Sight

Fourteen.

My vision was cloudy, the sight you had when you stepped out of the blissful air conditioning into the excruciating heat and humidity and your glasses fogged over everything was haze? That was precisely what I saw.

But even past the mist, I could see my mother's sleepless face stricken with fear and worry as she simply sat there to my right, my father was on the other side of the bed with his head on the mattress and his arms encasing around him, my baby brother asleep on the little couch placed on the far wall. A person sat at the end of the couch with him, Trevor's legs on this person's lap, I then noticed it was Avery, her eyes closed and titled back against the wall, she was fast asleep, but I could sense her discomfort.

Then the door to my septic smelling hospital room swung open and revealed Mrs. Evans holding two cups of coffee, "Here you go Ella." Avery's mother handed it to my mother, a small smile wanting to form on my face on hearing my mother's nickname from high school.

Mrs. Evans, or Taylor as she asked me to call but I never had the habit, used to be one of my mom's closest friends all through school. She was the one who introduced my dad to my mom. She is the reason why I am here and living. Then she had a baby with Mr. Evans, Aiden was his name, and they brought me my best friend.

I remember what a great man Mr. Evans used to be, he died very suddenly in a harsh car accident, one minute he was buying Mrs. Evans a dress and the next, he was gone.

Avery and her father were very close, they were practically best friends, then when her father died, Avery went into a hole and acted out, one day she was there with her rich, mahogany brown hair and the next she had her crazy light and dark red hair illuminating the air around her.

Avery was very mature in handling the death of her father, she even helped her mother through it. I still remember when she got her hair dyed, maybe three years ago, every now and then she gets it done up to maintain the color and each and every time she does, she's reminded of the time she first did it and the reason why she first did it, every time she sheds a few tears.

I took in a deep breath and instantly the scent of antiseptics, disinfectants and death. I never liked hospitals, they bright lights, the harsh smells, it made me want to hurl.

"Oh! Maria! You're awake!" Mrs. Evans gushed and Dad's head snapped up instantly, mother jerked and snapped her eyes up at me, I noticed her trembling hands as she kept the cup of her coffee down.

Slowly she stood up and I saw the tears in her light eyes, she whimpered and leaned down to hold me against her, her hold tight around my shoulders, "Oh, Maria." She sighed I felt her tears damp against my cheek and I smiled a sad smile and rubbed her back a little.

She pulled away, a sad smile on her face, "You crazy, Darwin." My dad said as he stood up and hugged me, I smiled and I heard his chuckle, warm and familiar against my ear. Even when chuckling, I could sense the amount of pain my father held back.

Mrs. Evans smiled at me, "I'm glad you're okay, Maria. I went crazy with worry the minute I heard." She gave me a light hug and a light kiss on the forehead, instantly I felt a wave of pain thrum. I took in a sharp breath and she pulled away immediately, "Oh, Maria! I'm so sorry!" Her hands went to her mouth, a look of fear and horror slapping her in the face.

I shook my head and raised my hand to my forehead, my fingers floating like butterfly wings against what felt like a bandage around my head. I looked up at my mother and a frown darkened my face, I remembered nothing, nothing except pain.

"Y-You slipped and fell in the shower. Your skull is slightly fractured, you're not allowed to move a lot since there's a possibility you could've hurt your spine in the fall. There isn't any brain damage, but you're going to be in bed rest for a while, honey." Mother explained as she leaned in and touched my cheek; I felt a tear roll down, suddenly I was gasping.