Repair the Broken

Chapter 13

Hope Hospital is one of the most depressing places in Cottendale.   The building is older than any of the others in the city and its located in the heart of downtown.  Its cinderblock walls are painted a grey color.  It’s really depressing.  You would think a place like this would boast bright cheerful colors instead of colors that remind you of death lurking just around the corner.

The rooms are just as bad.  There are extremely small windows in this place and they are located just high enough for short people to have a hard time looking out.  They are covered with dark grey vertical blinds.  The linens are an off white somewhat brightening up this depressive atmosphere. 

“Excuse me ma’am can you tell me anything about Alayna Grey?”  Noelle asks for a third time.

“I can’t release that information unless you are family.  I’ve already told you that.  Please go to the waiting room and we will get you when someone from her family gets here.”

“And we told you that her family isn’t here.  Her mom’s not answering and her dad is out of town on a case.  We are the closest thing she has to family and we are standing right here so give me a break lady.”  Lexi has the patience of a rabbit in heat. 

The nurse looks at her surroundings and leans forward.  Her voice is very low, “Broke her leg and hit her head.”  She stands up and then states, “Ma’am I can’t tell you anything.  Please go sit down.”

Noelle drags Lexi away from the nurse’s station and they head towards the waiting room.  On the way Lexi tries to call her mom again.  The call goes to voicemail after five rings.  Noelle tries to call her dad and that call goes straight to voicemail.

“I don’t think Mr. Grey’s phone is on.  It’s going straight to voicemail.”

“Her mom’s is ringing and ringing.  I left another message.”

“At least that nurse gave us some information.”

“Yeah, that is a plus but that still doesn’t tell us what is going on with her.  She could need surgery for her leg or she could be in ICU for hitting her head.  There’s no telling what she is going through."

The waiting room is right around the corner but Noelle stops and leans against the wall.  She looks Lexi in the eyes and all she can see in them is fear. Noelle isn’t good at holding in her emotions.

“I’m really worried about her.  Is she awake?  Does she remember what happened?  Is she scared? Oh God she could have died Lexi.”  The tears start rolling down her face as she lets her body slide down the wall into a sitting position.  She lands on her bottom and pulls her knees to her chest.  She lays her face in her knees and wraps her arms around her legs. 

“I don’t know what she is going through or what she is feeling.  I can tell you that she will get the best care by these doctors.  She’s a strong person and she’s a fighter.  She will pull through.”  Lexi slides down next to Noelle and leans against her shoulder.

*******************************

I woke up about five minutes ago but I can’t open my eyes.  They are heavy and it feels like I have lead weights holding them closed.   I’ve tried to move my arms and legs but they are stuck as well.   It’s like my body has been tied down and someone took a blindfold and tied it around my eyes.  Every time I try to move it hurts.  I can barely wiggle my fingers and toes but at least I can feel them.

I know I am finally awake because I can hear beeping all around me.  The sound is foreign but it’s one I’ve heard before.  I can’t place it and it hurts too bad to strain thinking about it.  I’ve been in and out of consciencousness for a while.  I can remember the beeping and I’ve felt people come in and move things in my room. 

I think someone came in and poked me in the arms.  I felt the hand wrap around mine and then I felt tugging on my wrist.  It felt like a needle; I can’t think of a reason I would have someone poking me with a needle though.

I hear a door open and then close.  Someone is walking towards me.   

“Hello.” If that’s my voice then it’s strained.  It’s barely a grunt coming out. 

“Alayna, are you awake?”  

“Yes.”  Another grunt but more audible this time.

“My name is Morgan.  I am your nurse.  I am going to check your vitals.”

“Why are you here?”  I am feeling very confused.  Why is a nurse in my room?

“Alayna, you are in the hospital.  You were in an accident.  How are you feeling?”

“My head is really hurting.  I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“Can you open your eyes and look at me?”  The nurse sounds more concerned this time.

“I tried.  They are heavy and it hurts to try.”

“I really need you to try again.”

I try again.  This time I can feel them prying open.  It feels like they are ripping apart at the seams but after a few more tries it gets more bearable.   I slowly see light seeping in under my lashes.  It’s bright as if there’s a light shining right above me.  I try to move my hand to cover my eyes so that it’s more bearable to open them. 

I get my arm lifted and lower my arm over my face.  I can feel cords and wires attached to my arm.  I get my eyes to cooperate and the first thing I see is an IV in my arm.

“Why am I here?” 

“You were in an accident.  I need you to look at me so that I can check you out.  Once I’m done with that we can get the doctor for you.”

I let her look me over.  She shines a bright light in my eyes and makes me follow her finger.  She checks my heart rate, pulse, and oxygen levels and takes my temperature.  It’s tedious but when done she tells me that my rating has improved.  Whatever that means!!

It takes another thirty minutes before the doctor arrives.  He’s an older man probably in his fifties but rather handsome.  He has dark hair that is cut close to his head, a clean shaven face, and he’s wearing grey scrubs. 

“Alayna, I am Dr Mathews.  How are you feeling?”

“Right now I am feeling confused.  Why am I in here?”

“You were brought in last night.  You were in a car accident.”    

“I guess that explains the pounding headache and the tired body.  Am I okay Dr.?”  An accident.  That explains the hospital room and all the wires hooked up to me. 

“You broke your left leg under the kneecap.  That might be why your body feels heavy.  We have you on some pretty strong painkillers.  When we pulled you from the car, you had a large cut on your forhead at the hairline.  It was pretty deep.  You have a slight concussion causing your headache.  We checked for swelling on the brain and you don’t have that.  That’s a good sign. 

Do you remember what happened?”

I close my eyes and work on remembering the day before.  “I spent the afternoon with Brody.  We went to the diner and we had dinner.  We went to the Falls and talked for a long time.  We danced in the rain.”  I smile at this memory.  Thinking more, I go on.

“It was raining so we got soaked. We had to change clothes in his car then we left.  He was taking me home.  I was really tired; I had an emotional day and it was catching up with me.  I fell asleep.”  The bright lights and the loud screeching sounds come forcing its way back into my memory. 

“Oh God.  He hit us.  That truck hit us.  Oh God.  What about the driver?  What happened to the driver?” I feel panic rise in me.  It’s choking me and making me lose air.  My chest feels heavy in anticipation to the answer.  I need to know what happened to Brody.

The nurse and the doctor look at each other; bodies tense and something passes in their eyes.  They know. “I’m sorry Alayna.  The driver of the truck didn’t make it.”

I break.  It hits me like a ton of bricks.  He can’t be dead.  We were just getting close again.  I was just with him.  He was just with me and now he’s gone.