The light overhead was blinding. My head was a fog as I blinked through the confusion and haze, until realization sunk in. I was in a hospital, machines surrounding me, IV in the top of my hand, heart monitors and other devices all attached to me.
Then I remembered, and I had to see her. I tried to get up, only to find everything restricting my movement. I jerked my arm, hard and winced as the iv pulled out. Then again, it didn't hurt any more than the rest of my body.
I unhooked myself from the machines, ignoring the noises they made. A nurse entered the room as I searched for my clothes, willing to give anything to have something on that covered my ass. Public nudity wasn't my thing, but neither was wearing the damned opened back hospital gown.
"Young man you-" I didn't listen, brushing by the nurse as she called for backup. I walked the halls as quickly as I could; I didn't have much time, but I had to see here. Door after door, name after name, I peeked inside until finally I found what I was looking for.
I opened the door and slipped inside, ignoring the protests of the nurse.
"Get me the papers, I'll sign them," I said.368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq5khrgxuf
My voice caused her to turn her head. "No, you won't," she scolded. "You need to let them check over you, make sure you aren't hurt."
"Your awake," I sighed, sitting down on the edge of her bed, reaching over to brush a strand of hair out of her eyes, not that it mattered, she hadn't been able to see me since she was four, when the fever took her sight awake.
"You need to let them take care of you, that's what doctors do."368Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5IESwzQhB
"I know, but I need to take care of you, it's my job." I tried to explain.
"Mama and Daddy stepped down to get a bite to eat. They'll take care of me."
"I don't guess my parents have been in to check on me," I said bitterly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her smaller hand finding mine. I gave it a light squeeze, well aware of what she wasn't saying. Well aware that once again my aunt was the one to check on me, not my parents,but I was used to that. They would blame me anyway, after all, I was the oldest, and I never should have let her ride on my handlebars, I wasn't supposed to, and I knew it restricted my vision, but she loved it so much.
"I'm sorry you got hurt," I mumbled, my voice cracking.
"You need to let her rest, hun," a woman's voice said. I felt the tears leaking from the corner of my eyes as kind arms wrapped around me. I leaned into my aunt's embrace, wincing as the pain finally began to kick in.
"Let's get you back to your room," she suggested. "Your cousin is fine, bruised up and needed a few stitches but she is fine," she soothed, drawing circles on my shoulder. I let her help me to my feet and back to my room as she waved away any staff who offered assistance, scolding them when they argued, telling them she was more than capible of helping me into the room.
I don't remember making it back into the room, or letting the nurse examine me, but I always remembered those two words coming from that six-year-old girl, because even a child understood. I could have checked on her again but I didn't, I didn't speak when she checked on me before checking out of the hospital. I still have the teddy bear she gave me. "Because no one should be alone," she explained, setting it on my bed and waving goodbye. But I was already used to being alone.
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