Lights Of The Memory Lane ✔

#4 Home

   This is the day! Emily had been waiting for this day to come. She keeps pacing back and forth in her hospital room, waiting for her father to arrive. When the door opens, she confidently runs towards it, making the person in the doorway jump in surprise.

   "Hey, look who's so bubbly today!" Stephen beams as he holds the door handle.

   "Today, I'm going home!" Emily hops and claps her hands enthusiastically. Stephen joins in, cheering and clapping softly. People at the outside of the room watch both of them amusedly, especially the nurses. They didn't expect that Dr. Stephen Ainsley, who is quite stern and strict in his job, has a soft spot for his stepsister.

   "Are you ready to go home?" Stephen enters the room and closes the door, realising that there are people out there whispering to each other about him and Emily.

   "Yup, I'm ready since yesterday!" Emily skips towards a sofa and plops herself down.

   Stephen smiles and laughs at Emily's cheerfulness. He checks his phone as he receives a message from Andrew saying that they are here.

   "When are you coming home from work, Stephen?" asks Emily.

   "Umm... Maybe tonight," Stephen keeps his phone back in his pocket and rubs his neck. Then, the door opens again and this time, Andrew, Sarah and Thomas appear behind it, causing Emily to jump from her seat and runs towards her father happily.

   "Hey! You can't wait to go home?" Andrew asks his daughter, earning a quick nod from her which leaves her in doubt.

   'Wait.. What is the meaning of that nod? Does it mean that I agreed with what Daddy said or I can wait to go home?' Emily frowns as her conscience asks her that stupid question. 'Now I'm the clueless one. Urgghh.. Whatever! Just forget it!' she internally shakes her head and now, her mind stops questioning.

   "Come on. Let's go home!" Andrew's voice cuts off Emily's endless thoughts.

   "Huh? What? Now?" Emily looks around, seeing her bag has been carried by Thomas.

   "Yes. Do you want to go home tomorrow instead?" Andrew questions, raising one of his eyebrows.

   "No, no. I want to go home now," Emily walks to the open door where her doctor stands at. Her father and the doctor talk for a while and then, the latter moves his gaze to her.

   "Goodbye, Emily! Take care of yourself, okay?" the doctor pats Emily's shoulder, giving her a genuine smile. Emily smiles at him, but then her mind starts reminding her something.

   'Take care, okay?'

   Somehow, the doctor's last sentence reminds Emily of those words. She doesn't remember who said those, but she knows she'd heard them before.

   "Okay, we'd better go now. Thank you again, doctor!" Andrew smiles at the doctor and pulls Emily, who is waving at Stephen, to walk with him.

*******

   Emily stares out the window in awe and wonder. She keeps watching the tall buildings, trees and cars as they pass by her. Meanwhile, Thomas who is sitting beside her just watches her behaviour intently. She acts like a little kid who is always excited to see something new and interesting.

   "We're here!" Andrew announces, especially to Emily who looks like she cannot wait to get out of the car. But first, she looks out the window and sees a massive lawn with a few well balanced bushes and trees. She doesn't even realise that Andrew has opened the door for her.