He was here and I was caught. There was no running away from it now. I wish I could right now. Earthquakes, please come save me.
"Anna, if you do not come out I'd come sit on your bed." I shot up. Looking at him I sat up on the bed and arranged my gown.
"Only my friends get to call me that and you are not my friend" I said giving him a pointed look or atleast I thought I did. My current state was messy. Did New York have some kind of beef against me? I was tired.
"Oh no, we are not friends. We would never be. Trust me." He was standing one step away from my bed now and his eyes had those specks of gold in them again. He didn't let them fade this time around. It was almost like the grey and gold parts were fighting for dominance. It was so intriguing.
He took a step back and another then stopped.
"Anyways, I came to apologize on behalf of my driver for the accident it wasn't on purpose. I'm really glad you survived it. I honestly don't know what I would have done...I mean said to the authorities of course."
"It's okay. Besides you paid my bills and got me a new phone so I'm okay. Although I think the family of the driver would need the apology better than I do and a compensation too. I'm sure Paige is fine too.. even though I might be jobless at the moment. But I'd be fine." I said smiling lightly at him.
"I'm sure you'd be fine Miss Anna, and thank you for the advice. I'd go see them as soon as I can. Do have a lovely day." He was out before I could even reply. Strange.
The room got a little warmer after he left. I guess I wasn't the only one feeling nervous. I saw Dr. Steele let out a sigh of relief."
"He intimidates you too huh?" I asked sitting up properly
"You have no idea" he said rolling his eyes " Anyway, this is the report. Very detailed as promised. Take it to the place, I'm pretty sure they'd have no other options but to accept your plea." he said handing me the report.
"Yeah I get. Thank you so much, Doctor. I was really lucky to have you. I owe you"
"Naa, it's okay. I don't get good hearted patients very frequently. Stretch your hands so I can take out the IV." I gave him my hand, he took out the IV and cleaned up.
"There's a change of clothes provided by your friend in the bathroom, you can shower and change or you can just change and... Just do whatever okay? Have a lovely day, Anna. Don't forget to get your prescription at the reception." He waved and left.
I sighed. It was time to face reality, leave the hospital, pay a taxi, rest today and begin my job search tomorrow. The urge to lay back on the bed was really strong.
I wanted to lay back on the bed here in the hospital where I was safe from the noise and bustling and..accidents.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't traumatized by that accident. So many worse case scenarios pass through my head alot. I could have been the one dead or heavily wounded or something. I just.. I don't know.
I wanted to cry...badly, but I couldn't cry yet. I had to settle down first, bawl out to pulp,then pick myself up piece by piece.
I was going be fine. I had to be fine.
I checked the time. It was quarter past two. I stood up and went to shower. I came out few minutes later all dressed. I gave myself a once over and called Paige so that she could come down to the road with cash so that I could pay the driver when I got to the apartment. Looking at my self once more I took in a deep breath and left the hospital room.
If I was going to be in New York, I had to grow tougher skin..
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Hey babe"
"Hey" I said hugging Paige after she had paid the driver.
"How are you, really?" She asked as we walked to the elevator. We got in and as soon as it closed I couldn't hold back anymore.
I was bawling fully with my face in my hands.
Everything that happened came rushing back to my mind as soon as I had seen Paige. I was going to cry but in my room. But as soon as she asked me how I was doing, I couldn't hold back anymore.
"It's okay, Anna. Everything is going to be okay"
" Is it really? If it wasn't for me that man wouldn't be dead now or you injured. I put you guys in harms way. If I had waited till we got home to catch up, you wouldn't have screamed and the driver, he..he wouldn't -"
" No, Anna. Stop crying and stop blaming yourself. We were all grown ass adults. We made decisions, our decisions. There's no changing it. I could have said I was busy or I couldn't come or something like that. I choose to come, Anna. The driver, what happened to him was unfortunate. Besides even if you hadn't spoken I would have said something. Relax, you did nothing wrong my dear. None of us did. It just happened, okay?"
"Okay." We were now leaning on the door of the apartment while she spoke.
She asked me if I was ready to go inside, when I nodded she unlocked the door and invited me in.
The apartment looked really big from the door frame where I stood. The walls were painted yellow and pink. She had paintings of plants and some animals on the wall. It gave this classy but homey feel. I loved it.
"Your home is really nice, Paige. It's great. I'm proud of you" I said with my hoarse voice smiling at her.
"Thank you, come let me give you a tour." She said pulling me behind her.
Her kitchen was just as lovely. It was big and was U-shaped. And it was full. Her house didn't look like it lacked anything at all. I looked at her.
She was giving me a toothy grin.
"Who exactly are you? Your home is so good."
"Well honestly it wasn't this good. If you look closely you'd notice that alot of these things are new."
"You spent your savings on them? Why? We could have managed the older ones." I said. She didn't have to do all this. It wasn't like I came from money or something.
"No I didn't spend my savings. The guy that hit us handled all of these" she said
" He offered to as a compensation. He asked me what I want and I said I wanted the house renovated and refurnished before you woke up so he asked for our address and number and I gave it to him. The following day I was called be someone that a key card would be sent to me. I stayed at a hotel for a day while this magic-" she said motioning to the house "- happened. Great isn't it. I've always wanted a..."
I tuned her out before I could blow. Why?? Why did he have to do that? He already paid the bills changed my phone, was going to compensate the family of the deceased driver so why else would he do this. It was a lot. Exactly who was this man.
"Anna, are you there?"
"Yeah..yeah, I am."
" I asked what you'd like for lunch?" She said stepping into the kitchen sitting on one of the stools surrounding the Island. The kitchen was really big.
"Oh anything would be good with me. Wanted to ask though, don't you think what this guy did is a bit... too much?...I mean renovating the house after paying the bills? He could have just written you a check or something "
" Anna, relax. He was just guilty that's all. Besides he was willing and his really wealthy so why not. Such people are hard to come by baby so just sit back and enjoy, okay. No overthinking." She said patting my back and going ahead to make lunch.
Hmm, no overthinking. That would be hard.