15
The look in Blaire’s eyes when Candace gripped my arm in class this morning told me all I need to know. Whether or not she’s my instructor, she has feelings for me. I want her to know we share those emotions. When classes are done, I’ll find a way of doing so that won’t get her fired or me expelled.
After working my shift on Friday night at The Oasis, I get into my car and drive toward the beach. It’s late, or early, really, but I need to unwind since Blaire and her friend didn’t show up again for dinner and drinks. She’s avoiding me on purpose. I can’t wait for classes to end in a few weeks.
The traffic light turns yellow, and I gun my car to beat the red light…
Forcing my eyes open, I don’t know where the fuck I am. There are constant beeping sounds, but I can’t move. My entire body hurts like fuck. I try again to raise my right arm, but it’s stuck. I glance down and see it’s in a cast.
What the fuck?
Using my left hand, I rub my eyes to clear my vision, then look around. I’m in a hospital room. I look down at myself and see wires attached to me. On the top of my left hand is an I-V. I follow the tube up to the saline bag hanging from the pole. There are two monitors. One has all my vitals; the other I don’t know what it’s for.
“Well, good morning, Mr. Lugo,” a woman says as she enters my room.
“Good? What’s good about it? What happened? What day is it?” I ask as she checks my I-V and the bag of saline. She pushes some buttons, then straightens the bed covers for me.
“You’re awake, young man. That’s what’s good about it.” She walks to the other side of the room and opens the blinds slightly, then fixes the sheet on that side.
“I’m Lynn, your nurse for today. Mary is my CNA; she’ll be right in to take your vitals.” Lynn walks to the foot of my bed.
“You were in a car accident. You’re lucky to only hurt your arm.” She pats my leg and smiles.
“Shit.” I drag my hand through my hair.
“Where are my parents?” I ask.
“They were here a few minutes ago. They may have gone down for breakfast. They’ve been here since you were brought in two days ago.”
“Wait, what? Two days ago? So, it’s Monday? Or is it Tuesday?”
“It’s Monday morning. You were brought in very early on Saturday morning.” Lynn checks my chart, then turns when Mary enters the room, pushing a small machine on wheels.
“Hi, Mary. Mr. Lugo finally woke up,” Lynn says.
“Good to see you awake. I need to take your vitals, Mr. Lugo.” Mary steps closer to me and plugs into the blood pressure cuff already wrapped around my left bicep.
“Open, please, and hold this under your tongue.” She pushes a thermometer into my mouth.
“And one last thing–your index finger, please.” She clamps something on my finger, and I lie still.
“Oh my, god. Jaden, my sweet Jaden,” my mom cries as she rushes to my side. Her eyes are glassy as she grabs my fingers that stick out of the full cast on my arm.
“My baby.”
“Margret, he’s a grown man,” my dad says. He stands beside my mom and puts his hands on her shoulders.
“How are you feeling, son?” he asks.
“Like shit, Dad.” I close my eyes and wait for the nurse and CNA to leave the room before I continue. When they do, I say, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t drinking. I promise. I was just going to the beach to unwind after my shift at The Oasis. I don’t know what happened.”
My mom squeezes my fingers and pats my leg.
“It’s okay, Jaden. You’re going to be fine.”
“Yes, your mother’s right. All that matters is you.” My dad moves to the other side and places his hand on my shoulder.
“I am sorry.” My head falls to my chest, and I sigh heavily.
I was just going to the beach to unwind, but not from work. No. I needed to think about how I could approach Blaire and try to talk to her about us. My mom has an idea about Blaire, but Dad, well, he doesn’t know anything at all. I’m not sure how he’ll feel about me falling for a woman so much older than me. I hope he’ll be happy for me as long as I don’t fuck up my life and get kicked out of college for pursuing my teacher.
“Ah, Mr. Lugo, it’s good to see you’re awake. I’m Dr. Penn.” A towering older man in a white doctor’s coat walks toward me. He’s followed by my nurse and CNA. He takes the chart from Lynn and asks, “How are you feeling, young man?”
“Like crap. When can I go home?” I ask.
“Well, your vitals are all great, so I don’t see why you can’t go home in the morning. I want to keep an eye on you one more night. From what the emergency staff told me, you’re very lucky to be alive. Your right arm required surgery, so you’ve been drifting in and out from the anesthesia.” He peers at me over his black-rimmed glasses.
My mind spins. “I don’t remember anything.”
“That’s common with some cases of anesthesia. I’m sure you’ll get your memory back soon. But to focus on your arm, you’ll have limited use of it for three months. Don’t try to hurry the healing process; it will only set you back. If you follow my discharge instructions and go to your physical therapy when the cast comes off, you’ll recover just fine.” Dr. Penn tips his glasses down his nose and gives me a hard stare.
“Yes, sir.” I sigh and glance at my mom.
“Oh, he will follow every instruction you tell him to. I’ll make sure of it.” She puffs out her chest, and I let out a quiet laugh. My mom, the tough gal.
“Good to hear.”
“I need to know what happened.” I hesitate, then swallow.
“Was anyone else hurt in the accident?”
“Unbelievably no. Just you. The driver who jumped the green light, according to the video footage and the emergency crew, walked away from it all with only a few scratches. He was treated and released early Saturday morning.” Dr. Penn stands at the end of my bed, his arms folded across his chest.
“I wouldn’t race through a yellow light again, son.” He looks at my parents, then back at me.
“I won’t, promise.”
“Good. Now try to get some more rest, and I’ll have Lynn and Mary check on you a bit later.” He turns and leaves my room.
I look at my mom, then my dad, sitting in the chairs by the window. Mom’s eyes are closed, and she’s shaking her head. Dad stares past me. I’ve let them down, and I feel like shit for it. But at least the accident wasn’t totally my fault. Note to self: never rush to beat a yellow light again, no matter what.
I’ll need to work twice as hard to catch up on my classes. Thankfully, the year is almost over and there’s not much left to do. Looking at the table beside my bed, I don’t see my phone.
“Hey, Mom?”
“Yes, dear?” She tries to smile as she stands and walks toward my bed.
“Do you have my phone? Or did it get totaled too?”
She pulls the drawer open and hands me my phone. The screen is cracked, but when I look at it, the facial recognition still works.
I sigh when I don’t see any messages from Blaire. My heart slows, and my vision blurs. I smile weakly and look at my mom.
“Thanks. And I’m sorry for everything, Mom.” I turn away from her and close my eyes.