(Un)Fortunate

Chapter 6

Waking up is easier this time. The light isn't as bright, the smell isn't as strong. Before I was put out, they asked me what color cast I wanted. Of course I said blue. Blue is my favorite color. It is the color of the sky when it's happy. They also said that I would get my cast on as soon as I wake up.

I peer around the room, no one is in here this time, although my mother promised she would be. I frown, remembering the topic of conversation before my surgery. The discussion between my mother and I about Caleb floods my memory. Was I dreaming it? Or was it real?

I ponder the possibility of it all being a dream. Could it really? I look towards the door. I see nurses at the nurses station across the hall and try to call to one of them. My voice comes out in a silent whisper.  I really need a drink of water.

I look around for something to get the nurses attention. I peer around and finally see the call sign on the remote controlling the bed. I push it once, twice, three times. Finally a perky woman with bright red curly hair peeks her head in. I ask her for some water in my grainy, soft voice and she nods. She sets her clipboard down and fills me a paper cup full of water. I gulp it down, savoring the sweet taste.

When I finish, a nice doctor comes in to make sure I want a blue cast and shows me the other colors. I tell him I still want blue and he gets to work . It takes about a half hour in all to get a cast just on my wrist. When he left, he accidentally left the x-ray of my wrist up. I study it and decide to take a picture of it. I see my phone on the table next to me and pick it up and unlock it. I quickly snap a picture and post it on Instagram with the caption 'Fractured wrists suck.' As soon as I post it, my notifications blow up with people saying to get well soon. I also post it on Bubble because I don't have any posts on there yet. I look at how many people are following me and the number surprised me. It was over 500 thousand.

From my bed, I can see the elevator. I watch silently as visitors and nurse push the button to go up or down. I wish my mother or father was one of them. I continue to watch for at least ten minutes before the elevator opens and my father steps out. As soon as he sees me, his face lights up.

"Hey Ellie, how are you feeling?" He asks me. His soft features are now creased with worry lines. I study him for a few moments. Something my mom has always done. His eyes look more wrinkled and his hair is in a mop on his head.

"I'm feeling better now. I really want to see Caleb though," I say sighing heavily.

"Awe sweetheart, you need to worry about your own health for a little bit. All I mean is, your arm is more important right now, and trying not to make it worse," He says sympathetically, then chuckles as he knocks on my cast like a door. I giggle, and for the first time in a long time, it feels forced.

"Have you heard from Jen?" I ask hopefully. I bring my right hand up to my long hair and twirl it. Its a bad habit. I touch my hair and discover someone has at least brushed it.

"Jennifer is doing great, she got discharged this morning. She wanted to see you, but we told her to at least wait until you woke up."

This morning? Have I been asleep for that long?

"Dad, uh silly question. How long have I been here and would you explain how this is all working?"

He chuckles, rubbing his face in his hands.

"Well, yesterday, Saturday, was the crash. You were rushed to the hospital and they were going to do the surgery, but then you were all mad and had to be calmed down. So they waited until this morning, Sunday to do it. Today is also the day you are being discharged," He says, nodding as he says it. I nod too and finally understand.

"Oh, I get it now," I say smiling another forced smile. That ends our conversation though, because the Dr. calls my father out of my room so they can discuss something. I guess its about Caleb.

I sit there again, with nothing to do. I twirl my hair a bit more until Dr. Nexus comes in.

"Hello Arielle, how is the arm feeling today?" She asks me, her eyes darting to my cast.

"It feels fine, and I like the color of it," I giggle, holding it up. Gosh, it feels like it has gained five pounds.

The doctor sees the look on my face as I lift it up and says, "Yeah, it does feel  a bit heavy, but you will get used to it."

I nod silently and drop my arm back onto the pillow it is on. She tells me I can stand up soon, as soon as they take the I.V. out of my arm. They used it to give me fluids after the crash so I could stay hydrated. After Dr. Nexus leaves to check on another patient, the nurse with the bright red hair comes in.

She never tells me her name, but works quick to remove the I.V. and put a band aid where it was.

"Okay, that's it, you can feel free to get up and walk around now. Just wait until the doctor comes in again, and we can get your discharge in order Ms. Morgan," She says to me, while throwing the trash away. I notice she calls me Ms. Morgan, which no one does. I only get Ellie, or Arielle.

I pull the covers off of my body and a shiver goes through me. I glance down at my legs. Dang, I really need to shave. I chuckle to myself and swing my legs over the side of the bed.  As my bare toes touch the ground, they get all tingly and I wiggle them to stop the sensation.

I gently pull myself up. I first go over to the window. There is a great view of the city and I hear screaming below me and a few bright lights flash as I see Caleb's fans down below. I give a small wave and quickly scramble away from the window. I have never liked so much attention from all his fans. My next act is to go to the bathroom. You don't notice it when your asleep, but I really had to pee.

After I get out, my mother is sitting on my bed with Dr. Nexus. I tiptoe over to them and surprise my mom with a big hug. At first she seems surprised, but then she chuckles.

"I was just discussing your arm with your mom," the doctor says.

"Oh, anything I need to know?"

"Everything you need to know is in this pamphlet," She says, handing it to me.

I take it from her and read the cover. It says: 'Your Broken Arm' on the cover with a picture of a younger girl with a cast on. After we say goodbye to the doctor, we get to leave. I change into a pair of black skinny jeans, a white ruffled tank top and some summery flats. I decide to shower once we get home.

My mom says that tomorrow she will take me after school to see Caleb and that Jen would be coming over to eat with me so mom could go to the hospital.

I step outside into the spring breeze and are met by at least one hundred screaming fans and paparazzi members. I cover my eyes from the flashing lights and hurry to the waiting car.