Red

Chapter 13

Clarissa

I awoke to a bright light. I quickly shut my eyes again, and opened them slowly.

It was a sterilized white room, with a bunch of machines scattered around. A couple were beeping.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone shouted right next to my head. It took me a second to realize it was Mike.

"Clarissa! Oh thank God you're awake! We took you to the hospital after you passed out. Then they kicked us out so they could do some sort of surgery to your leg and...Oh I'm so sorry!"

"Sorry about what?" My voice came out rough and dry.

He said nothing as he got up from the chair he'd been sitting in and pulled back the bed sheets covering my leg. My mouth fell open.

My leg was fine; it was the exact same. Until you looked below the knee.

The metal glinted in the bright light of the hospital room. The lower half of my leg was completely metal, with a plastic foot at the end of it. Mike covered it back up, but I continued to stare at where it was, tears pooling at the corners of my eyes.

"Your leg was infected," he said, sympathy lacing his voice. And something else...regret?

"The infection was real deep in there. You would've died if they hadn't......cut it off."

Yep. Definitely regret. "It's not your fault, Mike," I said, reaching up to him. He took my hand.

"Yes, it is! I could've done something in the first place, to stop it from ever starting! You almost died because I didn't do anything!"

Tears were now pouring done his face as well. "I'm your big brother. I'm supposed to protect you. And here you are, in a hospital, with a metal leg! I've failed!"

I didn't know what to say. Mike, my older brother, was here, crying his eyes out about he couldn't protect me, while I'm sitting in a hospital bed.

We both looked up at the sound of the door opening. A nurse walked in, carrying a clipboard. He looked at me, and started writing on his clipboard, before he did a double take and opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

"Your-you're awake," he said, sounding very surprised. "Le-let me go get the doctor."

He hurried out the room. I looked up at Mike. "How long have I been here?"

He answered immediately. "Four hours. You got out of surgery about half an hour ago."

Suddenly, I remembered something.

"Mike. Where's Nate?"

"Um, I don't know. He wasn't home, was he?"

Fear for my boyfriend gripped me. "No, he wasn't. He wasn't there when I woke up, either. Mike, I think something happened to him!"

He acted calm, but I saw the flash of worry in his eyes. "Calm down, Clarissa, I'm sure he's fine. I'll go out and look for him later. Okay?"

I nodded. "Okay."

The door opened again and the doctor walked. Her blond hair was pulled up in a ponytail and she also had a clipboard. She looked up at us.

"Ms. Bittanti, right?" Behind her glasses, her green eyes seemed to see straight through to my soul.

"Um, y-yes. What is it?"

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You're not supposed to wake for another three or more hours. How are you awake?"

I shrugged. "I'm stubborn. I dunno, you're the doctor."

She looked back at her clipboard. I really didn't like her. Mike squeezed my hand. Guess he didn't either.

She smiled at me again. "I'll be right back."

Once she was gone, I shuddered. "I really don't like her."

Mike smiled faintly. "Doesn't exactly radiate friendliness, does she?"

"Not at all."

The door opened once again, admitting Dr. Dorado into the room. He smiled at me.

"Good to see you're up and awake. How's the leg?"

He didn't know. I glanced at Mike before wordlessly pulling the covers back again. His eyes grew and I looked away. I couldn't bear to see it.

"Oh, um. I'm so sorry, Clarissa."

I nodded. I was suddenly very tired. I wanted to go to sleep.

"Find Nate for me." It was so quiet Mike had to lean in close to hear.

"Don't worry, I will."

I fell asleep to the sound of whispers and Mike stroking my hair.