| Chapter 23: Emily stared out the window at the nature outside. She reached over to touch the glass windowpane. The glass was warm. Emily sighed and pulled her hand away. She wished that she could be out there enjoying the sunshine. Instead she was stuck in the hospital. She had asked the nurse when she could go home, but the nurse just gave her a pat on the arm and smiled sympathetically. It was so frustrating when she asked questions but she never got answers. The door opened and Lucky came in, carrying a cup of orange juice that he had gotten from the cafeteria. "Hi." He said. "How are you feeling?" Emily shrugged. "Okay, I guess." He nodded toward the empty food tray. "You have breakfast?" She nodded. "Yeah, and what a meal it was! White mush, that I think was supposed to be cereal, with burnt toast. Can't get any better than that." Lucky laughed. "Lucky, do you know when I can get outta here?" "Not for another couple of days." Lucky and Emily looked up as Bobbie came into the room. "How are you feeling, Em?" "Better." "That's good, you look better. We're going to keep you here for at least another week for observation." Emily nodded as Bobbie looked over at her breakfast tray. "Ah, hospital food." She smiled. "Enjoy it while you're here." Emily rolled her eyes. "Grandfather's cooking seems better every day, even though he has never cooked a day in his life." "That's the spirit!" Bobbie laughed. The door shut behind her as she left the room. Emily looked over at Lucky and grinned. "I'm desprate. Order a pizza and I'll give you fifty bucks." Nikolas blinked. "Sarah-" "I can't believe that I just said that outloud," she said, "but I'm glad that I did. Nikolas, I love you." Nikolas shook his head. "I'm sorry. Look, Sarah, I'm not ready to be in love. Sarah looked at him, her smile fading. "But-" "I can't-" he started over. "I'm not ready for a relationship, I can't handle it right now." "What are you saying, Nikolas?" her voice quavered. "I don't think that we should see each other anymore, at least, not as anything other than friends." "Friends?" Sarah whispered unsure of what he was saying. Nikolas nodded. Sarah looked away so that he wouldn't see the tears that started to fill her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at the light blue sky. "Okay." She said at last, turning around to face him. She shrugged as if she didn't care. "Friends." Sarah turned around and walked back over the rocks, keeping up her brave-front until she was out onto the street. Only then did she let the tears finally fall. |