Deer in the Headlights

Part 75 - Waking Up Sad, Isn't So Bad

[Adam's POV]

“BRIELLE!”

My cry was short, but the vocal cords deep within my throat still strained and jerked violently as I awoke with a jolt. The sharp metallic taste of blood slowly creeping into my mouth to indicate I’d broken something with my exertion. Though I cared little for myself anymore. The past few days of recovery had been unendingly slow, nothing to smile about, no give up from the insomnia, though my head had finally cleared and I understood what had happened that night, still no doctor allowed me to see Brielle.

I uttered a low keening moan as I saw one of the younger female nurses walking over to me, obviously alerted by my scream. She smiled as she saw me and quickly sat herself down in the chair by my bedside, softly taking one of my hands to reassure me I’d be ok. Despite my state I smiled a little and allowed a deep sigh to exit my lungs.

Of all the nurses that had been attending to me over the past few days, this one, Jess Bridges, was the only one I felt I could trust. She seemed the most sympathetic, probably not cut out for such a tough job by the odd few times I could’ve sworn that I’d caught her crying softly by my bedside; but she was a good nurse nevertheless.

“How is she?” I growled, my voice as usual tainted low with emotion and lack of use.

Jess smiled again and squeezed my hand gently, remaining silent for a moment as she assessed my body, making sure I hadn’t hurt myself in my outburst. “She’s better.” I frowned as she said no more.

Better? Was that all? God why won’t anyone let me see her?

“Adam.”

I blinked out of my reverie and fixed my eyes on hers. To my surprise she was looking at me with the firmest stare I’d ever seen her have, it made me gulp in shock and begin to feel my usual nerves with females arising. Though if Jess saw, she didn’t make any attempt to show it.

“How are you?”

I let out a sigh at the mundane question that must’ve been asked to me about 200 times that day. You’re the doctors, can’t you figure out how I am? Though I kept the thought inside, no one needed rye sarcasm especially in such a place like this. Instead I shrugged and gave her a lazy look that made her smirk despite her steely demeanour, it was at least some comfort that she showed emotion.

“I’ve been told the therapist has gotten you up and walking.” Jess stated.

I nodded softly and fought back a grimace as I recalled the painful memories of the first day it’d taken me to stand up tall. The wound on my back was a lot worse than I’d thought, so bad in fact that even a few days on since my concussion was cleared and my injuries slowly healing; the furthest I’d managed to walk was the other side of the ward for a drink of water one night.

“Adam.” Jess leant in closer after a hasty look around the dark ward. No one was there. Although she still frowned a little before turning to face me, keen eyes boring into my skull now she was up close. “Are you able to walk up a couple of wards?”

“Wh-“

“Adam.”

I frowned again as she cut me off, it was clear she was nervous by the unusual attitude.

“Err- I suppose so.”

“You suppose so?”

“Well yeah- I haven’t walked out of this ward for the past few days. I’d love to get out but I don’t see what’s the rush or what another ward will offer me that mine won’t. They’re all the same dull places.”