Celestial (Book One)

Chapter Seven: Libra

16/03/2016 - 11:30 am

Scarlet sat on the edge of her hospital bed, suitcases and bags at her feet. Doctors and nurses came and went from the ward, stopping occasionally to check on patients or talk to other staff. Artificial light lit up the space. It had been two weeks since Scarlet had last felt the sun on her face. 

After a couple of minutes sitting there, Scarlet heard a sharp cough. She turned around, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Ally!" She almost jumped up to meet her cousin, but remembered one small issue. She had a broken leg.

A tall girl, standing a couple of feet away, grinned as well. Her fluorescent yellow hair swayed as she walked over, enveloping her smaller cousin in a bear hug. "Hey Scarley. How you doing?" She said happily, her voice ringing with a slight Irish lilt. She released Scarlet and holding her cousin's hands tightly.

Scarlet squeezed her cousin's hands, still grinning. "I'm good." Her cousin raised a suspicious eyebrow, "Atlanta. I promise."

Atlanta shook her head, smiling slightly. "Only you, Scarlet. Only you could still be smiling after everything that's happened. Are you sure you're okay?"

Scarlet nodded and smiled knowingly, "Ally. You know me. I'm okay. I know it sounds crazy, but as long as I still have you, I'll be okay. You know that."

Atlanta sighed and rolled her eyes, "Okay, if you say so. God you're so cheesy." She chuckled, standing up and sitting down next to Scarlet. "You lose your entire family, but you're fine... because you have... me. Me? How can I represent so much that you can carry on?" 

Scarlet smiled at her cousin. "Because you represent that no matter what happens, you have to stay strong and carry on. No matter what. And that's what I'm doing. There's no point continuing to wallow in self pity. I have to live my life." 

Atlanta shook her head, staring at the wall. "You're crazy."

"I know." Scarlet looked at her cousin for a moment, before turning to look at the wall.

They stayed like this, in silence, for a few minutes, before Atlanta stood up and grabbed Scarlet's crutches. "Ready for lunch?" 

Scarlet grinned, slipping into the crutches. "Definitely. I'm starved." She stood up, with some help from Atlanta. Atlanta grabbed Scarlet's bags and followed.

They made their way to the lift, Scarlet resting against the wall as it went down. She hobbled on into the lobby and outside. A taxi was waiting near the entrance.

"You going to be okay in the car?" Atlanta raised an eyebrow, watching cautiously. 

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Why wouldn't I be?" 

Atlanta stopped abruptly, staring at Scarlet with astonishment. "Maybe because you're entire family were killed in a car crash, Scarlet. Or did you forget that?" 

Scarlet stopped, sighing. She turned on her crutches to look at Atlanta. "No. I did not forget. Of course not."

Atlanta shook her head. "Sorry... I just can't believe you're handling this so well... If you didn't know, you'd think nothing happened and everything was fine." Scarlet just smiled sadly. Atlanta walked up to the taxi, putting Scarlet's bags in the boot and opening the door for Scarlet to get in before sliding in next to her.

"So where are we eating today?" Scarlet adjusted her cast, placing her backpack between her feet.

"The best Greek salad in town, allegedly. Some place called the Coven Coffee shop or something. " She lent forward and gave the driver the road and sat back, pulling on her seat-belt. Scarlet did the same, relaxing into her seat.