The scent of antiseptic filled the air as Leah blinked against the bright lights overhead, her vision blurry and unfocused. Her head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing from the spot where the glass had struck her. The beeping of machines in the background seemed louder than usual, steady and rhythmic, as if trying to pull her back from the edge of unconsciousness.
She groggily tried to lift her hand to her forehead, but a sharp sting in her arm stopped her. Looking down, she noticed an IV needle connected to her wrist, a steady drip of fluid running through the tube. Her heart rate monitor beeped again, and a soft, reassuring voice broke through the haze in her mind.
"Leah, can you hear me?" It was Mr. Brown's voice. She hadn't realized he was there, but the warmth in his tone cut through her confusion.
"Mr. Brown?" she croaked, her throat dry. She tried to sit up, but dizziness overcame her, forcing her back down.
"Easy there," he said, his hand gently pressing against her shoulder. "You've had quite a fall. They've been treating you for the blood loss. You're alright now, just take it easy."
Her mind was still foggy, and it was difficult to piece things together. The glass, the blood, her head, it all rushed back in flashes, a blur of memories with no clear order. The last thing she remembered was being in her room, dizzy and stumbling toward her bed, before everything had gone black.
"How'd you find me?" she asked weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Brown's smile softened as he glanced at her, his expression a mix of concern and reassurance. "Your friends found you," he said gently. "They were frantic when they couldn't reach you. They… they came to your house to check on you. I think they knew something wasn't right."
Leah felt a strange sense of warmth spread through her chest at the thought of Adelaide and Taylor worrying about her.
He continued, "They're outside, waiting for you to wake up. I'll let them in when you're better. You've lost a lot of blood, Leah."
Leah's brows furrowed as she tried to process the information. She thought back to the moment the glass hit her head, the dizziness that followed, and then the sharp, unsettling feeling of the world going black.
"I didn't… I didn't think it was that bad," Leah muttered, her eyes scanning the room, trying to distract herself from the sickly feeling in her stomach.
Mr. Brown chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Well, you didn't exactly have the best view from the floor, did you?" he said lightly. "But, don't worry. You're in good hands now."
Leah let out a small sigh of relief, though her mind was still whirling with questions. She glanced at the IV in her arm and the machines around her, realizing that, for now, the best thing she could do was rest. There'd be time for everything else later.
"Thanks, Mr. Brown," she said, her voice growing faint again. "I'm... I'm glad they found me."
"Of course," he replied with a smile. "Now get some rest. Your friends will be here soon enough, and they'll make sure you're back on your feet in no time."
With that, Leah let her eyes flutter closed once more, the soft rhythm of the machines and the steady warmth of Mr. Brown's presence lulling her into a much-needed sleep.
Mr. Brown stood quietly by Leah's bed, his gaze lingering on her pale, unconscious face. The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room, and he couldn't help but trace her bandaged head with his eyes, as if memorizing every detail.
Earlier, the doctor had taken him aside, his tone low and serious. The injury to her head wasn't meant to be fatal, it had been a glancing blow, sharp but not deep. Yet, the blood had continued to flow, refusing to clot, much more than it should have. The doctor's voice had faltered when he mentioned the word leukemia. The diagnosis, confirmed by tests, now hung heavy in the air between them.
He looked back at Leah, feeling a deep ache settle in his chest. The life he'd tried so hard to shield her from had crept in, regardless of how much he wanted to protect her. She was his friend's daughter, his own heart had always gone out to her, but now… now she needed more than what he could offer.
The weight of the truth pressed down on him. He hadn't told Taylor or Adelaide. It wasn't his place. Leah needed to be the one to share it, when she was ready. His hand hovered near his face, but he fought to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
Taylor and Adelaide had been persistent, their worry for their friend evident in every plea to see her. But Mr. Brown couldn't bring himself to let them in, he couldn't let them see her like this.
It was hard, watching the girls outside, their faces full of concern and frustration, but he couldn't afford to let them in. They didn't know what he now knew, what Leah had been hiding. He couldn't bear the thought of them hearing it from a doctor, or worse, from him.
For two days, Leah lay in the sterile quiet of the hospital room, her friends kept at a distance. Mr. Brown didn't know if he was being protective or just selfish, but either way, he couldn't bring himself to let them in. When Adelaide's mother had sent the home-cooked meals, it was the only way he could show them he was trying to keep things as normal as possible. But it wasn't enough. The truth hung between them, suffocating the air around him.
He'd spoken to the doctor again. The words echoed in his mind: early stages... not much time... immediate treatment. The doctor had been firm in his recommendation, urging Mr. Brown to get Leah the treatment she needed as soon as possible.
Leah's release from the hospital felt like stepping into a world that hadn't quite caught up with her. Two days had passed since the glass hit her head, but it felt longer, like she had been floating, disconnected from everything. As Mr. Brown helped her gather her things, the smell of the hospital seemed to cling to her, a reminder of the isolation that had become so familiar.
She shuffled to the exit, her steps slow but steady. The absence of any family members waiting for her hit her like a cold wind. It was the same emptiness that had followed her throughout her life, only now, it stung slightly more than usual.
Mr. Brown led her through the doors, his presence a constant, warm reminder that she wasn't entirely alone. He took care of the paperwork quickly, making sure everything was in order, as if it was just another task on his list. Leah stood by the door, eyes fixed on the ground, the weight of the past few days settling in her chest.
"Ready to go?" Mr. Brown asked gently, turning to her with a soft smile.
Leah only nodded. There was nothing to say. The silence felt suffocating, but she wasn't sure how to fill it.
Outside, the world seemed so much brighter, but Leah felt detached from it. She followed Mr. Brown to his car. She didn't know what to expect anymore, didn't know what was next, but she knew she wasn't going back to the emptiness of her house. Not now. Not yet.
The drive to Mr. Brown's house was quiet. Leah watched the streets blur past, feeling the weight of everything pressing in on her. It wasn't until they pulled into his driveway that she allowed herself to breathe a little easier.
The moment Leah stepped out of the car, Adelaide and Taylor rushed to her, bursting through the front door and enveloping her in tight hugs. Adelaide's tears of relief and happiness welled up, though she didn't say a word, simply holding Leah as if she might disappear again. Taylor stood beside them, a wide grin on her face, thankful to have her friend back.