The Forest (Complete Unedited)

The Forest Chapter 21

ALICE

I wake up the next morning in the hospital to see that Aiden has disappeared! I don't have a drip anymore so I can quickly jump out of bed. Where is he? There are only two occupied beds in this room, the other four were empty. Five now as Aiden is gone. The plain white walls feel like they are closing in on me. I spun around, he couldn't get out the two large windows as they were locked. The room door is closed and the bathroom is open, I can't see anyone from here. I step towards the bathroom when my leg is grabbed from behind.

I freeze when I look down. Looking down at the hand gripping my calf with long twisted fingernails and sticky dirty patches spread all over, my heart jumps in fear. I take a deep breath. This is Aiden, I better help him get cleaned up. I gently take his hand and turn around. He is crouched under the bed like a wild animal. I hadn't realised how dirty he was yesterday. The image in my dream of him coming out the tree was a clean Aiden with long hair, no dirt and long twisted nails. I call out to him

"Aiden it's me Alice, you're going to be ok." He's pulled out his drip and a little blood is dripping out his arm, this won't do!

I'll have to press the call button, I can't leave him. The head nurse isn't in yet so one I haven't met before comes in.

"Oh no what happened here my lovely?" She has a strong Nigerian accent, and a big smile on her face.

A big lady with small feet, she lightly skips across the room. Peeking under the bed, Aiden backs away and covers his face with his hands. His clean hair and face a contrast to his incredibly disgusting hands.

Seriously, how did I not notice that when we walked out the forest. Even when we tied the proposal ribbons on our arms. It's still tied there with its clean white and green pattern. Love is blind I suppose!

"Sorry to call you here this early but Aiden has never been in a hospital before and he's a bit scared. I'll help him get washed up but could I borrow a few things? And he's pulled out the needle so a plaster too?"

She nods her head and smiles giving me a wink. She gives me wash stuff and some nail clippers. I have to hold Aiden's arm for her to clean the needle hole with an alcohol wipe and tape a small cotton ball there. He's still under the bed, I don't know how he managed to wedge the cast under there. When the nurse leaves I encourage him to come out.

We end up in a long hug as he's shaking in fear. He's even crying a bit. I look into his eyes as he calms, brushing the hair away from his face with my finger tips. He attempts to speak but again finds this difficult. After a drink of water I pour from a jug on the table, he's able to make an 'ah' sound. I shake my head.

"It's ok Aiden if you keep practicing you'll be able to talk again. Let me get you cleaned up. I'll show you where the toilet is, the pot remember. Then we can get changed. I'll help you practice a bit more while we wait for the doctor, I'm sorry but a lot more people will come today. Remember I'm here so don't be scared. My mum is coming to pick us up."

He nods and smiles, cautiously following me to the bathroom. I support him as he hobbles through the bathroom doorway. After I show him how to use the toilet, I help him into the shower. It's good that we are in the hospital, there's a chair I can sit him in. He's fascinated by the shiny metal attachments.

I blush as I help him take off the hospital gown. Turning away to get the plastic bag to cover the cast. Even under the dirt he's looking fine, I don't remember those muscles from yesterday. I avert my eyes from the lower part of his body, and start with the showering.

He jumps at the water, but his look quickly turns to fascination. After ten minutes of shower gel, water and blushing he figures it out. I turn away and splash my face with cold water. After a moment the water starts hitting the tiles. I turn to see Aiden's face is redder than mine! Oops my hospital gown. I grab the string ties behind me and step out of the bathroom. Fanning my face, I understand the nurses wink now! My PG life just turned X rated.