Hailey's POV
I sat on my bed, fidgeting with the hem of my hospital gown as I awaited the doctor's arrival. My mind was a jumble of thoughts, each one tangling with the next like a knot of twine. Had I overreacted with Aiden yesterday? Should I have just listened to his proposal and considered it?
Just as I was starting to get lost in my thoughts, the doctor walked in, a file clutched in his hand and a warm smile on his face.
"Good morning, Hailey," he said, his voice cheerful. "How are you feeling today?"
I took a deep breath, pushing aside my doubts and concerns about Aiden. "I'm feeling okay, I guess," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just a little anxious to get out of here."
The doctor nodded sympathetically. "I understand. Well, let's take a look at your chart and see how you're progressing."
"How are you? And how was your night?" he pressed
"My night was good, and I'm doing great, especially I'm happy that I'll finally be leaving here today." I replied with a smile.
"I know you are. Well, this is your Discharge letter, a nurse would come in shortly to take you to the physiotherapist, just to be sure you're fully okay and ready to walk.
"As for the band-aids on your head they would be there for the next three days, you can take them off on the third day and ensure you come in regularly for checkups and also to ensure your baby's growing well.
"Okay, doc."
"Alright then, Nurse Tina here is going to wheel you to the physiotherapist now."
"Okay, Uhm… Doc?" I called out, making him halt on the way.
"Yes, Miss Hailey."
"What about Aiden, is he coming?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
The doctor's expression turned neutral. "Oh, you mean Mister Brooklyn? I'm not sure he is. He corrected me, by the way, and said he isn't your husband, so you can actually go without him. You just have to sign a few papers before leaving."
I felt a pang of disappointment, which I quickly tried to brush off. "Oh, okay," I replied, trying to sound indifferent.
But as the doctor continued to discuss the discharge process, my mind began to wander. What was wrong with me? Aiden had been nothing but kind and caring towards me, and yet I had pushed him away.
"Uhm… Doc, and the bills?" I asked, feeling a sense of trepidation.
"He cleared them yesterday," the doctor replied, his expression matter-of-fact.
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. Oh shit, Hailey, you're such a monster, I thought to myself.
I forced a smile onto my face. "Okay, thanks," I said, trying to sound grateful.
As I was wheeled to the physiotherapist, I couldn't help but think about my situation. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to, and no way to care for my growing child.
I felt a pang of desperation as I realized that I had pushed away the one person who could have helped me.
I went to the receptionist after the whole therapy which took a while, and asked for the visitation file, hoping against hope that Aiden had left his contact details on it.
As I flipped through the pages, my heart sank. There was no contact information, no note, nothing.
I felt a wave of despair wash over me. What was I going to do now?
As I flipped through the visitation file, my heart sank. But then, on the last page, I saw it - Aiden's name and phone number.
I felt a surge of hope and quickly asked one of the nurses if I could use her phone. She handed it over with a kind smile, and I dialed Aiden's number, my fingers trembling with anticipation.
The phone rang twice before a smooth, feminine voice answered. "Hello?"
I took a deep breath. "Is this Aiden?"
There was a pause. "No, this is his secretary. And you are?"
I hesitated, feeling a twinge of uncertainty. "I'm Hailey Kilman. Could I please speak with him?"
The secretary's tone was polite but firm. "My boss is currently in a meeting."
I felt a pang of disappointment, but I refused to give up. "Could you please tell him Hailey would like to speak with him? Just for a minute, please?" I begged.
There was a pause, and then the secretary said, "Okay, hold on a minute."
The line went silent, and I waited, my heart pounding in my chest. Finally, Aiden's calm voice came on the line.
"Hailey?" he said, his tone neutral.
I took a deep breath. "Hey Aiden, could you please come pick me up? I've just been discharged from the hospital. And yes, I'm ready to sign that contract."
I ended the call, feeling a mix of emotions: relief, anxiety, and a hint of uncertainty. I handed the phone back to the nurse, thanked her, and made my way to the lobby, my eyes scanning the entrance for Aiden's familiar figure.