Page 11 of Ruin My Life
They exchange another look. Muted. Unreadable. But they don’t argue.
I am alive.Breathing.
I am not thevictimin this story.
After over an hour of pointless questions, they leave. And with them goes whatever faith I had left in the police system.
I sink back into the stiff hospital pillows, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of the IV still taped to my arm.
I need my laptop.
I need access.
I needanswers.
I slam my hand down on the call button.
Nurse Olivia appears almost instantly, like she’s been hovering just outside the door, waiting to be summoned. “Do you need something?”
“When can I get out of here?” I ask.
Her eyes widen. “Well, you just had open-heart surgery, and your ribs are still healing—”
“Just give me a timeframe.”
She hesitates.
“Well… assuming your next blood test is clear, and your stitches are healing properly… maybe three days? But it really depends on Dr. Kim—”
“Tell Dr. Kim I want out in two.”
She opens her mouth to object—but then catches herself.
That’s when I realize I’m glaring
Not at her. Not really. I’m just glaring at everything.
At this room.
This hospital.
This fucked up world.
“I’ll talk to him,” she says quickly, leaving even faster.
She’s nervous. Maybe even a little afraid of me. She shouldn’t be.
But anyone who stands between me and the truth should be.
Any man stupid enough to stand between a strong woman and her fire has a lesson coming.
And that’s a lesson I’m ready to teach.
TWO DAYS LATER,I’m discharged from the hospital with five different prescriptions of painkillers and antibiotics, and a simple list of rules: rest, relax, heal.
I smiled, nodded, signed the forms. Lied through my teeth until they finally let me go.
I’ll take the meds. I’ll keep an eye on the scar as it heals. But I’ve already wasted nearly a week.
