Different

Chapter 9: The Hospital

The drive to the hospital was awkward. Neither Jackson or myself said anything. It took about 8 minutes to get to the hospital and when we got there Jackson parked in a free parking space. I undid my seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when Jackson held my arm stopping me.

"I know you said that it would be a bad idea for me to come and all, but for what reason did i bring you to the hospital?" he said, a small frown forming on his features.

"I'm sorry Jackson, but i really do have to go. I'm sorry, i'll talk to you later?"

He nodded slowly. "Okay, do you want me to pick you up after?"

"Ah, no thanks, i think i'll be ok. If i need a ride i let you know though." I smiled softly shutting the door after myself and walking over to the entrance.

As soon as i was through the automatic doors, my heart startd racing again and my breathing increased. I walked past the front desk and straight to the elevators. They opened and i stepped in, pressing floor 6 and waiting for them to close. They shut, and i was greatful that the elevator didn't stop once on the way up. I steppped out of the elevator and made my way past the desk that was about 7 meters from the elevators. I walked up to it and rang the bell waiting for one of the nurses. I already knew my way around as i had been here so many times before, but the only times i ever got a call was if something drastic had happened, whether good or bad. Not that i need a call to come to the hospital.  A nurse came rushing around the corner when she heard the bell sound. 

"Oh, Logan. Thank goodness you're here! Follow me quickly. The doctor is waiting for you in the room. I rushed ahead of the nurse, already knowing which direction i had to go in and here and what corridor i had to turn down. I reached the room and before i pushed the door open and stepped in i took a large gulp of air.

I stepped inside the room and the doctor turned to me. "Hello Logan. How are you today?" he smiled cheerfully at me. His smile repressed some of the uneasyness i was feeling, but not completely. I still didn't know what was going on.

"I'm sorry, i don't mean to be rude, but do you mind telling me what is going on?"

"Of course of course. Well, i had one of the nurses call you in today because i have some news and thought it better to tell you A.S.A.P and face to face rather than over a phone call."

"What news?" I asked nervously.

"Oh well, i must say that it is good news. Very very good news." He grinned.

I let out a deep breath that i didn't realise i had been holding in. "So she is going to be okay?"

"I can assure you that Miss Reed is going to be ok." he reassured me.

I beamed at the doctor and wrapped my arms around him, jumping up and down in excitement and whole lot of relief. 

He chuckled, and i pulled away embarrassed. "Sorry."

"It is quite alright. Now, i won't bore you with all the scientific terms. Indira has progressed amazingly and at this point i think she may wakeup in the next few days. I cannot promise this, i hope you understand Logan, but it is very highly likely. I don't want you to think that you should be here until then, but i think that it would be very benneficial for her when she awakes." He said taking on a serious tone.

"Of course, i didn't even think otherwise. But i will have to go home and pack some clothes so i have some whilst i'm here. Is there anything else we need to discuss before i go?" i asked him.

"No, nothing else. I will make sure that one of the nurses make sleeping arangements for you in here, while your gone."

"Thank you. I should only gone for 15 minutes, 20 at max." I said as i turned and rushed out of the room. As i left i heard the doctor chuckle.

I was quick to get home. Luckily i was able to catch a cab, and the driver offered to wait outside when i told him i had to get back to the hospital. I rushed around inside, chucking clothes into a bag as well as my toiletries. I made sure i had my phone charger in my bag and carried my things down the stairs. In a seperate bag i packed some things to keep me occupied and a range of packaged food like chips, biscuits, a couple bags of lollies and a range of canned food, enough to last me up to a week. As long as i had something to eat then it would be fine, because i just couldn't stand hospital food! Just before i left i remembered to write a note for Emlyn. I told him that i completely forgot that i had a short almost camp like thing organised with one of the out of school art classes that i took. I told him that i would be away for a week, maybe more if we decided to stay longer, and to call me if needed because i would always have my phone on me.

I hated lying to my brother, but the truth was, he didn't know about our sister. I was the only one who knew about her. Technically Indira (or Indi for short) is only half our sister. Before my father met my mother, he was a bit reckless, and did a lot of things that he regrets. Up until almost six months ago,  i thought that we were his only children, but, well that changed when i met Indi. My father doesn't even know he has another daughter. Indi somehow managed to find me. She thought that she could connect with me, because i was his daughter, and would know what he is like. Before her accident i had 3 meetings with her. The first time, things were a bit awkward, to say the least. At first i wasn't sure if i believed her to be my sister, but there were things i picked up on about her, and i knew we had to be related.

The second time i met with her things were a lot easier and we got on quite well. We had a lot in common, like our love of art amongst other things. On the third time we met, we discussed meeting the family. Indi wanted to meet them, and i knew that they would love her, just like i had in such a short time. You always here stories about families who meet a long lost brother or sister or whoever, and in short amounts of time it feels like they have known them their whole lives. It's so cliche, but that was how i felt with Indi. We always kept in contact between our get togethers.

We had scheduled for Indi to come around to our place and meet the family about a week after our last catch up. She sounded so excited over the phone, and i also couldn't wait. Later that night though, i recieved a phone call from the hospital, that was a couple of blocks down from our place. She had been in a car accident. She was driving home from work they susspected, because she was in her work uniform, when she had been hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light. The doctor's said that she was in a coma, but they weren't sure how long she would be in it for. Because mum was out on a work trip for a couple of weeks, i just told Emlyn that i would be staying at a mates place for a couple of nights. After that i made up some art class excuse and staying at mates places, so that i could visit Indi after school everyday and sometimes stay the night at the hospital.

I made sure that i had everything that i would need and grabbed my keys and things and ran outside to the waiting cab. i chucked my stuff into the car and got in. I was back at the hospital after the short 5 minute drive and i paid and thanked the driver. I made my way to Indi's room and placed my things down. The nurse's had unfolded the couch bed that was in the room and made it for me. I smiled to myself and sat down into the chair next to Indi's bed. I really hope that Indi wakes up soon. I will be turning 17 in 12 days, and i really want her to be there when we celebrate with the family. I would love to introduce her then. I had always hated being a light sleeper. Always waking up to the slightest thing, unless i was extremely overtired. But at this point i was glad that i could wake up easily. I wanted to stay awake the whole time i was here, but i knew that i would need my sleep and i didn't want it to get to the point where i became overtired, and not be awake when Indi wakes. I decided to go to bed now. It had been a long day and i needed to get some sleep. I texted Emlyn, telling him that i love him and to sleep well and i would see him soon.

I also texted Jackson thanking him for today and asking him not to say anything about the hospital visit to anyone please because it was important. I also said goodnight to him and told him to say goodnight to Rylan. I placed my phone on the small desk next to the temporary bed, wrapping the sheets tightly around my body.

"Night Indi, it won't be long now and you can meet the family." i yawned, quickly drifting off to sleep.