It'll be months before I can get out

Aria looked around the ward and saw that it was already night. She had no idea if she had talked to Helen this very morning or the previous morning. "Geez! This is why I hate pain-reducers, they numb the brain too much. But I did desperately need them back then."

She tried to lightly flex her fingertips and toes. Her hands hurt, but it was bearable. Her feet hurt too, but not as much. There was a cast on Aria's left leg, her broken leg, but that didn't hurt. After feeling all the big and small injuries on her body, Aria decided that the pain was bearable after all. "No pain-reducers now. But gosh! I'm sure it'll be months before I get out of the recovery ward. I'm gonna be so behind on my lessons." Aria talked aloud to herself.

"That should be the least of your worries." Aria turned her head upon hearing Miss Anhao's voice and her face broke into a smile, though she flinched a bit, the burn on her face was calloused, but it still hurt whenever her skin stretched.

Miss Anhao came into view carrying a tray of what was probably dinner as she said, "The only thing you need to concern yourself with right now, is getting better. Classes aren't going anywhere." Aria nodded and made a move to sit up, but Miss Anhao put a hand on her shoulder and asked in a stern voice, "What do you think you're doing miss?" "Why? Getting up to eat." Aria replied.

Miss Anhao sighed, "You're in no condition to sit, or eat by yourself for that matter." Aria opened her mouth to protest, but Miss Anhao cut in. "You are not. Just look at your hands. And it's better that you can't look at your back."

Aria slowly turned her head to look at her right hand, and the burn on her neck seemed to hiss in pain. She ignored it and focused her attention on her hands. Her hands were bandaged from fingertips to forearms, and with what little sensation she had beneath the bandages, Aria could feel burns on her fingertips, wrists and arms. "Strange. I don't remember the fingertips." Aria thought, "But I probably don't remember a lot of things."

"Don't try to flex, I would hate for you need a potion before even eating. It'll be your first solid meal in days." Miss Anhao spoke, setting down the tray and pulling out a chair. Aria nodded and she spoke, a motherly smile on her face, "Don't look so forlon child. I asked the kitchens to prepare all your favorite dishes."

Aria forced out a smile and asked, as Miss Anhao began to gently feed her the congee that she loved so much, "Are visitors allowed now?" Miss Anhao nodded and said, "I changed your bandages while you were asleep. I think it's safe to allow people to visit you in batches of one or two. And David agrees."

Aria nodded and settled into a moody silence. "Don't worry. I'm sure all your friends will visit you. And I'll be sure to allow them in. If they look clean enough." Miss Anhao said with a smile, and only received a nod from Aria as she opened her mouth for another mouth-full.