Chapter 9 Windowpane
{My thoughts} [My text]
It is currently late afternoon, and the time is 3:00 pm at Key City Hospital
{My head hurts. Where am I? What is that beeping sound? Oh shit..did I die? I'm fucking dead, and I got murdered by bananas. I aint ever gonna be able to live this down.}
"Wait, I'm not living. It doesn't even matter. I'm dead."
"Open your eyes, Craig."
"Who said that?"
"Me, wait."
"Are you an angel?"
"No, you idiot."
"You sound like an angel."
"Keisha...Nurse!" {Stop Screaming Meg.}
"Meg!" I say, sitting up from the... "Is this a hospital bed, where am I? "
"Oh my god, my beautiful brother is alive." Keisha says, running into the room to hug me.
"Oh, miss, please, we must still ask him questions." Says a blue-haired nurse.
"Oh snap, sorry. I'm just so happy."
"Yes, I understand, of Course. Mr. Turner, do you mind if I ask you some questions."
"Sure."
"What is your full name?"
"Craig Cameron Turner."
"Do you know where you are?"
"I'm guessing Key City Memorial Hospital."
"Perfect, and what day is it?"
"Saturday"
"And, what is the last thing you remember?"
"Last thing...Oh, shit, is Miss Cheryl, okay?"
"The cougar?" Megan says sharply
"Cougar," The nurse replies, looking confused.
"Yeah, she is okay, she has a bruised arm, but outside of that, she is good. She is down the hall."
"Your sister said you jumped over her to save her."
"Okay, yup, that is the last thing I remembered."
"Okay, follow this light for me." My eyes follow the light with as much precision as I can muster.
"So am I gonna be able to go home."
"Well, you were only unconscious for two hours and 33 minutes. I'll let the doctor decide if you should stay." The doctor comes into the room to release me on the condition. I return and start to have any of the symptoms he listed, I return to the hospital or call 911.
"Your free to go; you can get dressed. Your clothes are there on the desk by your wife." The blue-haired nurse says, pointing towards Megan and their desk.
"My." That is all I could muster as she closed the door behind her.
"We got married?"
"No, Craig," Megan says
"Okay, I was wondering?" I say while taking off the gown my gown.
"Are you changing in front of me?"
"Well, yell captain obvious. I say to her, walking over to get my underwear. Her eyes wander over my body. "Like what you see?"
"Hurry up and put your clothes on."
"I'm moving, and my head hurts, though, not going to lie. You good?"
"Not good. You could of."
"Could of what?"
"Nothing." Megan shakes her head.
"Relax, I live. It's nice to see you care about me, though." I say to her, sitting and putting on my shirt
"Of Course, I do, you idiot." Megan says. As I get my shirt over my head, I see her eyes turning red as her eyebrows furrow. I don't say anything. Me saying that would only make her feel vulnerable, something I know she doesn't like. I slip on the rest of my clothes, and we walk out the door together.
Keisha is standing outside talking to Nurse Britt about my release.
"Hey Meg, can you ride Craig back to the apartment? Imma pick up his medicine from Everyday Pharmacy.
"Of Course, come on Chiquita."
"Hahaha, really funny."
"Is that his wife?"
"Oh no." That is all I can make out as we walk out the hospital door. Miss Cheryl is sitting outside on the bench, talking on her phone.
"Oh my god, Mark, you're awake. I just got out from being seen." She grabs me into a hug.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't be grabbing you like this. Oh, Craig, I'm sorry I was having a bad day, and I was trying to prove a stupid point.
"No, Cheryl is all good. I'm just happy you're okay."
"Me...No, just my pride and some bruises. More than what would happen if you didn't jump in like you did. I'm so happy you're okay. You are Okay, right?
"Yeah, I'm good. Just I'm going to get some ibuprofen. I should be good by tomorrow or the next day."
"Well, okay, hey, if you need to call out tomorrow, don't hesitate. Get some rest. Alright, I will leave you with your girlfriend before she beats me up. Cheryl says, looking over at Megan." With her stoic look on her face. "Hey, beautiful, take care of him." Cheryl says, smiling at Megan. Megan shakes her in agreement.
"Yeah, beautiful." I say.
"Shut up." She says, punching me in the arm.
We both get in her car and arrive back at the apartment. Luckily Keisha drove me to work, so I don't need to get my car back from work. As soon as I return, Megan makes sure I lay down in my bed. It doesn't take long before I succumb to a nap.
I'm awakened from my nap as Megan sits beside me with a plate of food.
"I made you some food." She says, presenting me with a plate of Pasta. It smelled delicious and authentic. One thing Megan doesn't mention often is that she is part Italian from her mother's side. I sit up and grab the plate. I take a bite. It's fantastic. Flavors dance in my mouth. I've never had anything so delicious—sorry, Mom. I look up at Megan; she is sitting there looking away from me.
"What did you put in this?" I say to her, curious about her magic.
"Oh my god, dude." She says of anger.
"What? I'm just asking."
"If you don't like it, don't eat it," Megan says, shrugging her shoulders and crossing her arms in defense. I didn't know she was this defensive of her cooking. Then again, I've never had her cooking before.
"You know Megan, and I have always dreamed of you cooking dinner for me."
"What?"
"I'm serious; this is the best thing I have ever tested. It could be the conscious talking, but I don't think it is."
"It's just something I used to cook with my mom."
"It's great, not Amazing. Just like you, Meg. Thank you, for looking after me after all this."
"Shut the hell up, Craig. She mutters while looking at."
"You gonna get a plate and eat with me?"
"Yeah. Right. I'll be back." She leaves for the kitchen and, a moment later, returns with a small plate of her masterpiece. I move over to the bed close to the wall and motion for her to sit beside me. She obliges.
"Damn, this is good."
"I told you. God, if me and you were together, we would be really fat, you know that."
"Probably." She says before taking a bite.
