Hospital

Audra

I woke up the next morning, finally free from my nightmares. For the first time in a long time, my mind felt light—unburdened. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I sat up, stretching my sore limbs before dragging myself to the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I turned on the shower, letting the water heat up as I caught my reflection in the mirror. Bruises and healing cuts littered my skin. The worst of them—a deep purple and yellow blotch on my chin—made me grimace. Even though the pain had dulled, the sight of it still sent a pang through my chest. Steam billowed around me, coaxing me into the shower's warmth. As soon as the hot water hit my skin, every open cut burned, and I sucked in a sharp breath. I let the heat wash over me, forcing myself to embrace the sting. It was grounding, in a way. Lathering soap over my skin, I scrubbed away the grime of yesterday, shampooing my hair and letting the suds run down the drain. By the time I stepped out, my muscles felt loose, my mind clearer. Wrapping a towel around my body, I dried off and dressed in jeans and a sweater, quickly dabbing on some makeup to cover the bruise. Downstairs, the smell of coffee and breakfast greeted me. My dad was in the kitchen, and Kai was already seated at the table. "Did you sleep any better after we left?" Kai asked as I sat beside him. "Yeah, actually," I said, taking a sip of orange juice. "I think admitting I needed to see a therapist helped." Kai nodded approvingly. From the kitchen, Dad poked his head in, a hopeful smile on his face. "That's great, honey. I started a list of places in town that take our insurance. We can schedule your appointment for after school tomorrow." I nodded, relief settling in my chest. "Yeah, Dad. Honestly, the sooner, the better." He beamed at me before setting plates of food in front of us. We ate together, loading up the dishwasher once we were done. "Alright, everyone. Let's go see Mom," Dad said, checking his watch. We piled into the car, and twenty minutes later, we arrived at Saint John Medical Center. "Visiting Cordelia Peterson, please," Dad murmured at the front desk. The nurse smiled sadly as she handed us visitor passes, nodding toward Mom's room. We clipped the badges onto our shirts and walked quietly down the hall. Dad paused at her door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. Inside, Mom sat up in bed, her crochet needles clicking together in steady rhythm. She looked up at us and smiled, warmth radiating from her tired eyes. She patted the space beside her, inviting us in. We all cuddled up close, soaking in her presence. "So, how was everyone's Saturday?" she asked, her voice bright despite the sterile hospital air. "Dad and I put some furniture in the new place," Kai said. "You'll love it, Ma. It's all hand-carved dark oak wood." Her face lit up. "Oh, that sounds lovely. I can't wait to see it soon." She set her crochet aside, folding her hands in her lap. "The doctors said I could go home in a few weeks, as long as I remain stable. They'll send a nurse to check on me during the day, but most importantly—I'll be home again." Dad reached for her hand, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "That's wonderful, baby. We can't wait to have you back." Mom turned to me, her expression expectant. "Honestly, Mama? I slept in late, then went for a jog. After that, I helped Dad and Kai with the furniture." She smiled softly. "Sounds relaxing." I nodded in agreement. We talked for hours, catching up on everything we could until the nurses came in, signaling the end of visiting hours. With reluctant goodbyes, we left, the ride home quiet. Once we got back, we all naturally drifted apart—Dad and Kai to the garage, me to my room. I picked up a paintbrush, letting my mind wander as I moved freely across the canvas. Time slipped away, the outside world forgotten. A knock at my door pulled me back. "Audra, dinner's almost ready," Kai called from the hallway. "Be down soon," I replied, setting my brush aside. I glanced at my painting—a white wolf with piercing yellow eyes, surrounded by splattered red. Water had made the paint drip downward, creating an almost bleeding effect. A shiver ran down my spine. It felt like a silent scream. A desperate cry for help. I really needed that therapy session tomorrow. Pushing the thought away, I went to the bathroom to clean up, washing the paint from my hands and face before heading downstairs. In the kitchen, Dad stood near the door, looking sheepish. "Had to order pizza again, kiddos. I, uh… ruined what I made." Kai snickered, setting out plates. "That's okay, Dad," I said, taking the pizza box from him and setting it on the table. "I'll help you cook Tuesday, since I won't be home in time tomorrow." Dad shot me a grateful smile. Dinner was easy, light-hearted. We talked; we laughed. For a little while, everything felt… normal. Afterward, we settled into the living room for a movie. I drifted in and out of sleep, only jolting awake when a loud fight scene shook the speakers. Blinking, I stretched and yawned. "Hey, I'm going to head to bed. I'm pretty tired." Dad leaned over, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Good night, sweetheart." "Night, sis. See you bright and early," Kai teased, knowing he had to take me to school in the morning. I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Night, Kai. See you bright and early." Upstairs, I stripped off my clothes and threw on an oversized shirt, pulling my hair into a messy bun before shutting off the lights. Slipping under the covers, I sighed in relief. For the first time in what felt like forever, I drifted off into a deep—and peaceful—sleep.