Imagines

Recovery (Niall AU)

This Imagine is for my very first reuest, Zoe! Now, while I have everyone's attention for half a second I would just like to say a thing or two about and for Zoe.  Zoe actually had spinal fusion surgery.  Although she is young, she is so strong for holding strong through such a surgery and working hard to recover.  She has to deal with more difficulties in her day to day activities than many of us can dream about.  I have not gotten to talk much with Zoe but, in writing this story, we did talk briefuly about the surgery and the type of recovery she went through.  All I have to say is that you are an amazing young girl and an inspiration!  Stay strong beautiful and I hope you enjoy this story <3

You can send me your request by messaging me on my message board or in a Private Message!

 ********

Clouds, swarming my vision with glimpses of people walking around me. Talking about me.  Asking me how I am doing. 

Good, I try to respond but no one acknowledges the words. 

"She will be groggy for some time," the chubby woman explains to whoever is at my bedside.  I cannot turn my head but I am sure it is my mother.  "She will slowly come off of the anestisia but even then she probably won't want to do much more than sleep." 

The clouds begin to take over my vision just as someone grabs my hand.

"We're right here baby," the voice is so familiar, but so distant. 

The clouds begin to gather in front of my already cloudy vision, dulling the flourescnet lighting. 

********

My eyes open and I look around the room.  My mother is sitting in an armchair in the corner nearest my bed, her head falling over her shoulder as she sleeps.  I feel foggy and confused.  I had my surgery, that must is certain.  My body aches and is numb at the same time.  

Outside of the room nurses are walking in and out of different rooms, the hallways never silent.  Checking vital signs, bringing food to the families, helping patients pack up to go home.  

"Baby?"  I don't even realize that someone is holding my hand until his head of blonde hair lifts and I can see those blue eyes.  "You're awake?"  He kisses the back of my hand and greets me with the smile that I love. 

"Yes," the single word hurts.  No, it burns.  My throat and mouth are so dry, prehibbiting me from saying much. 

"I'll grab you some water," he says, jumping to his feet.  He walks into the hallway and stops a nurse in passing and then follows her.  A moment later he returns with a bottle of water and a bendy straw. 

"Here," he opens the straw and places it into the mouth of the bottle and then helps bring the straw to my lips. 

I am weak, weaker than I was before I was put under.  This odd numbness and pain was expected, as well as the extreme fatigue and weakness. Being told I would be weak and actually feeling weak, however, are two completely different things. 

He puts the water bottle down on the table and rolls the table out of the way as he grabs my hand once again. 

"How are you feeling?"

I shrug, afraid to speak again.  

He smiles at me and starts rubbing his thumb on the back of my hand.  I cannot believe he is here, still. Through everything he has stayed by my side. 

Why me? Why did this beautiful and caring man pick me?  His blue eyes could have any woman eating out of the palm of his hand and yet here he is, holding mine.  When we met I figured there was no way he would even be interested in me, this broken girl who has more of a fight than anyone else.  Why would he want to go through the trouble?

But he has been here, holding my hand through it all. Every doctors appointment, every consultation.  

We had a long way to go still, months and months of physical therapy.  Weeks will go by where all I can do is lay in bed. 

Why go through all of this trouble?  Life should be easy for a man like him, simple and uncomplicated.  I am anything but simple.  Anything but uncomplicated. 

Falling in love with him was scary, it still is.  My stomach does flips everytime he looks at me.  Everytime that crooked smile is directed at me. Everytime that blue gaze finds me. 

"I'm here," he tells me, smiling as he tucks a stray piece of my brunette hair behind my ear.  How does he read my mind like this?  "I'm going to be here.  I am going to take care of you."  He presses his lips to my forehead and then keeps his forehead resting against mine. 

My eyelids begin to get heavy, closing even as I try to keep them open. 

"I love you, Zoe," he whispers.

I try my hardest to stay awake, the clouds trying to take over my mind and vision again. I love you too, I think, just as I am falling asleep.