Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Amelia's p.o.v;

It smells like medicine when I take a sniff. What am I doing?

When I open my eyes, the first thing that strikes me is the white ceiling. My heart rate begins to increase once more. Is it true that I'm in the hospital? Am I going to die? It takes me a long to realise I'm fine. I raised my head and looked about. The room was painted white and blue, and there was an IV station near my bed from which I was receiving glucose.

I couldn't move my hand when I tried to sit straight by resting it on the bed for support. Why couldn't I get it to move, and why does it feel so heavy? My right hand had a cast on it when I glanced at it. What became of my hand? My head hurt when I attempted to recall. My brain felt like it was filled with cotton, and my body was numb. It takes me a while to recall when I lost the use of my hands. My fingertips were tingling with pins and needles. They moved stiffly, and the way they shook indicated that I couldn't feel anything else.

"Amelia, when did you wake up?" Mom said as she entered the room.

I clenched my teeth and said, "Just a few moments ago. Why am I wearing a hand cast? What happened?"

"You don't recall?" She sounded perplexed.

With a grimace on my face, I shook my head. "No, not at all."

She gave a pleasant smile. "In fact, you've been unconscious for two days, but you've woken up."

I sat up upright, perplexed. I pondered what had occurred previously... I recall saving Andrew from drowning in his home...

"Andrew!" Did I say it aloud? Anyway, I needed to know more about him, so I inquired, "How is he doing, Mom? How is Andrew doing? Is he doing well?"

Her attitude shifted, and she stated flatly, "He's great. Wait, I'll notify Dad and Ash that you've awoken." And exited the room.

I'd like to see Andrew! I'm curious how he's doing. But how am I going to achieve that?

Mom entered and said, "They're on their way. Dad and Ash are on their way." She drew water from the bedside and fed it to me.

"What did the doctor think of the cast? Did he tell me how long I should wear it?"

"I neglected to notify the doctor, please wait."

She exited the room, leaving the water on the table by the bed.

I sighed and took the water with my left hand, finishing the entire glass since I was thirsty. I'm hungry as well. How long did I spend in the hospital? I searched around for something but couldn't find anything except spotted a clock on the wall because the place was so neat and tidy. Aside from the bed I'm sitting on, the only item on the wall was a window with a little glass pane and no curtains, so it could be any time of day or night.

After a while, the doctor and the nurse entered. My mother was also with them.

"Do you feel discomfort here?" the doctor inquired after inspecting my cast. Asked while pressing at several points, and I responded properly.

"Doctor, what happened to my hand? Is it faulty?"

He cracked a smile and added, "A hairline fracture has occurred. You don't have to be concerned about it. It will recover faster than you think. By the way, did you run into anything difficult?"

I considered it and remembered what happened while I was rescuing Andrew. The water surged outside the basement after the window broke, and the current threw me into the wall. Yeah! That's when I was struck.

"Doctor, yes. I was hurled against the wall."

He nodded and added, "I heard what you did. It's a wonderful thing. How did you learn CPR?"

I remembered doing CPR on Andrew. The thought makes me flush. I did it without thinking, but now that I think about it, I'm humiliated. I recall that moment as if it were yesterday. To take breaths, I mashed my lips against his. Is it considered a kiss? I mean, we didn't even kiss or anything... But suppose we had? What if it wasn't simply air?

The thoughts are enough to make me temporarily stop breathing.

"Did you hear what I said?" The doctor inquired once again.

"I-I saw those on YouTube."

"Smart child. You need be cautious with your hand from now on because you may have fractured something, so stay still and modify your motions for the next eight weeks if you want to heal rapidly. That is the amount of time we are discussing, not the hours in your day."

"It takes eight weeks? Can't I continue my studies for another two months?"

"After a month, you can return to college. But be cautious during these four weeks. Take your medication as directed and relax frequently. You need to get some rest right now." And exited the room.

Dad and Ash entered after the doctor had left.

Dad, "How do you feel right now? Do you feel any discomfort herel?" Asked, gesturing to the cast.

I grinned and said, "No, dad. I'm all right now."

"Why did you travel alone? Shouldn't you have waited for someone?"

"I couldn't think of anything else while watching someone die in front of me, dad."

"Amelia, I'm so proud to name you my daughter," Dad remarked as he hugged me. But, please, do not do something like this on your own."

"I agree, papa."

After some time of talking, Dad and Mom went to eat. Ash stayed with me.

"Are you starving?"

"I ate a few hours ago, so I'm not hungry," he said, shaking his head.

I nodded and leaned back on the bed.

"So, what are you going to do today?" He made fun of me.

In response, I shrugged. "I guess nothing special considering I have a cast on my hand. To be honest, I don't know what I'm going to do for the next 8 weeks," I continued. "I believe this will be a particularly difficult month for me."

