Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 49

December 1st, 2019

I heard the voices. Swimming over my head as if I were concealed by a thick, hazy cloud. I could hear people calling my name, whispering and pleading from far far away. I felt heavy - like I was being dragged down into oblivion, my body numb. And I could do nothing but sink.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed, it was just endless amounts of grey and haze. It felt like all of the nothingness in the world had compacted in on itself and I was trapped in the middle of it.

My eyes fluttered open, the blurriness slowly clearing as I blinked in the dim fluorescent lights. My chest immediately restricted in pain, and I began to cough. I could barely breathe and my heart was racing, making the monitors beep faster. Everything felt out of control.

The door suddenly burst open and I nearly jumped as a nurse came rushing in, securing a breathing mask around my mouth.

"Deep breaths," she encouraged gently. "Deep breaths, there you go,"

Once I was able to breathe again, she removed the mask, giving me a gentle smile as I calmed down.

"Hi Mia, I'm Kayla," she introduced herself, her deep brown eyes full of concern. "How are you feeling?"

"I-I don't know," I answered shakily, attempting to sit up. Pain flared through my body, though it felt somewhat numb. I figured I was probably on some strong pain medication.

Kayla rushed to help me, adjusting the pillows so I was angled up a little bit more. "Be careful," she advised. "The stitches in your arm are still fragile and your ribs are pretty bruised,"

I nodded, wincing as the pain slowly ebbed back down as I relaxed. "W-what is t-this?" I asked through chattering teeth, gesturing to the blue tube sticking out of my right side.

"That's a chest tube, Honey. It's to help remove the air from around your lungs - yours collapsed on the way here," Kayla explained, giving me a sympathetic glance. "And the one in your nose is to help you get the air you do need since your pneumonia is still ongoing,"

I nodded again, my nose twitching at the funny feeling of the plastic. "M-my brother," I said weakly. "Can I s-see him?"

I watched Kayla frown slightly. "Let's rest for a few more minutes first," she said. "I'll be right back," She left the room, leaving me alone in the room, shivering from the cold. I tried really hard to remember everything that had happened earlier, but my memories went fuzzy after I arrived at the warehouse with Felix, Des, and Vanesa.

Kayla returned many minutes later, a stack of blankets in her arms. "You've got quite a few visitors in the lobby," she told me softly. "They're very worried about you,"

I let out a content sigh as she draped several heated blankets over me, but the last thing I wanted was to see any of the Adams boys right now. "Please," I mumbled, coughing slightly but without my teeth chattering. "I just want to see my little brother,"

Kayla smiled softly, nodding. "I'll go get him," She disappeared outside again before returning with Javi in tow. He eagerly ran in and climbed up on the bed with me, a wide grin on his face.

I wrapped my arms tight around him, trying not to hurt myself in the process. I examined him carefully, making sure he was completely fine. "Are you okay?" I asked worriedly, brushing some of his curls off his forehead.

He nodded, snuggling closer and resting his little head on my shoulder. "Si, Sorella, I'm okay,"

We stayed like that for a while, just the two of us. It felt like it had been forever since I'd last seen him, and it felt incredibly good just to be with him again.