The Wild Orchid

The Awakening: Part 4

In another hour, Zorell's shift had ended and she walked down the hall to Shanee's hospital room. When she approached her bed, she found that she was awake and was lying in a reclining position. Her face still looked pale, but she looked better than she did earlier that day.

"Not another exam," she said her voice slightly weak.

"This is just a social visit," Zorell said as she approached her bed. She had her hand on the chair sitting next to the bed. "I'm Zorell, a friend of Leland's."

"A friend of Lee's?" she asked and tried to sit up. Zorell could see that she was having some trouble.

"Here, let me help," she said and took another pillow off the stack and placed it under her, so she didn't have to strain to sit up. "Is that better?" Zorell asked.

"Yes," she said and sat back. She was favoring her right side, and what Zorell was able to see in her file she received a gash in that area due to the accident. "So, are you really a friend of Lee's?" she asked as Zorell walked over to the other side of the bed and sat down in the chair.

"Well, we're more like family," Zorell said, trying to make light of their connection. She didn't want to ignite some unnecessary jealousy. The red-haired young woman looked like she was waiting for a better answer than that. "Lee's sister is married to my brother, which makes us sort of in-laws."

"Oh, then it's not a blood relation," she said, and there was a worried look in her eye.

"Shanee, you have nothing to worry about," Zorell said and shook her head. There was a smirk on her face that made Shanee form a confused look on her face. "Ever since he learned about your accident he's been going crazy worrying about you. That boy is gaga over you."

Her bashful smile came to Shanee's face. "I have no right to be jealous after I..." She stopped before she said too much, but Zorell already knew the story surrounding their breakup.

"I know all about that," Zorell said, her voice was low and she tried to sound sympathetic, but she could see the shame in Shanee's face.

"Leland told you about that?" She was turned away asking the question.

"No, I kind of found out by accident," Zorell said and Shanee turned her head quickly. She said this much, she might as well tell her everything. "You see, Lee wouldn't have known about your accident at all if Gavin hadn't written that letter, but his father tried to destroy it. That's when I accidentally heard him telling my father everything he did to break the two of you up. I saved the letter and showed it to Leland. After that we both decided to come here. He's been so worried about you."

"I feel guilty about that," she said, and there was a guilty look on her face. Zorell wondered why when Shanee looked directly into her eyes. "I-I did it on purpose."

"Did what?" Zorell asked but she already knew the answer to that question. Shanee turned away and refused to look at her. "You tried to kill yourself?"

"After I lost Leland, I had nothing to live for, so..." She turned back to see the horrified look on Zorell's face. "Please don't tell Leland." Her voice was pleading, and Zorell was still recovering from the shock from hearing her words. "He feels guilty enough."

Her eyes were pleading, and although she didn't want to keep anything from Leland about Shanee, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the young woman lying in that hospital bed.

"Alright, I won't say anything, but I think you should tell him," Zorell said, but Shanee shook her head frantically. "I only say that because things have a way of getting out. You don't want him finding out by someone else."