"What happened?" Ash inquired as he sat next me.

"What exactly do you mean by 'what happened?'" Didn't you hear about what happened?"

"How come you saved him?"

"Does that even qualify as a question?" He's the guy I have a crush on. How can I let him perish, brother? Do you have any idea how I felt witnessing him float around in the rising water inside the house? When I saw he was simply fainting, I felt relieved. I'm sure that's the moment I'll remember till I die. By the way, can you explain to me what happened after I fainted that day and how I ended up in the hospital? How did you come across us?"

"What will I get in exchange?"

"Why are you being so... Okay! This month, I'll give you my allowance. Is that all right?"

"Three months," he answered, shaking his head.

"What!? That's not right."

"What are you going to do with the money if you're going to stay in bed for two months? It's better to give it to me because I'll use it."

"I'm able to order food from food."

"Mom won't let you. Dad will chastise you. And I'll steal the food from the delivery guy before you receive it."

"Fine! It's three months then. Tell me what happened now."

"Alright, We discovered you were missing after the turmoil in our neighbourhood had subsided. We began looking for you everywhere on the streets. I noticed Andrew carrying someone in his hands as we were looking for you. I hurried to him because I feared someone was harmed. When I approached him, I discovered that the person he was holding was you. You were motionless inside his arms. He was naked, and your garments were ripped up. It conveyed the impression that something awful had occurred between you two. Dad became enraged and began fighting with him. I begged Dad to take you to the hospital after seeing you unresponsive. We discovered from the CCTV that you went inside his residence freely to save him when you were being treated in the hospital. You should have seen Dad's expression at the time. He was overjoyed that his young girl had saved someone who was in danger. He appeared pleased and proud."

"Did our father speak with Andrew's parents?"

"What do you suppose would have happened?" he asked, shaking his head. "Actually, did you fall in love with him because you saved him?"

"No!" I exclaimed with a glare. "If saving a life causes you to fall in love with the survivor, does this imply that every saviour should fall in love with their rescuers?"

"You'll be surprised to hear this."

"What exactly is it?"

He rose up and approached me, whispering, "Your boyfriend has arrived. I spotted him waiting for you outside in the corridor."

"You should have told me this when you came to see me."

He stepped out of the room, shushing me.

"Where are you leaving?"

He didn't stop and walked out of the room while Dad and mum entered the room. Dad patted my shoulder and said, "They're here."

Who's here?

Dad and mom were sitting on the couch next to the bed.

Mom said to me, "Even if they are rude to you, be courteous to them. Because you're a wonderful young lady."

I'm not sure what's going on here. Who is coming, and why are the parents acting the way they do around Andrew's parents?

"Are you sure we have to be here when they come?" Mom asked dad.

"We can handle this," Dad replied, nodding. And then he offered a thumbs up.

Okay, this is becoming crazier by the second. So, who are we waiting for?

Andrew's parents walked in with him as the door opened. Now I understand why my parents were the way they were.

When Andrew's parents entered, my mother and father's emotions altered and they glanced somewhere else. Andrew's parents were identical to mine. I felt weird around them as well because I had never spoken to them in my life. When I looked at them, I nodded like welcoming them.

Andrew's mother, "Thank you so much for saving my son. We appreciate you…"

I nodded at every thing she said since I had no idea what to say or how to respond. She requested that Andrew's father talk with me.

Andrew's dad, "I appreciate what you have done."

Andrew's father whispered something into Andrew's ears and backed away.

"Thank you for saving my life," Andrew remarked as he approached. And he left with his folks.

Is that it? What else can I expect from my neighbours? That was the most embarrassing moment I've ever experienced. I had hoped that after spending so much time in each other's wrath, we would be able to form some kind of bond after that incident, yet here we are, awkwardly rubbing up against each other once more. It's not a new sensation. This is what happens when you live in years of hatred.

Hannah barged into the room and took a seat near me, asking, "Do you think of yourself as some kind of superhero?" And grabbed my ears.

"Ouch! Ouch! That aches... What's the harm in being a superhero?"

"Do you even have a brain?" While prodding my brow, I inquired.

"Is it wrong to save someone's life?"

"Look in the mirror. You went to help him but came back with a cast. Is that what you call saving?"

"It's usual to get harmed when trying to help someone. And I didn't break my arm either. It's only a minor hairline fracture."

"Don't talk like you're some key character in the narrative. Good god, that you escaped with a hairline fracture. What if you got hurt more than this? What will you do then?" she remarked, flicking my brow.

While Hannah was yelling at me, senior Caleb walked in holding a bouquet of flowers.

"What exactly is this?" After seeing so many flowers in his hand, I asked him.

