No more holding back

"Ouch." Lina moaned in pain. She immediately closed her eyes as the brightness in the room felt like needles prickling her brain. She touched her forehead with her left hand, her right arm feels heavy and wouldn't move.

"Call the doctor." She heard someone say, strangely sounding like Henry again.

"John?" Lina asked softly and roughly, her throat dry.

"Yes? What is it?" She heard John say from her right. 'It is John', she thought. Henry can't be here that quick.

"Did I hurt my head badly?" Lina remembers what has happened to her and it shouldn't be that long that she's unconscious. Her throat feels dry but not painful, it's just like when she wakes up after a few hours of sleep.

"No, not too bad, why?" John asked worriedly.

"I'm having hallucinations, John. I saw Henry, I heard him too. I can even smell him." Lina whispered. "My head hurts badly."

Just then she heard Dr Alex say. "So, sleeping beauty is awake."

"My head hurts."

"That's normal. I'll give you medicine for that. But you have to open your eyes for me first."

Slowly, Lina opened her eyes, seeing the doctor with a kind smile, while Dr Alex used his penlight.

"Looks fine, but you can't sleep for the next twelve hours." Dr Alex said as he told the nurse to inject the painkiller through her IV.

"What about my hallucinations?" Lina asked again, her eyes half closed, slowly adjusting to the light in the room.

"You're not hallucinating, baby. I'm here." Henry said beside her.

Lina opened her eyes to look to her right. And it's really him beside her, it's her husband holding her hand.

"What are you doing here?" Lina asked Henry, surprised to see him there.

"Later, Nana." Henry informed her as he looked towards Dr Alex, to ask.

"Can she eat? And can they fit the sling on her already?"

"Start with light food first, nothing heavy. I will send Dr Lopez to help her with the sling."

"Thank you, Doctor." Henry said

"Thank you, Doctor." Lina said softly, and coughed.

Henry reached out to pour some water for her and grabbed the straw beside it. He slowly raised her bed so she's a little bit more upright now but not too high to strain her clavicle.

"Here, take small sips only. "Henry helped Lina drink some water.

Doctor Alex was still standing there, staring at the new guy acting so intimate with Lina. Not quite believing that they are married. Lina did not have any reason to lie to him whenever they talk. And just a month ago, she was still single and now she's married. And married to a very successful man.

"Is there anything else, doctor?" John asked him, shaking the doctor from his thoughts.

"Nothing. Just observing her coordination, which seems fine. I'll leave you to it then." Doctor replied to John and left the room.

"I'll go back to her house first to take some change of clothes for her and take back food that Josie prepared." John tells them.

"The rest will be outside and downstairs." He informs Wang directly who just nodded in acknowledgement before he went out.

"Okay, enough now." Henry tells Lina and removed the straw and cup. "You might get sick if you drink too much too soon."

"Okay." Lina is not too parched anymore. "What are you doing here?" She asked Henry.

"Did you think that I wouldn't come even in this situation?" Henry asked her back, with a cold catch on his voice.

"I mean, I'm fine, you didn't have to. How did you get here so soon too? Weren't you in Pirend?"

"Your lack of trust and expectations with your husband isn't comforting, wife." Henry responded, looking upset. But before Lina can ask him to explain, another doctor came in followed by two other hospital staff.

"Hello, I'm Dr Lopez, from the orthopedic department. I'm glad to see you're awake now." Dr Lopez introduced himself to Lina as he moved beside her bed. Another doctor by the nameplate on his chest adjusted her bed so she's up to a seating position.

"You have a hairline fracture on your right clavicle due to the impact as your right arm hit the wall first. You will have to wear a sling and do none to very minimal movements with your right arm for the first 2 weeks so it heals quicker. But you'll have to see a therapist to assist in keeping the muscles from shrinking. Right now, we'll fit you with a sling and remove the cast."

"Okay." Lina answered but he can't help but look at Henry.

Since there are doctors on either side of Lina, Henry moved to the bottom of the bed and laid his hand on her foot covered by the blanket. This helped Lina calm down when they started working on her arm. Every time she would feel pain and frown or let out a sharp gasp, Henry would gently caress her hidden leg. Even under the blanket, she feels comforted by the fact that he's there, trying to ease the pain from her.

The doctors have left after they have placed Lina's right arm on the sling, Lina and Henry thanking them as they went. Henry moved beside Lina then.

"How does that feel?" He asked

"It feels better than earlier. Though I still can't move it. By the way, thank you." Lina sincerely told Henry.

Henry ignored Lina and hand brushed Lina's hair back. He pulled it back from her face and neck. Patting it down to smooth it so it looks neat. And then grabbed the lip balm on the bedside table to apply on her dry lips.

As he did, leaning close to Lina's face. Applying the balm from the tube, he finally said. "I think that you need to start demanding more from me. You shouldn't be thanking me for such a small thing Nana. I'm your husband. I suggest we both try and remember that we are married."

"I never said we are not." Lina protested, looking into Henry's almost sad eyes.

"Yes, I know. But we need to start living as one. Properly and no more holding back." Henry said with promise in his tone and eyes.