Chapter Two: A Hospital Visit

When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by the lights. My throat was dry and my mouth tasted like blood. I raised my hand to my lips, wondering if I had busted it, but stopped after seeing the I.V. I blinked, realizing my surroundings. I was in the hospital and it was daytime. Wait, hospital? My heart raced as my mind panicked. No, this wasn't right. I was going home... I don't understand, what happened?

A dull buzz filled my head, and I winced as it turned into a sharp pain. I grabbed my head in pain as I tried to remember the prior night. Nothing. I looked around, the room was empty, just me and the equipment. I stared at the I.V in my hand. I felt numb as I stared at the bandages on my hand and wrists. I must've hurt my hand, but wasn't wrapping my wrists a bit too much? They had almost healed anyway.

My body tensed at the sound of footsteps; I wasn't ready to be confronted. I slowly laid back down onto the bed and closed my eyes. The hospital room was almost silent besides the drip of the I.V and the hum of the lights. I focused on my breathing, trying to steady my heart and mind at the same time. Drip. Drip. *It'll be over soon.* A picture of a sword shifted to a girl with brown hair looking back at me. Drip. My mind went blank again. I laid there confused as a tear slid down my cheek.

The noise shifted, and the footsteps outside got louder. I wiped my face and sat up. The door opened. The doctor walked in, still talking to my Mom before shifting to include me into the conversation.

"It's likely you passed out from shock; you're going to be okay. The cut on your hand is pretty deep, you'll need to keep the bandages on and keep it out of water for a couple weeks. Other than that, you have a handful of bruises and scratch on your cheek which is healing perfectly fine. The police-"

"Can wait." She interrupted, "how are you feeling?"

"I'm... okay." My voice felt caught in my throat, I had no idea how I was. I didn't even understand what happened. "Last night, what happened? Why am I here?"

"Well, two days ago, I got a call from the police saying they had found my daughter injured in an alley after a passerby saw three suspicious people running from the alley." She looked like she couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. Two days?

"I don't remember."

"Remember?" Both my mom and the doctor looked at me.

"What happened. I have nothing to tell the police because I don't remember anything."

"I thought you said she had no head injuries?" My mom accusingly asked the doctor.

"She doesn't, this is a psychological thing. Be patient, the mem-"

"Can I go home?" I interrupted. Understanding how I got here is one thing, but there was no way I was staying here any longer. I don't like hospitals. The smell makes me nauseous, and it was definitely a good thing I wasn't awake when they put the I.V in.

"Yes. Just remember to keep your bandaging on." I nodded. They stepped outside and I sighed. I knew my mom was ticked off, but I understood that it was because she was scared. I also knew, getting her to let me box was going to be near impossible.

When my mom came back in, a nurse came in too. I knew her, Shelia. Her beautiful dark skin, curves that allow for the softest hugs, her words, and her scent reminded me of the banana pie leftovers her daughter always brought over. I immediately felt calmer. I know it's weird to have someone be able to make you feel safer and calmer than your own mom, but there's something about Shelia that's just... different.

"Rise and shine, honey. It's not like you to sleep in until two pm, but you've had it rough." She kissed my forehead and started taking out the I.V.

"I'm glad it's your shift right now." Sheila chuckled.

"Your clothes are right over there." She pointed to a pile on the chair in the corner. The pile of black and blue made the ruby-colored chair look out of place.

"Aunt Sheila?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Is Lily home yet?"

"Yep, you're welcome to come on over after you rest for a couple of days. She came by yesterday, so you might of some explaining to do." She eyed my bandages and stroked my hair. She made me want to be a dog, simply so I could sit on her lap and be petted and have her read. Of course, she'd smack me for that thought. She said I needed to stop acting like she was an angelic little grandma. She was a "rockin' young thang" as far as she was concerned. I watched as she walked out, a chill running down my spine. I turned to see my mom glaring at me.

"H-hi mom." I chuckled.

"How come you always use that tone with her?"

"I can't believe you're still hung up on that. It just happens." She pinched my cheek.

"Mhhmm."

"I huve ew." She scrunched her nose and sighed. I hugged her tight, I felt like I hadn't hugged her in forever.

"I love you too... but I'd love you more if you had some clothes on." I quickly backed up and covered myself with my hands, and then laughed awkwardly as I patted the hospital gown.

I walked over to my clothes, the hospital socks keeping my feet from the cold tile. I grabbed for my sweatshirt, the cool metal touched my hand and for a moment it looked as if I was holding a knight's breastplate.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh?" I looked at my sweatshirt on the ground, hesitating, "yeah. I just dropped it on accident."

I guess it's better to keep the fact that I'm seeing things to myself seeing that I don't want to stay here and I know my mom would get too worried to let me leave. I felt stupid, standing here being stuck on something I can't remember. The more I tried to not focus on it, the more I couldn't let it go.

I pulled on my black jeans and then quickly put on my bra and sweatshirt. The effect was less satisfying than I had imagined because both my skin and the clothes were cold. I tucked my hair behind my ears and shivered from the coldness of my own fingers. Flicking my arms, I let the sleeves cover my hands and blew warm air into the sleeves. My fingers felt like they were defrosting and I wished the heat of my breath would reach the rest of my body. For a moment, I regretted asking to leave. Maybe it would be better for me to stay. Ha. I knew I was just wanting to run away, to have a reason to.

"Ready to go?" I looked at my mom. Her tired eyes, wrinkled in the corners from smiling. Her confident posture and outreached hand.

"Yeah, I'm ready." I pulled my left sleeve up to take hers. Mom was my constant.