Mia
I was discharged and James wheeled me to his car. I felt very sleepy due to the pain meds. He opened the door for me and lifted me up before I could protest he sat me in the passenger seat and clicked my seatbelt in.
I thanked the nurse who was holding my bag as James took it from her and dumped it into the backseat.
"Are you comfortable, Mia?"
"Yes, thank you, James."
"No need to thank me sugar."
He started the car and the ride was smooth back home. It was so smooth that I slept sometime between the journey.
James
I looked at Mia sleeping like a baby. I felt happy knowing that she trusted me.
She looked so peaceful like this. When I woke up this morning I was expecting Mia with me. Then I opened my eyes and she was gone. I thought she must be in the bathroom or something so I knocked on the door. I opened the door and saw no one. I searched for her in my apartment but she wasn't there.
I was scared shitless. I thought what if she tried to harm herself again? She hadn't exactly promised me she wouldn't do it again.
I grabbed my phone and called Ryan and told him, she was missing and I headed down and randomly ran across blocks.
I didn't even know where to look for her.
The library would be closed it was Sunday. It was early for any open shops and restaurants. But why would she go there if she was not feeling good?
The only place I could think of where she might be was the park. Maybe she went for a run.
I rushed towards the park where I heard the sounds of screaming. Mia was hurt. I need to protect her.
I rushed towards the sound and saw Mia holding a guy in her grip and spat something at him. She was smiling like she had the upper hand. There was a girl standing beside them trembling slightly.
I looked back at Mia and saw the person had a knife in his hands and Mia had gripped his arm in such a way that he was head locking himself. What a great move! She could totally kill him if she wanted.
Wait a minute, she can totally kill him in her anger and she seemed furious. No no. Mia doesn't belong in prison.
I shouted, "Mia! What are you doing? Leave him."
All of a sudden she froze, her grip loosen up. The man used this opportunity to turn and lash his knife at her stomach. She winced in pain.
I ran and pushed the man back and he knocked himself out. I turned to look back at Mia and saw her swaying a bit. That's not good.
Then she lumped into my arms. I was so scared when I saw blood oozing out of her stomach and when I felt her blood on her back. I called for backup and the ambulance took her to the hospital.
I hold her hand the entire time to the hospital. I was so worried.
When I was told to wait, Naomi and Ryan came and sat beside me. They assured me that she would be fine.
I was so glad that she was fine.
I parked my car and saw her still sleeping. She needed rest but I know she wouldn't like it if someone manhandled her, even if it was me. I know that I lifted her just a few minutes ago but she was awake at that time. So I tried to wake her up but she didn't budge. She was a deep sleeper I guess.
She looked so angelic in the moonlight. Her short brown hair and her glowing skin. There were some stress lines on her forehead and hesitated to touch her forehead. I smoothed those lines and she looked at peace now.
I wondered what happened that made her punish herself as she said. It was not correct. I admired how well she tackled the guy, that was such a power move if I hadn't intervened something bad would have happened to him and ultimately to Mia. I know the guy deserved punishment but that was not the right way.
I opened her side of the door and gently picked her in my arms. She was so light and that was not good. I remembered how the doctor said that she was not taking care of herself. She looked so radiant in my arms like she belonged there. I squeezed her close to me.
What are you thinking James? It's wrong. I should not think about her that way.
I climbed to her apartment and opened the door. Ryan made a spare key for her in case she lost the other one again.
I locked the door behind me and took Mia to her bed. I gently tucked her in and removed her shoes.
Then I went to her kitchen to see what she was eating. All I saw were various snacks and other ready to eat food packs. This was good for snacks but one cannot survive on this. If Mia doesn't know how to cook I'll teach her. She cannot continue this diet forever.
I placed her morning pills and a glass of water on her bedside table and went back to my apartment to cook something for her, maybe some soup would be good.
I came back with the vegetable soup and saw Mia still sleeping. I didn't want to wake her up but she hadn't eaten anything for 5 hours. If she was having these heavy meds she needed to eat healthily equally.
I gently shook her but it didn't work.
So I shook her not so gently.
She grunted and threw a punch at me, I barely had the time to move. She was fighting even in her sleep?
"MIA!" I shouted near her ear and she jolted awake.
Okay, one thing is done. I patted my back internally.
"What the hell?" She growled and took her hands near her face in a fighting stance.
She looked around the room and saw me. She was about to shout at me when she realized that she was back in her own apartment.
"Thank god I'm back here." She sighed.
"Hey! Weren't you happy with me?" I spoke with disbelief.
"Maybe, maybe not who knows?" She shrugged.
I pouted, "I can't believe this."
Then we laughed.
Her laugh was the most horrible thing I'd heard. She laughed like she had no care in the world. It was horribly musical. Then she snorted loudly and started to laugh again.
This went on till she finally felt a pinch of pain in her stitches and she hissed.
"I think the pain meds have worn off." She said touching her stomach lightly.
"Don't worry, have this and then your pain meds then go to sleep. You'll feel better in the morning."
I gave her the vegetable soup.
She made a face.
"Don't you like vegetables, Mia?"
"I don't. Can I have a pack of Cheetos?"
"No, you can't. Eat this. The doctor said that you need to be healthy. Cheetos are not healthy and neither are any of your snacks and instant food packs. You'll eat the things I and Naomi make until you are better then I'm gonna teach you how to cook myself. You cannot survive on junk." I said sternly leaving no way for her to get out of this.
"Whatever, I'll find a way."
"No, you won't."
She just shrugged and kept the soup bowl on the bedside table. She got up and struggled to keep her balance but somehow managed to reach her food cabinet.
"Mia, please don't eat that. That's not good for you."
"I deserve nothing good anyway." She murmured.
"What was that?"
"None of your business. I know that you gave me a roof last night and helped me so much even when I asked you not to help me. I want to say thank you, I really mean it. I think I can manage from here. After all, no one stays forever, you should learn to rely on yourself and I'm just practicing what I preach."
"Well, you are practicing it where it isn't required. Mia, please have this soup. I'll be out of your hair then. I promised the doctor that you'll eat healthily."
"What she doesn't know can't hurt her."
"Mia, please."
She huffed, "Okay. But just this one time."
"Of course, Mia."
She came back and sat on the bed. I handed her the soup bowl back. She made a wonderful face while drinking the broth and I secretly captured a few materials for future uses. I was controlling my laugh the entire time.
Her nose scrunched in disgust and she had small wrinkles near her eyes. Her forehead had lines as she focussed on drinking the not-so delightful soup.
She slightly slammed the bowl and grinned in victory.
"You did it. Mia won against the disgusting soup." I clapped slowly.
And she glared at me.
"Don't you dare to make me this thing again!"
"I won't. It will be something completely different." I whispered the last part.
She ate her meds and looked at me like she wanted to say something.