Changing Tides

Chapter 4

"Estella, are you asleep?

"No."

"Is it okay if I talk you you for a bit? I know you have work and all, but I really can't sleep."

I turned towards her. We were both lying in our shared bed. Reaching out, I found one of Alice's hands and grasped it lightly. "Al, you know that you can talk to me anytime; about anything," I murmured. Although it was dark, I made out her white teeth flashing in the dark. She wiggled over to me and put her head on my chest. On impulse, I wrapped my arms around her. She sighed deeply, as if she was enjoying my warmth, or thinking that me holding her like this is weird. Probably the former. I let my eyes close, and waited patiently for her to speak.

"Stella, I've been thinking. Should I drop out of college? It's costing you so much money, and I'm not doing very well in my classes. I don't think I was cut out for this. Maybe-"

"Maybe nothing. You're staying in school. I know how badly you want to major in business. You can't just give up! I won't let you. How will you ever accomplish your dreams if you just give up?" I tried my best to reassure Alice, although I didn't think it was working. She was becoming tense, so I rubbed her back in small circles, hoping to calm her down.

"But how can you afford it? I don't have time to work, and you already have two jobs."

"I can always work overtime." 

"Are you sure?" What about your dreams? With you working so much, how can you accomplish them?" Inquired Alice, pulling away from me so that she could look me in the eyes.

I looked down at her, and chuckled. "The only dream I have is to get a dalmatian puppy, and be filthy stinkin' rich." 

Alice grinned at me. "You always know how to make me smile. I like that about you. But that's really it? That's all you want in life?"

I tried to stifle a yawn."Yes, and also for us to go to sleep. We've both had a long day." 

"Okay, Estella. Thanks for talking to me, you're the best." Alice mumbled while putting her head back on my chest. "Good night, and I hope that someday, I can make all your wishes come true."

"Night Al." I whispered while wrapping my arms around her again. Soon I drifted in to slumber and dreamed of finding a dalmatian puppy on the front porch; being held by a smiling Alice.

                                                                                            *****

Groggily, I opened my eyes. Everything was bathed in white, and I heard beeping at regular intervals. Turning my head, I looked at my heart monitor, and passed it to a brown door; which was slowly opening. In came a male nurse dressed in light blue scrubs. He walked up to my bed and looked at my chart. He made several disapproving faces, and shook his head several times.

"Girl, what were you thinking? Speeding and cars don't mix, everyone knows that!" He looked in my direction for the first time, and shook his finger at me. "You gave your poor friend a heart attack! She would not stop crying! So I sent her to the cafeteria to get some food. Food makes everyone feel better, honey."

"Are you talking about Alice? I need to speak to her!" I exclaimed, while trying to sit up. A sharp pain on my left side made me gasp, and sink back into the bed. For the first time I noticed that almost my entire arm was in a cast, and my neck had a large bandage on it; which hindered my movement. I took my right arm and slowly ran my fingers over my cast and bandage, while I let everything sink in. I got into a car accident. Holy crap, I crashed my car! I'm pretty sure its totaled. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

"You okay there, honey? You were making some super weird expressions just now. Look, sugar everything is gonna be fine." The nurse said as he pulled up a nearby chair next to my bed and sat down. "You should be out of here in a week."

"That's not really what I'm worried about. I can't afford any of this. I... I'm real close to the poverty line."

"Then you shouldn't have been speeding! I swear, white people do the stupidest things! Why would you risk getting into an accident by doing something like that?" Just then his phone beeped, and he quickly looked at it. "Well, stupid, I gotta go. Duty calls," and with that he got up and walked out of my room, shutting the door after him.

Sighing, I shut my eyes, and listened to my heart monitor. It was beeping rather fast, matching my heart beat. I laid in bed listening to it until I heard the door quietly creak open. Opening my eyes, I sat up; this time being careful of my injuries. As the door continued to open, I recognized the person. 
.
"Estella, you're awake!" Alice all but screamed while running over to me and hugging my fiercely.

"Ow, Alice. Watch the cast!" I warned her. She immediately let go of me, and sat in the chair that the nurse had pulled up earlier. 

"I'm sorry. I.. I," Alice struggled to find her words. I waited patiently for her to continue. "I was so scared Stella! I saw the pictures from your crash. From the pictures, I thought you were going to die. I don't know what I would've done if I had lost you." She put her head in her hands and sniffed loudly.

"Hey now Al, don't cry. I'm right here and I'm okay. I would never leave you," I try my best to reassure her. "I'll be able to come home in a few days, and then everything will be normal again."

Alice lifted up her head, and wiped away a few tears. Suddenly she grinned broadly. "Speaking of coming home, I have a gift for you. I'm sure you'll love her!"

"Wait, what do you mean, her?"