Another Day

Chapter 17

Before I opened my eyes I knew I was in a hospital. They have a distinct smell. One that immediately made me cringe.

I breathed in. I’m alive.

I breathed out. And very uncomfortable.

My side ached, and the slightest fidget sent a shoot of pain through my body. I opened my eyes. White walls surrounded me on all sides. The room was empty, and quiet, except for the beep of a heart monitor to my right.

I tested my limbs, curling my toes and moving my wrists to make sure they were still attached. My body felt heavy, and I was incredibly tired. But before I had the chance to go back to sleep, Linda came quietly into the room.

She saw that I was awake. “Oh, good, I’m glad to see you conscious.” She smiled at me as she sat at the end of my bed. “Also, if anyone asks I’m your sister.” She laughed a little.

I winced as I tried to sit up better. “Where were you?” I asked, almost accusingly, cutting through the light atmosphere. A flash of guilt crossed her face. “I-I wasn’t paying attention, I’m really sorry Donna.” She said softly.

I sighed and laid back. “Have you spoken to Danny?”

She slowly shook her head. “No”

Another pinch of pain shot through my side as I moved too quickly. I winced.

I wanted to see him. Surely he could bother to come see me while I was in the hospital right? What more could I do to catch his attention?

“I’m sorry Donna.”

I didn’t say anything. Just then, an older man with slightly graying hair and a bushy mustache popped into the room with his head buried in a clipboard. He smiled at me. “How are you feeling Donna?”

I smiled tensely back. “Better than I did last night.” His smile only widened. It was near blinding now. “Well, he didn’t hit anything vital, miraculously, so it’s not too serious, just a flesh wound, but we’ll keep you for a couple days to make sure nothing gets infected and the bandages hold up well.” He spewed.

“Sounds good” I said wryly. He laughed a little and pointed to a button beside my bed. “If you need anything just get a nurse, if you have any questions let me know.” He said, and backed out of the room.

Linda beamed at me. “At least that’s some good news.”

My eyes dropped to my lap. I didn’t want to be stuck in a miserable hospital for days on end. If I wanted to mope in peace I could do it at home, for free.

Linda cleared her throat, the smile fading off her face. I looked at her expectantly. She gazed at me guiltily.

“What?” I asked her, a little self-conscious.

“Well, you’ve been out for a while, and…and I called Paul to tell him where I was…and…”

I groaned, knowingly exactly what she was getting at. George knew.

“He was scared Donna. He said he’d be over as soon as he could.” She pleaded.

George was coming to see me. A mixture of feeling leapt in my stomach, making me feel sick. I wanted to see him, because I was weak and I really like him. But then again he had made it plain he didn’t want me. I was just another bird to him.

Just another bird he visits in the hospital?

The last thing I ever said to him had been far from friendly. Was he over it? Did he actually care about me as much as I wanted to care about him?

It doesn’t matter. You’re taken Donna.

I groaned inwardly. It wasn’t good how much I had to remind myself I was already seeing someone else. I’ve got to get my head screwed on straight before George shows up.

We could be friends, I supposed, if we were willing to forgive each other. But that possibility almost made me want to laugh.

I wanted George, I did. But I had to suppress those feeling. I had already screwed up once; I didn’t want to do it again. Danny is the love of my life. I don’t want to betray him for a second time.

A nurse came in, bearing a meal. I was starved, and ate it greedily as Linda chatted away about this or that. I didn’t pay much attention, and did not even bother to pretend I was. She didn’t seem to care anyway.

As I was finishing my sandwich, I heard yelling in the hall. Linda heard it too, and looked at me with wide eyes. I just shrugged.

An unfamiliar, female voice was shouting something.

“Sir! Only family is allowed at this time! You can’t…”

“I DON’T BLOODY CARE.”

I groaned as I recognized the voice.

“You have to leave! NOW!” The same female voice replied, quickly losing her cool composure.

“LET-ME-THROUGH.”

My door flew open, banging against the wall. Linda yelped a little at the sudden noise. I winced.

“I AM GEORGE FUCKIN’ HARRISON.”

He was right outside the door now; I could hear the crowd of nurses trying to restrain him. He pushed past them and stumbled into the room, running straight into the foot of my bed. The nurses crowded around the doorway, hesitating.

For a tense moment, I wasn’t sure if they were going to demand he remove himself or start going for a chunk of his hair. They glanced at me, and I didn’t respond. All four of them backed away and shut the door behind them, not once taking their eyes away from his face.

He turned around, breathing heavily, and looked at me with weary eyes. A smile broke out over his lips, revealing all of his crooked teeth. The look on his face made something stir in the pit of my stomach, and despite myself, I returned a smile.

“Hey, Donna.” He breathed.