Cowgirl Boots: a Cinderella Story

Chapter 13

I woke up in a hospital room with a doctor standing over me.  I had no idea how long I had been unconscious.  

"Welcome back, Iris.  You had quiet a scare, didn't you?"  The doctor asked.  

I squinted and groaned.  I just woke up, why question me now?  I squirmed under the blankets for a second and found that my shoulders were wrapped in bandages and they HURT.  

"What a way to wake someone up!  Could I at least have something to eat, doctor?  My step-mother just tried to kill me, I fall unconscious and you wake me up, reminding me of it?"  I complained, narrowing my eyes at him.  

The doctor looked shocked when I mentioned my almost-death, then tried to hide it with a smile.  

"Of course, I'm sorry."  He replied, leaving my bedside and returning with a tray, on which were some pieces of french toast, eggs and mushrooms.  

I pushed myself up into a sitting position, wincing at the pain in my shoulders, however I ignored it.  I took the tray from the doctor and focused on eating my food, while the doctor watched me.  

"Is there something you need to tell me?"  I asked, growing annoyed with his staring.  

"Did you say, 'tried to kill'?"  He inquired.  

I narrowed my eyes and studied him.  Did they not catch Alicia throwing me into the fire?  How am I still alive?  What happened?  

"Yes.  What did she tell you?"  I demanded, leaning forward and almost spilling my milk.  

"If you mean your step-mother, she told us that you were after your kitten, which had been trapped in the house when it caught fire."  The doctor replied.  

"A kitten?  I don't have a kitten!  I'm allergic to cats!  Why would I have kitten?  You've seen my medical papers, haven't you?  You should know that I don't have kitten.  Alicia attempted to murder me, doctor!  Where is she?  Doesn't she know that I'd tell you that as soon as I woke up?" I exclaimed, steadily growing angrier.  

"Calm down.  Eat your breakfast.  A girl named Grace Adams is waiting to hear about you.  She claims that she's your best friend and refused to leave when we requested her to do so.  Is she who she said she is?"  The doctor asked me.  

"Yes."  I answered immediately.  

"Then I'll have her come in, after you've finished eating."  

I nodded in consent and turned to my food.  I began eating as quickly as I could, hoping Grace would be able to explain everything.  I took a deep breath when I had finished my food and closed my eyes to try to re-collect myself.  I prayed, thanking God for sparing my life, and asking for clarity of mind and soul as I dealt with whatever was to come next.  I opened my eyes and drank my milk.  

The doctor took my tray and left the room in order to call Grace.  I studied my surroundings and myself, finding I was in a small hospital bed, wearing a night gown.  Of course, someone would have had to take my dress off in order to tend to my burns.  I sighed, deciding to think about that later.  For now, I needed to figure out what exactly Alicia's plan, or lie, was, before she took advantage of all of us, making it to late to do anything about it.  

Grace came into the room a few minutes later and sat on the bed next to me.  

"Iris, I'm so glad your alright!"  She exclaimed, wiping tears off her cheeks.  

"Grace, what do you know of what happened?"  I asked earnestly.  

Her eyes narrowed a bit in confusion before she replied.  

"I saw fire and called fire fighters, and because I don't trust your step-mother I also called the police.  They were surprisingly fast and found you, unconscious on the ground, with Alicia attempting to put the fire out, near you."  

"Then she let go of me before the police or anyone saw her?!  Then it's her word against mine.  I know she was trying to kill me, Grace.  How can I prove it?"  I whispered, suddenly a little afraid that Alicia would do something to me for telling the doctor.  

Grace watched me talk to myself a bit, before taking my hands and pushing me back into the blankets.  

"Calm down, Iris.  I'm sure it was all a dream."  She tried to assure me.  

That was it.  

"Grace, you don't believe me?"  I asked, staring at her.  

She slowly shook her head.  I narrowed my eyes and pushed her away.  

"Where are my clothes?"  I demanded, trying to hold back from saying something I would later regret.  

"Mother brought you some of mine."  Grace replied, gesturing to a plastic bag in the corner.  I immediately began to change, finishing right before the doctor came back into the room.  

I breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't come in a few minutes prior.  

"I am aloud to leave now, doctor, right?"  I asked, glancing around for anything that might have belonged to me.  

"It's well past midnight, Iris.  Wait until morning, ten o'clock."  The doctor informed me.  

"How long have I been unconscious and how do you know my name?"  I snapped, glancing at Grace.  

"Two hours and your step-mother told me."  

"Alright, I'l stay until then.  May I speak with my step-sister on the phone?  Her name is Georgie Thompson."  I requested.  

The doctor nodded, leaving the room.  Grace glanced at me questioningly.  I glared in return.  I didn't want to talk to her if she didn't believe me.  She slumped her shoulders in defeat and left the room behind the doctor.  

HEY EVERYONE!  I HOPE YOUR HAVING A GOOD WEEK! PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE IF YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER!