I was jolted awake by the persistent ringing of a phone. Disoriented, I squinted against the light streaming in through the blinds and realized it wasn't my phone buzzing—it was Maya's. I turned over, reaching out to quiet the sound, only to notice that Maya wasn't in the room. Where had she gone this early?
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I let out a groan. I hadn't meant to sleep in this long, but it was Saturday, so I had a bit of leeway. Still, I had plans to visit James in the hospital today, and… a lump formed in my throat as I remembered the confrontation with my mother yesterday. The thought of running into her again made my stomach twist, but I knew I couldn't let that stop me from seeing my little brother. Awkward or not, I had to be there for him.
As I reached for my phone, I saw a message pop up from Aiden.
**Aiden**: Hey, should I come pick you up? We could go over to the hospital together.
I bit my lip, considering it. The thought of having him there was reassuring, but I didn't want to let him know anything about my family issues. I tapped out a quick reply.
**Me**: Thanks, Aiden, but it's not necessary. I'm already on my way. I've bothered you enough.
His response came almost immediately.
**Aiden**: You never bother me, Raven. Tell me when you're ready, and I'll pick you up after your visit.
I felt a small smile tugging at my lips.
**Me**: Okay, I'll text you once I'm done at the hospital. Thanks, Aiden.
**Aiden**: Anytime. See you soon.
The chat ended, leaving a warm feeling in my chest. Maybe having him there afterward would make facing everything just a bit easier.
I pushed myself up, stretching. I was about to get ready when Maya walked in, holding a couple of grocery bags.
"Oh, you're up!" she exclaimed brightly. "I thought you were gonna sleep through half the day."
"Well, I might have," I replied, stifling a yawn, "if it wasn't for your phone blaring all morning."
Maya's eyes widened as she set down the bags. "Oh no! I thought I'd put it on silent. Sorry about that!"
I waved it off. "It's fine. I needed to get up anyway."
She eyed me for a moment, her face softening. "How are you… You know, after that day?" She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "And… well, I'm still sorry for dragging you to Tyler's place. I had no idea it would lead to all this drama."
I shook my head. "You are still on that, It's not your fault, Maya."
A flash of relief crossed her face. "That's good to hear. And, hey, if there's anything I can do to help with the project or the USB mess, just say the word. I feel like I owe you for putting you through that."
I chuckled, the tension in my shoulders easing a bit. "Actually, like I said, Aiden and I are going to work on the project together. But thanks for offering."
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "Are you sure you don't want me to third-wheel? You know, just to make sure there's no… funny business?"
"Maya!" I gave her a playful shove, but couldn't suppress my grin. Her teasing, as relentless as it was, somehow managed to lift my spirits.
She reached out, gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, then hesitated before adding, 'But… I really hope James is doing better today."
"Yeah," I whispered, a touch of worry threading through my voice.
"I'm praying for that too."
Maya gave me an encouraging smile. "Well, go on, get showered. James is waiting to see his big sister."
I nodded, feeling a new resolve take hold. "Thanks, Maya."
Taking in a deep breath, I then headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. I could feel the lingering weight of yesterday still on my shoulders, but I let the water wash over me, hoping it would at least soften the ache.
After drying off, I rummaged through my limited wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear. I finally settled on a pair of comfortable black jeans, a soft, dark red sweater that hugged me just enough to feel cozy without being too clingy, and a simple black jacket for warmth. I grabbed my favorite black ankle boots—sturdy enough to handle whatever the day threw at me, but still stylish enough to feel like a small act of self-care.
As I was getting dressed, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. The bruises that had once been so prominent on my skin were nearly gone now, faded to the point where only the faintest traces remained.
I shook off the thought, giving my reflection a final once-over. Good enough, I decided, grabbing my phone to book a cab. Within minutes, a notification pinged that the driver was outside.
I slung my bag over my shoulder, gave Maya a quick wave as she lounged on her bed, and said, "I'll see you later."
"Take care, Raven!" she called back with a smile. "Give James a big hug from me."
With a nod, I left the dorm, feeling a strange mix of dread and determination as I headed down to meet the cab. The drive was quiet, giving me too much time alone with my thoughts. I tried to focus on the road, on the buildings passing by, on anything but what might happen when I got to the hospital.
By the time we arrived, my chest felt tight, like my heart was pounding against my ribs with every step. I paid the driver, then stepped out, forcing myself to breathe and stay calm. You're here for James, I reminded myself. Just focus on him.
As I approached the front desk to sign in, a different receptionist was there, and she gave me a quick nod after I signed.
I turned to head toward James's room, only to be stopped by the nurse from yesterday coming around the corner. Her arms were crossed, and she looked at me with raised eyebrows, her expression not exactly welcoming.
"Well, well," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "If it isn't the star of yesterday's… *performance.*"
My face burned instantly. "Uh… sorry about that. It wasn't—"
She held up a hand, cutting me off with a condescending sigh. "Look, Miss Foster, the last thing we need is a soap opera in these halls. You and your mother were loud enough yesterday to wake patients in *other wings,* let alone in this one. And trust me, if I wanted drama, I'd watch TV. So, could you try to keep it down this time?"
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet her gaze even though I felt like shrinking away. "I… I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm really sorry."
She rolled her eyes, barely masking her irritation. "You're sorry, sure. Just remember, this is a hospital, not some public stage."
I nodded, biting back my retort and managing a tight, forced smile instead. "Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
"Good," she replied, looking at me like I was a misbehaving child, then finally turned and walked off, muttering something under her breath as she left.
I exhaled a shaky breath, clutching my bag strap a little tighter. Well, that was humiliating.
I took a steadying breath as I walked up to James's room, hoping to catch a glimpse of him awake and maybe even smiling. But as I opened the door, I realized that I was alone with him. Mom and Lily weren't there, and an odd mix of relief and loneliness settled over me.
James lay there, small and fragile, with a bandage wrapped around his head and another on his arm, his leg elevated slightly. Seeing him like this was… heartbreaking. He looked so peaceful, though, almost like he was just napping after a long day of playing outside.