Dauntless High School

Chapter 27

It's been a really long time since I updated this, I'm so very sorry! I knew what I wanted to write, but every time I sat down to try and write it, the words wouldn't come to me. Then I'd get frustrated with it and set it aside for another time, and each time I got a little more frustrated and waited a bit longer than I had before, before trying again. But I finally managed to write the whole chapter. Crossing my fingers that I'm past whatever writer's block got ahold of me. Thanks for your patience.

-o-o-o-o-o-

TRIS

On Wednesday, my fourth day in the hospital, I am finally allowed to travel upstairs to the ICU and see Uriah. Yesterday I had begged and pleaded but I had already admitted to too high a pain level. Today I had learned my lesson and downplayed my discomfort. I grit my teeth to hide the searing pain in my ribcage and persistent pounding in my head as we ride the elevator to the ninth floor, but relax a little when we reach Uriah's room and she hands me off to Zeke. He promises to help me back to my room later, and the nurse returns to her post.

Hana updates me on Uriah's condition: the swelling in his brain has decreased considerably and they are talking about weaning him off the sedatives which are currently keeping him in a sort of medically induced coma so that his brain and body can heal. His body is healing as expected, but the brain trauma is the big concern right now. They are unsure whether he will wake up with brain damage, or even whether he will wake up when they stop the sedatives.

The whole time, my eyes are glued to the cuts and stitches contrasting against Uriah's swollen, uncharacteristically pale skin. From the casted, elevated leg and the bandages wrapped around his head, to the rhythmic spikes on the heart monitor and the respirator obscuring his face.

To how unnaturally still Uriah is. He has always been so full of life, but now, he's right there in front of me... but it's like he's empty.

"How are you recovering, Tris?" Hana asks. She and Zeke have each made a short visit to my room once each day so far, even though I told them to stay here with Uriah and not to worry about me.

"A lot better. Hardly hurts now," I lie. Hana has enough to worry about, without me adding to it. Zeke narrows his eyes, he's not fooled. "They told me I'll be discharged tomorrow. I'll be out of school a little longer. And obviously, no cheerleading for a while." The respirator whooshes in the background and my eyes burn with tears. "I was lucky."

"Thank the Lord for that," Hana says with a soft smile. We sit in silence for a moment, I guess even Zeke is worn down enough to stall his usual chatter. I wonder if Shauna has to just talk his ear off when she visits; I know she has been spending a lot of time here with him after school.

After a few minutes, Zeke decides to go down to the cafeteria for some lunch. Hana goes with him, telling me that she should give me some time alone with Uriah.

"Uh, hi," I say in a small voice after a while of awkwardly staring at my unconscious best friend. I scoot my chair a little closer and take his hand in mine, but it's awkward with me being on his right side and only having my own right hand free due to the cast on my left.

The hand holding is a lot less awkward than my attempt to talk to my ex-boyfriend. What do you say to someone who isn't even awake to hear you?

"Uh, I've been here at the hospital for four days. They say I can probably go home tomorrow. Zeke's going to give me a ride home. Hope you don't mind me stealing him away for an hour or so. I'm totally screwed when it comes to school. Will and Four are tutoring me but still... " I shake my head. "You were right about all that, you know. You were right, trying to get me to pay more attention to studying and all that crap. I'm so far behind now and Dad is so pissed.