Sleep State

Chapter 19

- Ana -

"Honey, I really think we should consider taking legal action."

Her mother's persistent plea was a never-ending cycle. Ana inhaled deeply and kept her focus on nothing in particular as she tried to ease her mind. She had stated clearly what she wanted, and yet her mother seemed to push the idea further that the man who hit her, Christian, deserved to be punished to a greater extent.

"I said no, Mom. I don't want to do it." She repeated herself like a broken record. "Please, just drop it."

"I'm not going to drop it, Ana. The man was reckless and nearly killed you. How on earth do you think that makes me feel?" Carla exclaimed. Her long fingers wrapped around her hand. Sadness and vengeance gathered in her mother's eyes.

"And how you think it makes me feel?!" Ana snapped. "I know what happened, but I'm here and as much as I don't like the man or the situation, I'm not about to put him through more hell than he has already been through."

"Ana..." Her mother tried to reason with her again.

"Stop. Please." She begged of her. "I'm not going to change my mind about this. I don't want to press charges. I just want to move on."

"But Ana..."

"I think you should leave." The words were out of her mouth before she could render the thought. Had she really just asked her own mother to leave? The answer was yes. The water had reached its boiling point and so had she. Her decision had been final, yet the idea was not mute, not by any means according to her mother. Screw her and her stubborn ways. Two could play this game. She was her mother's daughter after all.

The shock upon her face only showed briefly as she held a tight smile and leaned up to kiss her forehead. "I'm sorry, honey. I know you're tired." She rose from her seat. "I'll come back later with your father and we can talk about this more."

What the hell was there more to talk about? Her mother was not listening nor did it seem like she wanted to. There was no need to bring her father into this mess even if he wanted to voice his opinion on the matter. What Christian had done was horrible and downright irresponsible, but the man was in a coma for Christ's sake! Did no one else see judgment had been served?

Ana sucked in her bottom lip as she ignored her mother's obvious denial. She tried to rid the thought of him from her mind once more. She didn't want to think about him, but lately he was all she could think about. No thanks to her mother, he slithered his back. This really had to stop, but somehow he always found a way. She needed it to end and remain locked away in the walls of this hospital. She needed to move on. Why couldn't her mother understand that?

With a final squeeze of her hand, Carla respected her request. She would apologize to her mother later, but right now she needed her gone. The last thing she wanted was to say something she would regret.

As her mother left, her nurse entered. Her hospital room was like a revolving door with a constant flow of familiar faces. Usually, she enjoyed their company, but right now all she cared for was the chance for a few uninterrupted hours of peace and quiet to herself. Was that too much to ask? The nurse's scheduled check-ups she could not deny, but her family and friends, she could.

Ana squirmed in her bed as the assigned nurse greeted her and gave her a forced smile. She knew that look. The one that said, I'm here to do my job and while I do care about your well-being, I much rather be somewhere else look. She was no stranger to it. When she would no longer bed bound and under doctor's orders to rest, she too would be making her rounds in this very hospital tending to the sick and hurt even on days she wouldn't want to. She longed to get back on her own two feet and feel normal again.