Hide and Seek

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Thoughts and doubts racing across my mind made it hard for me to sleep. But looking outside the window, the city was awake. Car headlights flashing, sirens in the streets, and busy people with a place to be roamed the street. It was a lullaby only a city girl would understand. And tomorrow it would be gone, replaced with whatever sounds small town girls heard at night…probably only crickets…or wolves. Shivering, I pulled the blanket closer.  Tomorrow was going to be hell. 

- - -

Instead of waking up to the nurse shaking me, I instead ended up waking on my own. The lack of sunlight streaming through the blinds told me it couldn’t be later thansix o’clock. I sat up, able to move more now. I knew I’d be exhausted later tonight, unless I slept on the plane. Something I’ve never been comfortable with doing even if my parents were beside me. Consumed in my thoughts, I didn’t realize that Henry along with Doctor Wesley had walked in. Doctor Wesley looked like he’d been up all night, and was in dire need to sleep.

“Oh good, you’re up,” Dr. Wesley observed, “Your father has already discharged you.”

Henry held up a bad sheepishly, “I brought you some clothes. Don’t worry, my wife picked it out.”

“You have a wife?” I asked dismayed, with a bit of sick humor, “Are you going to run when she gets pregnant too?”

It wasn’t just shame that crossed his features, but a spark of anger was ignited. Doctor Wesley shifted uncomfortable as the tension rose. Without words being exchanged, Doctor Wesley walked over to my side. He took the IV out, checking the cut on the side of my face as well. It wasn’t bad enough to get stitches, but it honestly wasn’t pretty either.

“It won’t scar,” He informed clearly, “But right now it’s a nasty cut. Put some antibacterial cream like Neosporin when you get home. Keep it from getting infected for sure.”

I nodded taking the bag of clothes, “After I’m ready, we can just leave?”

Doctor Wesley nodded and began a conversation with my father aboutLouisiana. God, I hate the place already. I wasn’t a stuck up city girl, but I wasn’t a nature girl. I’m clumsy, and loved being able to walk through the streets, being able to sit in the cafés just to watch the hundreds of people walk by. I didn’t want to have to drive out a mile from Henry’s house just to get to the library. I just…this is where home was. My family was taken from me, why does my home have to be to?

I closed the door to the bathroom behind me. The first thing I saw in the mirror was a girl. She had brown wavy hair that cascaded down her back. She had bright blue eyes that were filled with sorrow. Her pink lips pressed together as she took in the sight in front of her. Bruises weren’t rare on her body, and there was a gash along the side of her face. I sucked in a breath…this was me.

In the bag, there was a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt. These weren’t mine that is for sure. I guess Henry’s wife is letting me borrow her clothes, or the likely reason is she bought them for me. What am I? Some sort of charity case for them? Disgusted, I reluctantly put on the outfit. There was no way I was walking through the streets ofManhattan wearing only a hospital gown. Some asshole would untie it from the back, and I’d be naked in front of the city ofManhattan.

I walked out of the bathroom when I was done getting ready. My legs felt like jelly due to not walking for a week.

Henry looked over at me, “Ready?”

“Yeah,” I nodded curtly, “Ready.”

“We said our polite goodbyes to the Doctor. Walking out of the room, I saw two figures in an office. The door happened to be wide open. Inside were Evelyn and a boy. The boy had his back turned to me, and was slouching in his seat. I couldn’t tell how old he was. Evelyn, however, was facing me, but her eyes were focused on the blonde boy.