Page 38 of The Grand Rise

Six.

“Hmm.” She jots something down. “Did you sleep for long?”

“A couple hours.” Until I woke up and couldn’t hear her.

“Good. Great actually. Have you been up and about today?”

“Twice.”

“Twice? That’s… why haven’t they had you up more?”

I shrug.

“Are the crutches not feeling right?”

“They’re fine.”

“You can’t be in bed all day. You’ll cause yourself more problems than a broken leg. I’m sorry no one’s been in.” She lowers the bed rail. “I want you up tonight, okay? Before you sleep.”

“Hmm.”

Her sigh pulls my attention from the clock. She looks fed up with me.

“When can I go home?”

She lowers her folder. “As soon as I see you out of this bed and able to get around safely.”

“I can do that now,” I huff before catching the snappiness in my tone and dropping my gaze. “I’m fine to go home on my own,” I add. “I just need out of these four walls.”

“Lance,” she says after a beat, and I lift my eyes. “If your x-ray comes back good through the night, I’ll have you discharged first thing tomorrow morning when I get in.”

I nod, glancing back to the clock as she turns to leave.

Three minutes.

“Mia?”

She glances over her shoulder.

“Leave the door.”

“Good evening, Tilly. You’re looking much better tonight.”

“I’m feeling better,” the lady replies to Scarlet. “Did you manage that run?”

I hear Scarlet laugh, not completely genuine but not fake either. It’s nothing to anyone else, but to me, it’s everything. “I didn’t. And that’s the last time I tell you my over ambitious plans.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” The lady chuckles. “I’m living vicariously through you whilst stuck in this bed.”

“I promise it won’t be long, Tilly, and you’ll be back out doing what you love. I tell my daughter every day—”

I let my eyes drift closed, my body going slack.

“It could be better, and it could be worse, but anything in between is a starting point for you to grow.”

Such a Scarlet thing to say.

“That’s lovely, and so true. How old is your daughter?”

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