The Glass Weaver | A Novel #Wattys2018 #Wattys2019

Chapter 8

I woke up in a hospital bed with father next to me. Mother wasn't there, but I was surprised that you were there. Father looked disappointed, just like he always was. Just like with my preference, in my tastes, in all of it. Sighing, I caught him off guard and he looked surprised. He jumped from his chair and grabbed my hand.

"You are awake." He exclaimed, "They said it may take some time for you to wake because of the injuries you sustained."

"What injuries?" I croaked, trying to wet my dry lips.

"Well, you broke a lot of your ribs. Your leg was fractured, but that was the least of their concerns. What was the other stuff you injured...your shoulder was displaced, your right arm had a broken shoulder blade, I think that was it." Dad listed, "You seemed to take the brunt of the hit. Jacob is okay, he only broke his wrist. Did you..."

"I took it off of him, as much as I could. I was scared when he came out unconscious." I responded quietly.

There was a knock on the door, and a young looking doctor came in, "I don't mean to intrude, I am Doctor Yusung, I am taking over for Doctor Bertram. You woke up pretty quick for all the injuries you have had. Today was the second day you were knocked out. How are you feeling?"

"I feel like I've been hit by a train," I mutter, which the doctor caught and chuckled.

"Well, the car was going as fast as one, that was for sure. Later today, we are going to take some MRIs and other tests, if that is okay with you, Miss Nevada?"

"I don't care. Just want to get out of here."

Dr. Yusung nodded and wrote some things on his board. And not a moment later, he left the room and closed the door behind him. He seemed nice, I guess. If I had to guess, he was still a student but was close to graduation. I was surprised they let him deal with someone who has, with no better word for it, fucked up.

"Should I tell your mother that you are awake?" Father asked, turning his attention to me.

"Aren't you going to yell at me for taking Jacob?" I asked, avoiding his gaze.

"He needed out and your mom has not been acting well for about a month now. I have been trying to take her to a psychologist to get her mental state checked out. This planet may actually be destroying our mental state, and I fear that may be our downfall."

"She needs it. Send her in, I guess."

Father nodded and left the room. I was surprised that he didn't even scold me. I did what I could, I guess. I took Jacob's life and made it better. He could be dead right now, due to the impact. Where the car hit, I had no clue. I felt guilty for even getting into that crash because it should have never happened. But I suppose if it wasn't me, it was going to be someone else in that situation.

Mother entered the room, red as a tomato. Her threateningly walked towards me, opened her mouth, and spilled out words pertaining to how I was incompetent and all that. I let her talk, because if she didn't, then it would be worse later. I sighed and looked up at the eggshell ceiling.

"Are you done, Mother? All you do is yell and complain about your issues." I faked a yawn, which made her even madder. But before she could speak, I cut her off, "I saved Jacob from getting killed. I made his life more of a priority than my own, and here I am. I could have used my Imperio on myself, but that probably would have left Jacob dead. Don't even complain, when I saved Jacob, who you favor more than me."

"Don't use that tone." She threatened, and I sighed.

"I will page for a doctor to look at you because you are all sorts of crazy."

"No. They cannot take a look at someone who doesn't want to."

"They can if they are a threat to themselves or others around them. Physically, mentally, all of it." I countered, which caused her to storm out of the room.

Father started to go after her but stopped. He sighed, "This is bad. Nevada, you know it is not your fault, right?"

I nodded, "Mom is out of control. How long would you reckon I will be in here?"

"With our healing capabilities? Maybe a week or two."

"Well, I am going to go after her and have some doctors with me. This is too far. I can't believe she threatened to kill you because Jacob has a broken wrist."

Father left, and I was left to my own thoughts and devices. The TV was playing some sort of news programming and it was boring. I didn't know why people bothered talking about the same story a thousand times, and that could be in a single hour. My stomach rumbled as a nurse came in to change my water bag. She noticed and handed me a menu that was sitting on the desk next to the bed.

"Can you write?" The nurse asked, setting a pen down next to it.

"I haven't written much with my left hand in a while, because the right is a little more dominant than my left. I can try though." I responded, slowly raising the left arm. Pain shot through my arms and I instantly dropped it.

"I'll do it for you. For lunch, they are serving a turkey sandwich with a side salad, a regular salad with a few toppings, or chicken and rice."

"Uh. I will have... the chicken and rice."

She nodded and looked further down, "And for dinner? They are serving macaroni, chicken noodle soup, and vegan curry."

"Macaroni."

"This, every day, goes on the outside handle of the door. Although, you may need help until you can walk properly, either with crutches or by yourself. Although with your other injuries, it may be a little while."

I nodded and watched her leave the room. If there was one thing I hated, it was being pent up in a room unable to do anything. The only I could do to ease some pain was to shift the gravity near me. But as sleep tempted me, I took it by the hand and ran off with it. In almost an instant, I could feel myself slip away into a deep sleep.