thought… at first we thought you’d just left, that you got cold feet and disappeared. Then we never heard from you. We thought you were dead."

"I didn't get cold feet. In fact I met up with Tucker and we got into a bad argument. I ended up in an accident and I was in a coma… in another hospital. For six years."

"We checked all the hospitals we could think of," Richard said with a sad expression.

"Everything is still really a blur. I had memory loss and swelling in the brain from blunt force trauma. I only woke up a few months ago. I’ve been in physical therapy, trying to get my strength back. This is the first time I’ve really been able to come back."

Callie let out a shuddering breath, reaching out to squeeze Miranda’s hand. “Oh, Miranda… I can’t imagine what that must have been like. And all alone… we should’ve been there for you.”

"Well, how could you have known? It's not any of you alls fault. I blame Tucker. He left me there...but I'm not even going to worry about it. I’m here now, and that’s what matters."

Richard hugged Miranda once more. "I would love to start over with my internship, so maybe we can talk about that in a little bit whenever you have time."

"Oh of course," Richard said patting her back.

"Callie um is it too much to ask if I can stay with you? I don't have anywhere to go."

"Yes! I would love for you to come."

"Okay great,"

"And you get to meet my girlfriend?"

Miranda’s eyes widen. "Girlfriend. Since when."

"I have a lot to fill you in on. Come on. I'll take off work early. I'll walk you around and introduce you to everyone and then we can go get lunch." 

"Okay great,"

Miranda spent the day meeting all of Callie's friends. She liked Derek, Mark, Arizona,  Owen, and Addison and was excited to learn from them.