Page 9 of Finding Forgiveness
“I know, but I want to. I was in the middle of cooking breakfast when Jacinta called this morning, so we haven’t eaten today. I’ll see if your dad wants to go downstairs to the cafeteria, do you want me to bring you back something to eat, or a coffee?”
“No thanks.” I’m too knotted up inside for food.
“Okay, sweetie. We’ll be around if you need us.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
She wraps her arms around my waist, giving me a quick hug before stepping back. “There is a buzzer beside Cassie’s bed if she wakes. They’re keeping a pretty close eye on her though.”
“Okay.”
My mum stands there and waits as I enter the room. I pause just inside the door and give myself a moment before approaching the bed.
I blow out a long breath as I gaze down at her, and when the lump in my throat grows, I have to turn away. She’s so pale … so lifeless.
“Cass,” I whisper, reaching for her hand and lifting it towards my face so I can place a soft kiss on her knuckles. She’s so cold. “You have to keep fighting,” I encourage as I choke up. “Jacinta will be arriving tomorrow, so you’re going to have to wake up.”I need you.
I tilt my head towards the ceiling when tears cloud my eyes. I give her hand a gentle squeeze as I exhale. All I can do now is wait.
By mid-afternoon, there’s still no change. My parents left the hospital on my insistence; there was no point in them hanging around since Cassandra was only allowed one visitor at a time. Mum brought me a sandwich and a bottle of water before they left, but it’s still sitting untouched on the small table beside the bed.
I feel helpless just sitting here, and with every passing hour, my fury seems to be growing because Cassandra’s parents have yet to come and see her. She’s their daughter. How could they treat her so poorly? Does she mean so little to them? They almost lost her … they still might, yet they don’t seem to care. No wonder she wanted to give up after her fallout with Jacinta … my family is all this poor girl has.
I stand when the nurse enters, then move towards the corner, allowing her room. “You don’t need to get up,” she says, but I stay where I am anyway.
I watch on as she does whatever it is she’s doing. “Did the doctor give any indication when she might wake?” I ask.
“No,” she answers as her eyes flick up to meet mine. “She’s been through something pretty traumatic, when she’s ready she will.”
“Will there be any ongoing effects on her body from this?”
“It’s too early to say.” I nod, because I know this is only the first step in a long journey ahead. What if she tries this again?Fuck.I can’t let my mind go there. “Her vitals are strong and she’s stable, so that’s a good thing. Rest is the best thing for her right now.”
The nurse moves her attention away from me to focus on Cassandra again, and I get choked up when I see her tenderly brush a strand of dark hair off Cassie’s forehead.
“Is there any news from her parents? I can’t believe they haven’t come yet.”
The nurse’s lips thin, and I gather from her expression she’s not impressed by that fact either. She clears her throat before answering, “No.”
I shake my head. If and when she gets out of this godforsaken place, I’m taking her back to Sydney. There is no way I’m leaving her here with those fuckers.
When I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, I pull it out and see Jaz’s name on the screen.
Jaz: Any updates? I just got off the phone with Mum, she said Cassie has tubes coming out of her everywhere.
Connor: No change, and yes, she does.
Jaz: Can you FaceTime me so I can see her?
Connor: The nurse is with her right now.
I raise my phone and point it towards the bed as I open the camera app, snapping a quick picture. I know seeing her friend in this condition is going to upset her, but at least she’ll be prepared when she arrives tomorrow. If Cassie is awake by then, Jacinta is going to need to remain strong. I guess we’re all going to be carrying her over the coming weeks and months.
I attach the image to a text message and send it. I’m not surprised when my phone starts vibrating with a call seconds later.
“I’m just going to step out for a second and take this,” I say to the nurse, holding up my phone.
As soon as I leave the room, I accept the call. “Con,” I hear my sister sob down the line the moment I place the phone to my ear.
