Chapter 15 Discharge
Daniel knew I was hurt but never visited. I couldn't help but feel let down.
I wished I'd wake up one day to find Daniel by my bedside, holding my hand in the sunlight.
On my third day in the hospital, I woke up to hear a muffled argument at the door.
It was Daniel and Zoe. I couldn't hear clearly, but it seemed Daniel wanted to visit, and Zoe was stopping him.
I was getting discharged the next day, so whether Daniel came or not didn't matter. If his visit upset Zoe, it might cause trouble for me. Better if he didn't come.
I wanted him to come, but logic won out.
Listening to their argument, I fell asleep again and only woke up when Helen came in.
This injury really scared me. The doctor kept giving me sedatives, so I slept a lot.
Daniel never showed up.
Helen asked why I looked off, and I just smiled and said it was nothing.
In the evening, the sunset light hit my face, feeling harsh.
I raised my arm to cover my eyes, and soon my skin was wet.
No matter how tough I tried to be, I was just a nineteen-year-old girl who hadn't learned to hide her feelings.
Helen must've known I was crying because I heard her sigh softly.
I silently promised, 'Mom, don't be disappointed. Give me some time, and I'll get better.'
When I was discharged, both families filled the ward.
Hugh and Emma were packing, Helen was dressing me, and Ronan was tying my shoes. The room was bustling.
I felt warm inside. Even without romantic love, I had deep family affection. Isn't that another kind of wealth?
Daniel stood at a distance with an unhappy Zoe. He tried to come over but was stopped by her, so he stayed with her.
Daniel occasionally glanced at me with concern but mostly talked to Zoe.
Zoe kept glancing at me, pouting.
I figured Emma must've insisted he come, and Zoe was upset but didn't dare refuse, so she was mad at Daniel.
It didn't matter to me.
I didn't ask Daniel to come. Whether he showed up or not didn't really matter.
Zoe's jealousy wasn't my problem.
The fall off the cliff left me with minor injuries and a scare. The doctor said I needed a few days to heal mentally and avoid future stress.
The fall terrified Helen. She held my hand daily, saying I was blessed and would live a long life.
She followed the doctor's instructions to the letter and added her own ideas, taking leave to care for me.
I couldn't argue with Helen, so I lay in bed every day, being fed and sleeping. This life was very boring.
One afternoon around two, Helen got a call from work and had to leave in a hurry. She gave me a long list of precautions, which I agreed to.
Once her footsteps faded, I jumped up and ran around the house. After lying down for over ten days, I felt like my legs were turning to jelly.
Just as I was having fun, Daniel called.
I paused, frowning, unsure if I should answer.
After Daniel's indifference, I was pretty disappointed in him.
Thinking back to the day I got hurt, his coldness towards me and his care for Zoe really stung.
I didn't ask for much. If he saw me as a sister, he could've shown some concern instead of ignoring me.
But then again, Zoe was his girlfriend, and I was just the girl next door. It made sense he'd be good to her. My sadness was probably just jealousy.
While I was recovering at home, Daniel brought food a few times, all made by Emma. My mom accepted them, but I rarely ate.
Daniel tried to visit me, but Helen always said I was asleep.
He'd say, "Mrs. Hanks, I'll just take a quick look. We used to sleep together as kids. I care for her like a sister."
Helen, serious, would reply, "You both have grown up, and you have a girlfriend. You should know how to avoid suspicion."
I had told my mom that Zoe was unhappy when Daniel came to pick me up from the hospital. If he came into my room and Zoe found out, it would cause conflict. I didn't want to be the reason for their fights.
I just wanted to stay away from them.
Though Helen's relationship with Emma wasn't affected, she had her opinions about Daniel and kept telling me to let him go. She said someone who could embarrass me in front of others wouldn't cherish me.
I agreed with her.
Helen and Ronan had found another house, but I convinced them not to move.
My mom thought I refused to move because of my feelings for Daniel, which made her unhappy for a while.
Now that I was distancing myself from Daniel, Helen fully supported it and was firm about it, showing no mercy to him.
If it weren't for Emma, my mom wouldn't have let him in at all.
As Helen said, "In front of so many people, you didn't give my daughter any respect. Why should I put up with you? Do you think my daughter can't live without you?"
Helen was right. I liked him, but he wasn't a necessity. One day, I'd get over him, find someone who truly cared for me, and grow old with them.
Then, Daniel and I would be strangers.
I had been lying at home for five days, and Daniel hadn't even touched my doorknob. I thought he got the message, and we'd never see each other again.
So, when Daniel called, I hesitated, unsure what to say if I answered.
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