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Chapter Six
Edith
I feel like someone has taken me and beaten me with whatever blunt object they found, then ran me over with their car. My body hurt, my eyes hurt…god, even my hair hurt. I can tell it is
loosely braided and hanging over my shoulder. If I could have slept forever that would have been perfect.
“Edie! Oh, my god! Is she okay? What happened? I just got the text.” Shelby yells into my room, and I swear her mouth is right up against my sensitive ears, making me groan.
“Miss Moore, please. Edith hasn’t woken up yet.” I recognize Jack Hamilton’s voice right away. I wonder how I got here.
“I’d say she’s about to by the look of her heart monitor. Have they given her any pain medication? If it’s the flu, it’s too late for Tamiflu, but they can keep her comfortable.” Good old Aiden is here, too, ready to doctor me up like a lab rat.
“When did you bring her in? Why didn’t she call us to let us know?” Shelby sounds tearful. I want to reassure her I’m okay, but I feel too tired to respond. I can feel a hand lightly rubbing my arm. In a strange way, it hurts because my skin is so sensitive and achy, but it’s warm and comforting, too.
“I found her yesterday afternoon alone in her apartment. Her fever was so bad, I brought her here. Dehydration and the flu is the diagnosis. Her phone was dead, and it looked like she hadn’t moved from the couch in a while.”
Aiden grunts. “So you charged her phone, then texted us.”
“I figured she’d want familiar faces when she woke up. There’s no next of kin on her school forms.”
“She wouldn’t want them here anyway,” Shelby snorts. She is right about me not wanting my parents here. I open my eyes and squint. Everyone seems busy making plans about what happens next, ignoring me.
“So, what’s the plan? I mean, how long will they keep her here?” Aiden asks, putting his arm around Shelby, who is hovering near the end of the bed.
“If she wakes up a bit and takes in some fluids, they’ll discharge her…provided she has a place to go.”
“We’ll take her home,” the duo offers. The thought of going to Aiden and Shelby’s new love nest is not on my list of places to recuperate. I’ll be fine in my own home.
“I don’t think so,” I force myself to croak between labored breaths. I pray my aches and pains will diminish with each forced action.
“Whoa, easy there.” Jack grabs my hand and gently squeezes, while his other holds my shoulder down. I don’t know why he thinks I would attempt to move, as I’m feeling so shitty. It’s also the first time I let myself think of him as Jack and not just Mr. Hamilton.
“I better find a nurse to check on her,” Shelby nods, leaving the room.
“You need to rest, Edith. You scared the shit out of me,” Jack brushes my hair off my face. I wince at the touch, not sure if it’s because my hair is gross or if I’m in actual pain.
“Hurts, huh?” Aiden is checking my pulse.
“I’m not paying your co-pay fees, Aiden,” I cough the words out.
“I’m revoking your right to an opinion on any medical matters, Edith. Seriously, just rest and let us figure everything out.” Jack squeezes my hand again and pulls Aiden out into the hallway. I wish I could hear what they are saying, but Jack closes the door. I swear I hear him getting loud in the hallway, but I’m so tired. Maybe I drift off because the next thing I remember is Shelby gently re-braiding my hair.
“Oh, hey. You’re awake.” I open my eyes and watch Shelby as she ties off the end of my hair. “Jack went to go make sure you were clear to be discharged soon. Doctor just has to check you over.”
“Shelby?” I was confused. She is calling Mr. Hamilton Jack now? What transpired in the last twenty-four hours?
“Aiden had class and a Biology lab this morning, but he said he’d come back later.” Shelby is refusing to look me in the eye, which makes me think that something is definitely up.
“What’s going on?” I ask her, but then Jack and the doctor walk in.
“I’ll just wait outside.” Shelby backs away, pushing Jack out with her.
“Miss Willows, you’ve given your friends quite the scare,” the doctor says, looking over my chart.
“So I’ve been told.” My voice is still hoarse and a little husky. I watch the doctor flip through my chart and make notes. He listens to my chest and declares me alive, though I might have disagreed with him at this point.
“It’s not often we get a flu patient in a private room, but no worries. You’ll be on the mend soon. I don’t see why we can’t discharge you today. I’ll give you some scripts for some medication to manage your symptoms.” The doctor nods and quickly leaves. I’m sure that little consultation will be a hefty fee.
