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Mom smiles proudly. “She’s going to UPenn on a full scholarship.”
“I want to go to medical school,” I add.
“How wonderful. Well, before that, I’m afraid you’ll be wearing this cast for four weeks. We’ll see how it looks after that and might keep it for six. You also had many cuts from the glass shattering. There was a lot of bleeding, so you had a very small transfusion. We had to put some stitches, if you feel superficial pain around here,” she points at the cast just below my elbow, “it’s normal. But if you see some blood leaking through, then you need to contact us. The stitches will dissolve on their own in a week or so.”
She looks at me and I nod. Her face turns a little more serious. “It can be very traumatizing to be in a car accident, Jamie. You’re physically healthy enough to be released but we’ll leave you with some information about groups and doctors you can call if you feel mentally unwell. It’s important to talk about it, yes?”
“Yeah,” I nod again. “I’ve been through that bit before.”
“Yes,” she smiles. “I saw your records. You’re a very brave girl, I hope you know that.”
“I don’t know,” I shrug. “Maybe I should have joined those groups.”
“It’s never too late,” she reassures me.
She taps my leg with her hand and gives me and mom an encouraging smile.
“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll sign the release documents, but you can take your time. I’ll let your friends in, they’ve been worried sick.”
Dr. Fernandez leaves and the nurse takes the drip out of my arm. When he leaves, Mom turns to me. “I need to talk to them about insurance. I’ll be back, Sweetie.”
Insurance…or lack thereof.
Mom leaves in a hurry and I fall back against the pillow. How are we ever going to pay for this? I rub my eyes before the tears fall.
I sit up and slide my legs across the hospital bed, letting them hang. I need to leave asap. We can’t afford to stay here.
The door opens and I look up. Emily hurries in.
“’Me!” she gasps. “Are you okay? Let me see your arm.”
She stops in front of me and reaches out to grab my arm but stops herself. “I guess I shouldn’t touch,” she chuckles. “How are you feeling?”
“Just a bit drowsy from the drugs,” I admit. “I’ll be fine.”
I start standing up and she takes me in her arms. “You scared the shit out of me.Again.”
“Sorry,” I mumble into her shoulder.
“You’re okay. That’s all that counts,” she says as she pulls away. “Are you sure you’re okay to walk? The nurse said you can stay as long as you need. You don’t need to run away from the hospital.”
“I’m fine,” I reply, my stomach twisting as I think of the amount of money we probably already owe to the hospital. I find some fresh clothes Mom brought and slip into my leggings. I take the gown off and put on the large t-shirt she put in the plastic bag.
Emily starts gathering the clothes I was wearing yesterday and puts them in the bag. She grabs my phone and the charger Mom also brought.
Em looks at me with a smile and I know there’s something to say.
“What?” I nudge.
“Jake is here.”
My heart drops. Of course, there was a possibility. But he’s been so adamant in trying to keep me away from him. Even practically dying didn’t change his mind. If anything, it reassured him in his position that we shouldn’t be together.
“…your mom won’t let him see you. She keeps trying to send him away, but he won’t leave.” She’s excited, I can feel it. She thinks we’re about to get back together.
But we won’t.
I nod but don’t say anything.
