Temporary Nanny

Chapter 34

The steady beeping of a machine is what I hear first. It takes a moment for the rest of my body and senses to come to. The aching is vivid and it hurts so much that I can't even pick out a particular spot that aches the most.

I'm positive if I move an inch my bones will all shatter - if they haven't already. It doesn't take long for my brain to get the message to my eyes that it's time to open up now.

So, very slowly and carefully, they start to flutter open and attempt to adjust to the harsh lighting.

The first thing I see is a whiteboard straight across from me. It says my name, the nurse on duty's name and under that it reads what I'm in for. The board just says head trauma but I take to notice the cast around my arm, leg, and a few of my fingers bound by some medal cast.

My heads pounding and I feel a bit out of sorts. Which is normal I suppose for the situation I'm in.

My thoughts are still fuzzy on how I got here and the events leading up to whatever landed me in the hospital in the first place. I remember being at Mia's house, I remember needing to talk to Michael about something - Michael!

I find the red button on a nearby remote and press it an annoying amount of times. Multiple nurses are rushing into the room in seconds all talking a mile a minute.

Theres two that are checking every part of my body while talking to each other in medical terms, another asking me things like whats my name and how old I am, and one other shouting to page the doctor then asking if anything hurts.

Naturally, it's all overwhelming and I can hear my heart beat picking up on the monitor. All I need is to see Michael. To know what happened and why he wasn't in the room with me.

My throats dry as a bone so I gesture toward the water on a table at the end of the bed. The same nurse who's been asking me personal questions is the one to happily pour a cup and give me a straw.

The cold water hits my throat like a pool on a hot day. It helps with the scratchy feeling and 2 and a half cups later I'm ready to answer questions and ask a few of my own.

-

The doctor comes in to give me details and answer any questions a while later. From what I've gathered, I was hit by another vehicle and banged my head on the steering wheel. The nurses said I was talking when the paramedics got there but passed out due to stress on my brain.

I apparently got through brain surgery okay but hadn't woken up for 3 weeks. Three whole weeks. I can't even imagine what that was like for everyone else. By the time the doctors done I'm feeling tired but I'm also so overwhelmed I want the comfort of familiar faces. Mia, Michael, Stella..

"My baby, did it um..." I can't even finish the question. I'm not even sure I want to know the answer. Not at least until I have someone there with me. "He's fine." The doctor offers a genuine smile and comforting touch. "Definitely a fighter that one, just like his mom I see," she chuckles.

"He? It's a boy?" I gasp. "Oh I'm sorry did you not know? I've ruined the surprise!" She frowns. "N-no. It's alright. I needed to know. Thank you!" I assure her. "Is he...here? Can I see him?" I ask sheepishly.

"He actually just went home a few days ago. We've already called your family, they're on their way." She smiles one more time and that's about all I needed to hear from her. "Thank you. Hopefully they all weren't too much." I offer with my lips turned up at the corner.

I can see them all now. Stella running around like a crazy toddler, Daryl cracking jokes with/about the nurses, Karen crying and getting frustrated with everyone working there, Mia probably making snarky comments and watching their every move and Michael...well he probably chewed everyone's head off and disappeared a lot.