Out of the Woods

Chapter 42: Knight in a leather jacket

Being bedridden for six days had left me with nothing but my own imagination and thoughts. One thought that popped into my head today was the fact that it was the day of the Homecoming Dance.

I wasn't sad that I was going to be missing the celebration and having my first dance with Ethan. I was more sad that I had put all of my energy and time into planning the event, and I wasn't even going to be able to see how it turned out.

But I guess that's the way the cookie crumbled in this tin.

'Summer, do you want an ice cream cone?' Willow asked, as she grabbed her purse getting ready to get up.

'Nope.' I said, throwing Willow a weak smile.

'What about a coffee? Or tea?'

'Nurses say I can't have too much caffeine. Not good for my liver.' I sighed, pushing the lumpy pile of potatoes and green beans back and forth on my plate.

'Summer, you need to eat something. You're already thin enough as it is.' Willow pestered me, as she sat back down.

'Willow, don't worry about me. I'm getting better. The doctor said so.' I got up so my back was parallel to the head board.

'At least have the bread roll.' She insisted, taking the buttered roll from the tray and handing it to me.

'Fine.' I shrugged, taking a bite of the dry mound of carb.

'Good. I'm gonna go check up on mom. She's been talking to the nurse for quiet a while.' She breathed out, as she got up and started walking towards the door.

Before she had even reached for the door handle, Rosanna came running in with a smile on her face and tears streaming down her face.

'He's awake, Summer. My baby's awake.'

°•. ✿ .•°

For the first hour of Ethan being awake, it was mainly doctors and nurses swarming his bed to make sure that his vitals were functioning correctly. Then during the afternoon, his grandparents and siblings had him occupied with heart warming stories and messages of love.

It honestly warmed my heart to know that he had so many people who cared for him.

'Honey, I think his room is clear now. I can take you to see him?' My mom smiled, her eyes gleaming.

Worried that I'd say the wrong thing, I nodded anxiously, before getting up from sleeping position and sliding out of the bed using my good arm as leverage.

'You alright baby?' She asked, noticing the slight frown on my face, as we both halted right in front of my door. 'Aren't you excited to see him?'

'No, I am. I can't wait. But...what if he blames me for what happened? What if he doesn't want to see me?' I whimpered, biting my bottom lip.

'Honey, he can't blame you for what happened. That was out of both of your reaches. Of course he'll want to see you.' She smiled reassuringly, before gently taking hold of my broken arm.

Sniffing, I nodded again confidently, smiled then let my mom guide me out of the door and into the hospital lobby, where we packed into a small elevator along with four other people.

When we had arrived at the fifth floor, the door opened, and we stepped into a quiet corridor that seemed lifeless. Right ahead of me was a sign labelled 'neurological trauma inpatient ward'.

I shivered, feeling a cold breeze blow past me, as a door behind us opened.

'His room's right through here. Are you ready?' My mom asked, placing her arm around my shoulder.