Chronically Me

Chapter Five

When we arrived back at my bed on the ward, Harry helped me out of my dressing gown and gently lifted me into my bed, despite my persistent protests. He also helped me re-connect my IV line. He made sure I was comfortable before going to speak with the nurse. I don't know what it was about, but I'm presuming it was to do with the incident that happened on our walk. When he returned, he took the seat beside my bed, sitting back and placing his hands on his knees.

"You'll probably have to go soon; they normally kick everyone out at dinner time," I said with a small smile. I still felt embarrassed about what had happened on our walk. I couldn't quite meet his eye. I liked him so much, but part of me was sure I'd never see him again once he left. People in my life don't tend to stick around for too long. Even if they understood at first, they eventually grew tired when I couldn't give them what they wanted. Normally, I'd just accepted that fact and never got too attached, but I was already attached to Harry. I craved him and the way he treated me.

"I know, I'd like to come back tomorrow though," he said with a small smile. "If that's okay with you?" he added. I felt my stomach flutter. He couldn't be serious, could he?

"Don't feel you have to out of pity," I said lowly, looking down at my hands and twiddling my fingers. "I'd hate that".

"Trust me, it's not," he said with a grin on his face. "I just have a fetish for sick girls with nose tubes," he chuckled, throwing me a cheeky wink and flicking my nose endearingly.

"That's a bit creepy," I said, laughing at his joke. "But I guess I better watch out for competition," I chuckled and shook my head.

"Yeah, Susie over there might steal me away," he grinned, waving over at the toothless lady in the bed opposite mine, as he had done earlier, making her smile widely. "Anyway, I better get going, but I'll text you later," he smiled, before standing up and bending over, placing his hands either side of me and gently kissing my forehead.

I was taken by surprise as his lips touched my forehead, I'm sure my eyes must have bulged out of their sockets. The skin beneath his lips tingled, making my insides flutter and my breath hitch. He pulled away far too quick and I could only imagine what it'd feel like if his lips were to touch mine. He smiled down at me for a moment staring into my eyes, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Get away from her you freak! This is a hospital!" The shrill sound of my best friend's voice caused Harry to hastily step back from me and avert his gaze.

I looked around Harry to see my best friend, Lola, glaring at Harrys back as she stormed towards him. Before I could say anything, she'd swung her Prada handbag at Harrys face, and he was suddenly on the floor, blood gushing from his lip.

She went to swing her bag at him again.

"STOP!" I shouted as my eyes widened in disbelief. I slowly swung my legs over the side of the bed and attempted to stand up, ignoring the pain that shot through my abdomen. Before I was even on my feet Lola's handbag had collided with his face once again. I gasped and quickly tried to stand up, but my legs gave out beneath me and I had to grab on to the bed to stop myself from falling. I used the bed for support as I moved towards the end of my bed, before lowering myself onto my knees beside Harry.

Harry sat up on the floor and groaned grabbing his face, blood now gushing from his nose as well as his lips. I softly touched his face and stroked my thumb across his cheek. "I'm so sorry," I whispered as tears began to fill my eyes.

"It's okay Clara, I'm okay," Harry tried to reassure me, lightly touching my arm. I felt tears roll down my cheeks and I looked down at my lap.

I was well aware that all the other patients on the ward were staring at us and that hospital security were escorting Lola out of the ward, but all I could think about was Harry and that he was hurt.

Several nurses rushed over and helped us to our feet. Once Harry was standing, I noticed that blood had stained his white t-shirt. I gasped bringing my hands up to cover my mouth and more tears began to furiously roll down my cheeks. "Harry, your top," I whispered, beginning to feel sick. I could feel myself losing control again as my breathing became laboured. I fought to keep control, taking shaky deep breaths.

"Oh shit," he whispered.

The nurse instructed him to sit on my bed and gave him some tissues to hold on his nose. She then lifted his top up. His chest was perfectly tanned and sculpted, but I was distracted by the blood that had soaked his dressing and thus his top. The nurse removed the dressing and blood was slowly seeping from his surgical wound. The nurse said he'd popped a stitch and proceeded to clean the wound before covering it with a new dressing.

I sat beside him feeling completely hopeless as tears continued to spill from my eyes. I felt awful. I couldn't believe Lola had done that. I knew she was protective of me, especially after Sam, but that was too far. Harry hadn't done anything to hurt me, the exact opposite in fact.

"I'm okay Clara," Harry said, putting his hand on my knee and rubbing small circles. "You need to stop crying, okay? I don't blame you, and you look much prettier when you smile," He said, smiling down at me as he continued to rub comforting circles on my knee.

His words caused a small smile to spread across my lips and a I brought my hand up to wipe away my tears. "There we go," Harry smiled and brought his hand up to my face using his thumb to help me brush away my tears. "Much better".

"I'm sorry about Lola, she's quite protective of me," I sighed, looking down at Harry's large hand that covered my knee.

Harry chucked and shook his head. "That girl was mental, what does she keep in that bloody handbag? Bricks?"

"No idea, knowing Lola, probably the kitchen sink," I mused. He laughed in response to my comment, throwing his head back slightly. I began to feel slightly more positive about the whole situation, especially since Harry was acting like his normal self again.

"Why is she like that though? There must be a reason?" Harry asked seriously, changing the mood of the conversation entirely.

My face fell and I looked down. "Oh, erm..." I hesitated before continuing. "My ex Sam didn't treat me very well, h- h-he erm..." I stuttered. "He wasn't very understanding towards my illness or my mental health struggles," I said, feeling embarrassed to be admitting this to Harry. It was obvious I already had a lot of baggage, and a toxic ex further increased the size of that baggage. "She doesn't want me to end up with another guy like him," I stared down at my lap not wanting to see the expression that was on his face or the question in his eyes. Even though things with Sam ended a while ago I still didn't like talking about him. I thought what him and I had was love, but I now realise someone who loved me wouldn't make me feel the way he did about myself.

"I promise you, whatever he was like, I'm not like that," Harry promised. I looked up at him and he was gazing down at me. "I would never intentionally hurt you," he said, his voice full of sincerity.

I believed him.

"I know," I whispered in response.

Harry wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. I laid my head on his shoulder and he rested his chin on my head. It felt so natural. Not weird, not uncomfortable, not flirty, just natural. It made me feel warm inside and I never wanted the feeling to stop. The moment was perfect, and I knew I'd treasure it forever.

After a few moments Harry pulled away and helped me get properly into bed. He tucked me under the covers, before telling me to scoot over. I obeyed and he kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, sitting on top of the covers. He wrapped his arm round my shoulder, and I laid my head against his chest. The warmth of his body was comforting, and I knew I'd easily fall asleep in this position if he let me. I felt safe. Something I had never truly felt when in the arms of any man previously.

Time passed and my dinner was brought round. It was only soup and it was the same flavour I'd thrown up everywhere two nights previous. I attempted to eat a few mouthfuls, but the taste reminded me too much of vomiting, so I pushed it aside and went back to laying against Harry.

I was so comfortable, and I could feel the exhaustion of the day catching up with me. My eyes were heavy and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

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