Even Through the Storm

12. The Hospital

The next day, Peter and Dri are over. We're all hanging out in my basement. "So, I had a nightmare the other night," Peter says.

"What was it about?" Dri says, chopping down on a strawberry.

"Oh, it was horrible. I dreamt that Ash kissed me. Then the next day, it was all over social media." Asher throws one of Dri's strawberries at Peter. My dad comes sprinting downstairs.

"Lola, Asher, car now. You're mother woke up."

***

Half an hour later, we enter the hospital. Peter and Dri are told they have to stay in the waiting room, but Asher, Dad, and I enter Ms. Reynolds hospital room. When we walk in, she's asleep. Her head is bandaged. Asher kneels next to the bed and holds her hand. "Mom, it's me, Asher. They said you woke up. Please, look at me. Please." She slowly opens her eyes and groans. Then she sees Ash and smiles.

"Hi, honey, you're here. Where's your father?"

"Mom, he was arrested. He hit you until you were unconscious. Then he tried to go for me. He hit me a few times, but I called Lo before locking him in the bathroom. He smashed my phone and flushed it down the toilet. Mom, I was so worried. What happened? Why was he here? Why did he do this?"

"I asked him to pay me a few thousand dollars to help pay for your college. He told me he had four kids of his own and didn't care. I filed for a lawsuit. You know the rest from there." The doctor comes in and asks to see us in the hall.

"You have somewhere you can stay, right?" The doctor asks Asher.

"Yeah. I'm staying with my girlfriend and her dad. Why?"

"She has some major injuries. Internal bleeding, broken ribs, et cetera. If you didn't call us when you did she might have died. She's going to have to stay here for a few weeks. Maybe even a month, We just want to make sure you're not alone."

"Thank you, doctor," says Dad. "Ash, go back inside, We'll be in the waiting room."

***

After visiting hours end, Dad drops of Dri and Peter before driving to Asher's house. Ash and I get out, and Dad drives away. Asher is going to drive us back with his car when we leave. He packs a suitcase full of clothes and puts his toothbrush and stuff into a backpack. We are silent the whole ride back.