Within minutes of the nurse administering the meds through my IV, my eyes closed and my body relaxed into the bed with a calm heaviness. I was still awake, though, so I heard everything as Dylan cried and begged for my forgiveness and prayed for me to make a full recovery.
I made a mental vow to do everything possible to help my healing, physically and mentally. For both myself and for Dylan.
I slept surprisingly well,barely even waking when the nurses checked me throughout the night. I didn’t wake up until I heard my mom and dad and Audrey whispering loudly. I opened my eyes and found Dylan exactly where he was when I fell asleep last night. He didn’t look like he had any intentions of moving, even though my mom was trying to squeeze in front of him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Dylan said, brushing a kiss over my knuckles. “Are you okay?”
“Of course she’s not okay. Look at her. My poor baby, I can’t believe you were attacked,” my mom cried.
“She’s okay. Our girl’s a fighter, right sweetheart?” my dad said.
I nodded slightly at him, but I couldn’t hold back my tears at the sight of his red-rimmed eyes. My dad was the rock of the family. I was used to my mom’s emotions, but I couldn’t handle his.
My mom swiped dramatically at the tears on her cheeks. I slowly turned to face the other side of the bed.
“Hi,” I whispered carefully to Audrey.
She gave me a reassuring smile and squeezed my free hand, but she couldn’t hide the puffy eyes that meant she’d been crying too. I squeezed her hand back, wishing I could say something to make them feel better. I hated being so helpless.
“You’re doing great,” Audrey said. “Be patient with yourself, give yourself time to heal, and you’ll be good as new soon. You’re stronger than anything that bitch could do to you.”
I choked back a cry when my sister’s words almost forced an involuntary and very painful smile.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to make you smile. I’ll be annoying from now on so you don’t smile again.”
“Audrey,” Dylan warned.
“Sorry, I can’t help it!”
Dylan would soon learn that Audrey couldn’t help but be sweet, charming, and funny. It was just who she was, and I was as grateful as ever for it, even if it hurt. I didn’t want him to be upset with Audrey. The two of them were my best friends.
I turned back towards Dylan to reassure him, and laughed inside when I saw my mom standing half in front of him, clearly expecting him to move out of her way. Warmth filled me at the sight of him awkwardly reaching around her to keep his hold on my hand. There was nothing that would make him leave my side.
“Oh, look at your hair!” My mom cried out with even more despair than when she first saw me all carved up. “She hacked it all off. I couldn’t see how bad it was with the way you were laying yesterday. I’ll get you an appointment to fix it. Maybe with a shorter style, you’ll finally straighten it.”
“Nah, you’ll look great with short curls. It’ll be so bouncy and full,” Audrey said.
Dylan flashed her a look of gratitude, then looked at my mom, trying and failing to hide his anger. “Mrs. Smythe, Juliette needs to eat soft foods for the next few days. Soup, ice cream, pudding, purees. Would you mind going food shopping now and dropping it off at her apartment, so she has what she needs when we go home?”
“What if she needs me? No one can take care of her like her mom. You go and I’ll stay with her.”
Thank goodness my dad stepped in. “Honey, she needs your help with the food,” he said, then he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead and headed for the door.
“But I can clean her up, help her feel refreshed, like a human again,” my mom said like I wasn’t even there.
“Let’s go. You can pick out all her favorite foods, and you know what will be best for her to eat.”
She brightened and finally quit trying to claim the space in front of Dylan. “Of course! I’ll take care of everything you need. That’s what mothers are for!”
When they finally left after a long, teary goodbye, my dad winking at me as he guided my mom out, Dylan breathed out an exaggerated sigh of relief.
“Told you,” I mumbled.
“You did tell me. I thought you had to be exaggerating, but you weren’t.” His smile faded into a frown. “I’m sorry if she upset you. I don’t give a fuck how your hair looks. I’m glad she cut it, because that was a moment when she wasn’t cutting somewhere worse.”
I nodded. I didn’t care about my hair either. It would grow back.
“I hate this. I want to know what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling. I love you so much, baby. I’m so proud of how strong you are. You’re doing amazing.”