Kismet

Chapter Nineteen

I don't want to wake up to the sound of the slow beeping of the machine again. I don't want to see the white room that surrounds me, or the people that come to visit me. Very few people, anyways. Mom, Dad, and Chris. An old couple from church that my parents grew to be friends with. That's basically all the people we knew here that didn't have to drive five hours to see me.

   Except Ethan.

   I wake up anyways against my own will. The nurse announces I can go home today, after they run a few more tests. I've been here two days now, hoping to see Ethan walking through those doors. But he hasn't. I've been awfully bored, but my family's brought me my favorite book to read. I only could read so much before the glare of the room got to me and I got a headache and had to rest.

   The first time I'd seen Chris walk into the room, I was overwhelmed with relief. I never asked if they found him. I felt horrible for that. He seems like he expects me to be mad at him or something, because he slouches behind my parents without looking me in the eye.

   "Hey," I had ordered. "Come here, Chris."

   Slowly, he had made his way over to the edge of my hospital bed. As soon as he's in arms reach, I grab him and hug him with my one free arm that wasn't hurting. I tightly hug him but he doesn't hug back. Of course- he's a Chris. He doesn't hug. But that doesn't stop me from squeezing the life out of him.

   "I missed you," I had told him.

   "I'm sorry," he told me. I knew he meant about my condition, but I said it was worth it. And then a bunch of the blubbery older-sister stuff followed like how I was not mad at him and stuff.

   I am helped up as the nurse gently slides the bed into a curled sitting position for me. I slowly put my legs over the edge of the bed. I stand to my feet without problem, except there's a dull throb in my ribs and back. I tell her that I'm fine, and she slowly lets go of me. I am perfectly able to stand on my own.

   "Thank you," I say to the nurse, trying to hide how out of breath I was from standing up. She nods, and walks out of the room, holding the door open for me. Mom already took my book downstairs, where they're waiting. I had taken a shower earlier today, and changed back into clothes she had also brought with her. Shorts and a sweatshirt- the same thing I'd worn when I first met Ethan.

   I guess I expected him to show up at the last moment, to tell me that he was busy with things. I scan the waiting room as my parents sign papers. But there was no sign of the tall brown-eyed boy, which strangly filled me with disappointment.

   There was something happening when I blacked out. I felt myself being moved, but I felt like I was in another world, glimpsing small parts of my life. Then my head rested on something, and I layed there for a while. I don't remember what it was, or what happened to me after the fall. I was told part of the story that the paramedics knew, but it wasn't much. Ethan found me and called them. That was it.

   I am snapped back to reality when Mom says something to me, wrapping her hand around my bad arm. I wince and she lets go quickly.

   "Sorry," she says, her apology fully written in her eyes, like all of this was her fault. "Let's go, Kiara." Dad flanks the back with Chris, and we slowly make our way out of the hospital.

   It takes a lot from me to make it to the car. I guess laying down for two days really takes away your strength. I should be feeling more energized I was told, but it's the oppostie. I felt like somebody tied invisible chains to my chest and legs. The doctors also told me my rib- I slightly fractured my bottom left one- wasn't fully healed yet, so I had to stay in bed for another two weeks. Oh, joy. That leaves me three days left of summer after that.