CHAPTER 14: Elena
I stared at the pale pink walls of the hospital room blankly. The pain in my head was easing with whatever medicine was in the IV, but my body was still sore.
I learned that I’d been hit by a car that ran the red light. The passenger side of my old car was destroyed, and it would more than likely be totaled out, but that was what insurance was for. I had medical insurance thanks to my parents, but that might be handled by the other driver’s insurance as well.
It was a teenage girl on her way home from a friend’s house. She was texting and glanced down just as the light was changing and never even saw me.
I thought about the last day and sighed. The pretty nurse Robin told me that Liam was worried and wanted me to call him, though my phone didn’t make it through the car accident. It went through the window and shattered on the street, and that was where all my numbers were, which was ridiculous. I would get it replaced in time, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.
I was dealing with the fact that I might not make it back to school next week, possibly changing my entire life plan. I knew that I was going to be sore for some time and was already informed that I was going to see a chiropractor and maybe a physical therapist.
I didn’t have a car nor money to replace mine, and everyone knew that they low balled you when they gave you what they deemed it being worth. I would end up with a piece of junk, not that my old car was much more than that. But, it was mine.
There was movement at the door, and I glanced over to see the pretty blonde nurse smiling as she walked in. She looked a bit like Gwen Stefani, and I took a slow breath as she came over to the bed. “I spoke to your parents. They’re out of the country right now but wish for you to get well soon. They’ll call your room as soon as they can.”
My parents, the world travelers. They wrote for a popular travel magazine and were always gone. I wasn’t surprised that they weren’t coming to see me at all. This was my whole childhood. They might send me some money to help me out if I was lucky.
“Thank you,” I told her gratefully as I looked back at the window.
“How are you feeling?” She asked as she sat down in the chair. “Is the medicine working?”
“Yeah. It takes the edge off,” I told her as I looked seriously at her. “How much did you tell my parents?”
“Sweetie, you’re an adult, so they only know about the accident.” She frowned and leaned back against the thin cushion. “Are you going to tell them anymore?” She’d been with me when the doctor told me everything, checking on me and holding my hand during the harder parts. I felt closer to her than anyone else at this moment, and I sighed.
“There are things that I don’t want to tell anybody,” I admitted as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.
“You have to talk to somebody. I haven’t seen a single person visit you yet, nor heard about it. Who can I call for you?” She pressed, and I thought for a moment. I knew Ginger’s number off the top of my head, and I could talk to her. I told the nurse the information, and she jotted it down, which was when I remembered her name.
Gwen. That was ironic.
“I am going to call her and let her know where you are. You need someone to visit, and I have too many other patients to stay in here too long,” she told me regretfully as she glanced at the door. “I am always here if you need me though. Just press the button.”
Gwen left, and I tried to get into the sitcom on TV, though my mind kept wandering. I knew that life was forever changed now and I didn’t have any idea where to go from here.
Liam crossed my mind, and I closed my eyes. There was no way in hell I was going to contact him yet. He wouldn’t want me this way.
A couple of hours had passed before a nervous redhead rushed through the door, making me wake out of my light sleep as she gasped. “Elena!! Why didn’t you call me sooner?”
I blinked, and she sat down beside me. “I was taking all of this in. The nurse asked me who to call since my phone was broken in the…accident.” I swallowed thickly as she reached out to hold my hand. “Everything was. The car, the phone, and my body for a while.” I explained who had hit me and Ginger cursed her as I gave her a soft smile. “I forgive her, Ginger. She must feel awful, and everyone is okay. I’m sure she’ll get in a lot of trouble at home, but I’ll never look at my phone while driving again.” Tears filled my eyes, and she leaned forward instinctively.
“What else is wrong?” Her eyes searched mine as I gave in to the emotions that were building up in me. “You’re going to be okay, aren’t you?”
“I…yes. I am. I just found out more coming here.” I didn’t know how to say it since my mind hadn’t completely accepted the truth yet.
“Tell me, Elena. I can’t stand you crying in front of me and not knowing why? Are you dying or something?” She reached an arm around me as I thought for a moment that might be a better ending to this. I snapped back and laughed bitterly.
“No, nothing like that.” I sighed. “I’m pregnant, Ginger.”
“What?” She asked as she pulled back enough to look at me. “Liam?”
“Who the hell else?” I shot back before I winced. “Sorry. I’m in shock. I am on the pill and didn’t expect this.”
“The pill,” she repeated as understanding crossed her face. “You did it without a condom?” I widened my eyes and looked around the room, thankful that it was empty.
“On accident…the first time. I thought that I had it covered, but it turns out that there was a bad batch that came out.” I leaned back and closed my eyes, already exhausted.
“What did he say?” Ginger asked as I felt her rest her head on my chest.
“I haven’t told him. My phone broke, and I don’t know his number anyway, but I don’t want to tell him. It’s really early in the…you know. I have time to decide what to do.” I heard her inhale sharply as she took my hand.
“I can get his info, Elena. He deserves to know this.” Her voice was soft and chiding as I nodded.
“He doesn’t even know what we are. I don’t know what we are. Working towards something with a baby in the mix is going to be impossible. I can’t tell him.” I resigned myself to that from the moment they told me about the tiny person living in my body that survived the accident. “I am not going to see him anymore.”
“Oh, Elena. I know that this is hard, but you’ve looked happy lately. Are you sure?” Ginger asked. I nodded firmly. This was going to fade away, and I’d figure out my life while he was freed up to do the same. I didn’t know what I was going to do about the baby, but it was all on my shoulders. Not Liam’s. “When do you get to go home?”
“They want to keep me for another night since I live alone. I hit my head on the window pretty hard, and they keep checking on me,” I admitted as she turned her head, probably to look at me. I was tired now, and my eyes were closed, thinking of Liam and the last time that we were together.
I was going to miss him so much, but it was what I had to do.
Ginger stayed with me all day and night, offering to bring me back to her apartment so she could take care of me. She had a spare room, and I honestly wanted the company. Being alone in the small hospital room sounded so depressing. The doctor agreed, since I seemed to be recovering nicely and I dressed in the clothes that I came to the hospital in until we could swing by my place and pick up some more stuff.
I watched her park out front and gazed at my building. Someone was standing in front of it, and I searched around us for cars. This wasn’t a great part of town, to begin with, and I wasn’t willing to approach it in my weakened state.
I saw Liam’s car across the street and groaned. “He’s here, Ginger. What do I do?”
“Talk to him. He’s probably worried sick.” Her voice was stern, and I looked at her.
“Can you get my stuff? I can’t deal with this.” She sighed and leaned forward.
“Fine but if he wants to talk, open the window.” She took my keys in a huff and left the car as I pushed my dark glasses up the bridge of my nose. I was still battered and bruised and just wanted a bath and some sleep at Ginger’s. I wasn’t looking at my door directly, but I could see movement out of the corner of my eyes despite every attempt to ignore everything happening around me. When I was left alone for a moment, I glanced over to see Ginger in the doorway as she shrugged at me. Liam appeared, and she walked inside before he glared at the car, making me turn away.