It Started that Night

Part 18

Millie arrived at the hospital at 5.30pm. She had spent the day at work, despite having the day booked off. She wasn't away in Dublin so she thought she should go in. She was pleased she did, she spent the entire day in meetings back-to-back which had totally taken her mind off her life for a few hours. She didn't have the chance to worry about her sister or think about Dex, she hadn't even had the chance to see Ricco all day. She was very glad of the distraction and it felt nice to get back into work and feel like she was doing something she was in control of.

            Walking down the corridor she approached the door to the intensive care unit. She put her hand to the door to push it open but instead took a deep breath and paused for a moment. Please be okay, she said to herself. She pushed the door open, Lexi was lying awake in her bed with her mum sat beside her. She looked better, brighter, but still black and blue. Her eye swelling had gone down slightly and her eyes were open, her face was still swollen and she didn't look like herself. She smiled when she saw Millie.

            "Lex!" said Millie, sympathetically; she walked towards Lexi's bed, picking up her pace. "Hi, Mum," she said, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Hello honey" her mum replied.

            Millie leaned over the bed and kissed Lexi on the forehead. "How are you feeling, Lex?" asked Millie in an almost baby-like voice.

            "Sore," Lexi whispered, her voice was painfully coarse. She tried to smile but her face was too swollen to show any expression, it hurt to talk, or move at all, she was cut and bruised from head to toe, her whole body ached.

            "I'm not surprised, you had us all so worried!" smiled Millie, gently stroking Lexi's forehead. "The doctor says you'll make a full recovery," said Millie, trying to be upbeat. She could tell Lexi was trying to smile. Millie looked up at her mum.

            "Any more news, Mum?" she asked.

            "Just more of the same, no major damage, thank god. She's going to be fine." Her mum looked down at Lexi and smiled. "Millie, if you're going to be here for a

little while do you mind if I pop home and shower quickly? I don't want Lexi to be alone but I haven't been home all day," said her mum.

            "Of course," said Millie.

            "I'll be back later, sweetheart," said her mum, stroking Lexi's cheek.

            "Okay." Lexi struggled to get the word out.

            Millie went around to the other side of the bed and sat in her mum's chair. Looking at Lexi it didn't look like her baby sister lying there, she didn't know what to say to her.

            "Nate's been here a lot," said Millie. "He actually seems like quite a nice guy," she added. Lexi knew Millie's opinion of him, but this time she was being genuine. Lexi didn't answer. Millie wasn't sure if it was something she didn't want to talk about or if it was just too painful to speak. She thought it best to change the subject anyway. She tried to think of something interesting to talk about.

            "Hey, Lex, you'll never guess who I'm meeting tomorrow!" said Millie excitedly. She saw Lexi's eyes turn to look at her. Millie pulled out her phone and found the photo Dex had sent her, she noticed she had a new message from him but couldn't read it or reply right now. She turned the phone around for Lexi to see. Lexi's eyes widened in shock as she looked at the photo, she gestured to Millie to bring the phone closer to her face for a better look.

            "Dex?" Lexi muttered, her voice shaky and obviously pain-ridden, Millie could only just make out what she said.

            Millie nodded enthusiastically. "Yep!" she replied. Lexi managed a weak smile. "We've been texting and he's invited me to the Summer Rocks festival tomorrow, it's an odd and long story and I'll tell you EVERYTHING! As soon as you're better, I promise!" said Millie.