Stevie returned home before eleven that same morning. She felt upset and rejected. She needed a man, she needed someone close to her and there was no question on her mind Andrew would give all she wanted and begged for and he did, but for one night only. He said he loved her, he was still in love with her, but she didn't believe it, because he wouldn't have made her leave like that. And neither did he want her any longer, she was there completely naked in front of him and he only hugged her. She kept thinking about it the whole way to her house. She lost it, she wasn't desirable anymore and she felt like screaming.
She found Sara in the kitchen, judging by her appearance she just woke up, with her pajamas on and her hair in a messy bun. She jumped when Stevie called her name. "You scared me!"
"Morning to you too, Sara."
"I'm making myself some tea, you want any?"
"No, thank you. I'll go change and I'll be on my way to the hospital."
Something inside Sara clicked and she frowned. "Mom, you didn't sleep here last night. I know you said you didn't know when you'll come back, but you never did, did you?"
"I spent the night at a hotel. I was too tired to bother with the drive back here."
"Really?"
"Why, you don't trust me?"
"I do, but it's a little odd. If you were too exhausted, I'm sure they would have let you stay at the hospital with dad."
"I'm sorry if I booked a room for myself because I wanted to have a good night's sleep!"
"You do look like you're well rested."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, mom, I just said you look much better than yesterday morning, that's all." Sara poured hot water into her favorite mug and stirred the sugar. "Mom, are you ok?"
"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Stevie was becoming agitated. "Are you accusing me of something?"
"No! Mom, relax! I'm just concerned about you."
"Don't be, I'm fucking great!"
Sara stepped aside to allow Stevie to grab a bottle of water. She watched as Stevie pulled out something awfully similar to prescription pills from her bag that was tossed on the counter and spilled a few pills into her palm and quickly downed them with water. "Mom, what... what is that?"
"Nothing."
"Yes, they're something, you just took like four of those. Mom, you don't take any medicine."
"You're overreacting."
Sara shook her head and tried to touch Stevie's forearm, but she recoiled from her daughter's touch. "Mom, what did you just..."
"Stop, Sara! Quit it, ok? Forget you saw it." She yelled and rushed out from the kitchen and to the car that was already waiting to take her to the hospital.
Sara followed the car with her eyes and once it was out of her sight she broke down in tears. She knew her mother and she knew that the woman, who was with her just moments ago wasn't her. She noticed that Stevie left the bottle of whatever medicine she thought she needed. Sara knew she shouldn't have, but she looked at it anyway and it hit her hard when she read the label.
~
Stevie entered the hospital, feeling as if she were hungover, yet she didn't have enough to drink last night to feel like it. Her body was sore, her head was empty and people around her frightened her as did the plain grey walls of the place. It brought back memories...
The first person to meet her was Julie and Stevie smiled at the older woman, her presence was comforting. But to Julie, someone who had worked in a hospital for the better part of her life, something felt off. She decided to keep her mouth shut for now.
"We've been waiting for you! Dr. Phillips tried calling you, but you didn't answer."
"The battery is dead probably. Why was he calling me? Is it Lindsey? Did something bad happen?"
The nurse could tell how anxious Stevie was and she shook her head, putting her hands on on Stevie's shoulders. "Calm down, honey. There is no need for you to worry. Follow me."
Julie stopped by Lindsey's room and smiled at Stevie. "We have a surprise for you."
"I'm not up to playing games, just tell me, what..."
"Will you go in already?" The woman laughed softly and Stevie finally did as she was asked.
She didn't expect things to have changed, but she almost fainted when she saw those blue grey eyes stare back at her. She covered her mouth with one hand and tried not to cry, but that was an impossible task. She approached him slowly and took his hand, for the first time in almost a month, he was the one to squeeze hers. She let the tears flow as he smiled at her and brought her hand to his lips.