"I brought these flowers to this beautiful brave lady," he stated as he handed her the flowers.

I smiled at what he said and took it from him, thanking him.

"I'll be outside then," Hannah said.

When she attempted to go, I stopped her and asked, "Why are you leaving?"

"I can't stand it when you're all lovey-dovey."

"We're just friends."

"Please do not begin again. I don't want to develop a headache from your interminable explanations about your relationship with him." She then exited the room.

"What did the doctor say?" senior Caleb inquired.

"A hairline fracture. He estimated that it would take six to eight weeks to recover. Senior, he asked me to take a break."

"Yes, he is correct. Take a break and don't do anything stupid, consider about your body as well." He sighed and said, "Does that mean I won't see you for another two months?"

"The doctor indicated I could start college in a month."

"However, you stated that it will take 8 weeks to heal. How will you get to college in a month with this hand?"

"He claimed I could get a splint within a month. Senior, it will heal quickly. Actually, I'll be discharged tomorrow evening."

"Wasn't it quick?"

"I despise the environment here. It's putting me to sleep every time, and I despise the smell of the medicines."

He remarked with a smile, "That is how a hospital will function. Okay, take care and get out of the cast as soon as possible. It doesn't suit you that much." And then he exited the room.

Ash entered and inquired, "I heard you performed CPR on your hidden crush? Is this true?"

"Are you really my brother?"

"Simply tell me what happened. Did you perform CPR on him?"

"I didn't feel his pulse and didn't hear his beating and breathing either, so I gave him CPR," I nodded.

"Did you actually do what they show on TV?"

I agreed by nodding.

"Does that imply that you kissed him?"

"I took a few deep breaths to wake him up, but I didn't kiss him. It wasn't even a kiss. It was a component of CPR."

"Whatever You smashed your lips up to his. That is a kiss. Are you going to say no? You simply cannot. Hearing your story is amusing. So, after all these years, you finally kissed your crush?"

I hurled a spoon at him and said, "Talk to me like a brother. I should not have told you that."

"What are you people fighting for?" Dad asked as he entered. "Can't you see your sister laying on the bed with a cast on her hand, can't you be more responsible and take care of her?" he asked Ash.

I said, "We're just having fun, Dad. It wasn't anything serious."

Ash stood up and said to me, "I'll come later." And left the room.

I asked dad, "Why did you do that, dad? We're just joking around."

Dad sat next to me and said, "Set it aside. I'd like to speak with you about Andrew."

"What is it, Dad?"

"You can't start chatting to him just because you saved him. Keep the distance you've been keeping all these years. Did you notice his parents? Did you notice how they reacted to what you did? They didn't even properly thank you for saving his son. That's how they are, even if you risked your life to save him. Did you get what I was saying?"

"Yes, dad."

He nodded and took out his phone.

"Where has Mom gone?"

"She went home to get you a few items."

"Dad, I told you I wanted to be discharged the next day."

"Even if you're going to be discharged tomorrow, you still need things like your basic necessities for tonight." "It's time to take your medicines," he added, looking at the time.

He took some tablets from a box and asked, "Where's the water?"

"Am I going to swallow it all?"

"There are just eight tablets in this room. Come on."

He handed me the water bottle and tablets and said, "I'll go see if your mother has arrived yet. Don't throw away the tablets, Amelia. Take it in. I'll return in a moment."

He made his way out of the room.

"I guess we're going to stick around a lot from now," I replied to them, looking at the tablet he had given me.

I took each drug one at a time. Why is it so large? And why are so many pills prescribed for a hairline fracture?

I sat on the bed and looked around the room. It gave me a dizzy feeling. I'm not sure if the medication or the emptiness of the room caused my dizziness. Or maybe it's because my thoughts were flowing into my head. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep them out. Maybe if I try harder than usual it will go away? I think I could use some more sleep but I can't. My head aches. My eyelids started to feel heavy as I was looking outside the window, all I could see was the sky.

I recall it raining dogs and cats that day. I walked to my residence in the rain. I rescued Andrew from a sinking house. Because of the water flow, I injured my hand by hitting up against the wall. It made me smile just thinking about it. I can't believe I did all of that. I can't believe I just saved someone... I'm referring to Andrew. I can't believe I did it all by myself. It changed my image of myself because all I used to do was hide somewhere hidden and watch him discreetly, but now I stepped forward and rescued him by myself without anyone's assistance. It makes me feel like I took a step forward which I was scared to do.

I'm pleased with myself, yet I recall what my father said to me. Even after I assisted him, his parents did not appear pleased because it was I who had saved him. My folks didn't seem delighted with them even after they came to thank me. I'm curious what transpired between our parents to make them hate each other.

I had never considered it before. But I think I should think about it from now on. Let us investigate what caused them to become adversaries.