CIMORELLI : All Powered Up

THIRTY :

"It all happened so fast. One minute I was driving around in the four seater with Chris, then the next minute we're tipping over! I banged my wrist, I felt faint and everything went black." I explained, answering my parents and siblings.

I heard footsteps rushing towards me right before I blacked out, muddled voices screaming something I couldn't understand.

"I'm fine, I promise." I told my family huddled around my hospital bed, trying not to look so stricken.

"Kath, you hit a lamp post. Really hard." Chris said in a grave tone, luckily, he only had a small scratch on his chin, now plastered with a blue band-aid. I remembered swerving away, just so Chris could jump out in time."I'm so sorry.." he started to say but I shook my head.

"It wasn't your fault.. don't blame yourself, Chris." I told him, squeezing his arm with my good hand.

"How did it happen?" My mom asked, her eyes never leaving the cast that was currently setting around my wrist.

I didn't really want to tell her, so I just said, "I lost control...the wheel slipped."

They all gave a collective sigh, and then Amy said, "Well I'm glad your okay, Kath.."

Lauren and Christina nodded, "Yeah, it could've been so much worse.."

"So much worse..." Dani echoed.

For some reason, I felt like crying, but instead I took a steadying breath and smiled for my family. Each of them gave me supportive squeezes on my shoulder.

A nurse came in to check on my cast and gave me a dose of pain killers as I lay down, she told me that they'd be keeping me overnight for observation, because aside from the broken wrist, I hit my head on the steering wheel and suffered a bit of a concussion.

I told my family that I felt sleepy, and so they left to let me rest.

"Could you switch off the lights, please?" I asked.

Lisa responded, "Sure thing, Kath..rest well." And she closed the door behind her.

Once I was sure they were gone, I took a deep breath as a river of hot tears made their way past my cheeks and down to the crooks of my neck.

The saltiness making its way down my throat as wave after wave of tears streamed from my eyes. My gasps rattled against the bare walls of my hospital room as I lay staring up at the ceiling, cradling my broken wrist against my chest. I stared at the blankness of it for what seemed like an eternity.

"Stop crying..." I muttered to myself, again and again.

"Katherine..stop crying..." I clenched my eyes shut.

"Please...stop.." I clutched my aching heart, willing it to stop hurting.

"Katherine...stop crying!" My voice squeaking a little.

"Katherine?" Said a voice that was not mine.

I opened my eyes, it was Lisa.

"Lisa," I mumbled, hastily wiping away the wetness on my cheeks, "What are you doing back?"

"I volunteered to watch you, " She said pointing at the bedside table, she rushed to my side, " Are you crying?" she said, her brown eyes filled with concern.

I looked away from her, not saying a word.

"Katherine," Lisa whispered, "What's the matter?"

"I... I can't say.."I implored, feeling the weight in my stomach.

Lisa grabbed my good arm, "If you're worried about Christian, he's fine.. the doctors said--"

"No, it's not him," I interrupted.