Healing Together
Anne was different, a heartbreakingly sad sort of different. Her eyes were dulled, her face bruised and pale. Anne usually buzzed with energy so much, so that she could hardly sit still most of the time but the woman in the hospital bed was a broken, both mentally and physically, shell of what Anne used to be.
She had six stitches on her head, thirteen on her left side. She was all cut up, they had to cut her hair to stitch up the back of her head, so her once thick long hair was choppy and uneven. Her eyes were swollen, her left arm was in a cast, along with her left leg and right knee. She didn't look up when her mum and girlfriend came in, she just stared emotionless at her lap looking so defeated.
"H-hey sunshine.." Cathy whispered rushing to her side despite all the wires and tubes that were attached to her girlfriend making her breathe and giving her nutrients. Cathy just wanted to make sure Anne knew she was here for her.
"Sorry but no hugging your friend just yet sweetheart, she's got two badly broken ribs." Some male nurse instructed as if Cathy was a moron who couldn't see how bad Anne was.
"Thanks." She whispered dismissively before gently taking Anne's right hand, which had bandages from cuts, an IV, and other stuff but wasn't broken like her other arm.
"Oh lambchop I'm so relieved you're alright!" Jane sobbed dropping to her left side as she kissed her oldest daughter's mangled cheek gently as if Anne was made of glass. Anne didn't even acknowledge either of them nor did she react to their touches, she just kept staring at her lap, no emotion in her face whatsoever.
"I was so worried about you, I don't know what I would do if I lost you!" Cathy exclaimed as tears spilled down her cheeks. Anne didn't even smile or react much at all except to gently remove her hand from Cathy's grip and tighten it into a fist. Cathy looked up at Jane sadly and the woman was quick to try and get an answer from her Anne.
"Kitty was asking about you, she feels awful for what happened. She can't wait to see you once she's able to leave her room." Jane tried and still, Anne didn't react. Cathy felt her heart plummet at how closed off Anne was acting.
"You know I love you always r-right?" Cathy whimpered trying to convey how much she adored Anne, no matter what. "You're so amazing and strong, the doctors said you were so lucky.." Cathy was rambling, she was so used to Anne's energetic words and phrasing that she didn't know how to deal with this painful silence. But no matter what Cathy said Anne remained silent, even though her silence broke Cathy's heart, she vowed to stay by Anne's side regardless.
1 WEEK AFTER SURGERY …
"Hey sunshine, I brought you a smoothie, they said you need help eating because you're arm and whatnot so I figured you could hold up a cup.." Cathy laughed awkwardly before carefully setting the smoothie cup on Anne's bedside table. Cathy smiled spotting Kitty, who was sound asleep in the corner of the room, because once she'd been released from the hospital she quickly set up camp in the corner of Anne's room and refused to leave until Anne could. Anne still hadn't spoken a word since waking up and it was killing Cathy. But she wouldn't give up on trying. Cathy carefully slipped the stuffed pink puppy from her bag and placed it in Anne's lap. "Hey Annie I got you a puppy dog, since you might want some more silent company than your mum, Kitty and I." Cathy reasoned tapping it's head. Still Anne didn't react and so Cathy just pulled a book from her bag and silently began reading.
1 MONTH AFTER SURGERY ….
Anne was physically healing, in some areas, but mentally she wasn't doing so hot. It was taking a toll on Cathy, Jane and Kitty. Though Cathy refused to give up, she knew Anne would come back to her, she just needed time.
"Brought you another smoothie, figured you'd wanna try the newest flavor, dazzlepop or berry dazzle something like that." Cathy murmured absentmindedly as she sat the smoothie cup down on the side table, rounded the bed and plopped herself into her usual chair by Anne's bedside. Suddenly before Cathy could grab her new book from her bag Anne reached out and took her hand. Nothing was said between them, but Cathy couldn't help but feel hopeful.
2 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY...
Anne frowned at her mum as she allowed Kitty to color all over Anne's casted foot, though Anne supposed it was rather nice of her little sister. She was thankful Kitty hadn't been too hurt in the wreck, though Anne was sad about her beautiful little green car. Anne had thankfully gotten her cast on her arm off this morning, so now she had both arms. Though everyone was more concerned as to why she wasn't talking. The doctor had explained to everyone how painful her vocal cords would be after surgery and apparently, Anne had to have a piece of the steering wheel removed from her throat, so talking was difficult.
So it wasn't like Anne didn't want to talk, it was just too painful, too humiliating, she felt stupid. Cathy was always around, either reading aloud to Anne if she was in a good mood or reading to herself if she was upset. Anne was absentmindedly playing with the stuffed puppy, Cathy had given her from the hospital gift shop most likely. Cathy came in, her face was a mask of some unreadable emotion as she slumped into the seat next to Anne and pulled her book out, obviously in a bad mood when she began reading silently.
Anne frowned sadly at her closed-off body language. Cathy sighed then looked up seeing Anne with the stuffed animal clutched in her arms, the smallest of smiles fluttered across her face.
3 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY….
Anne turned confusedly in her hospital bed, crying could be heard from somewhere in her hospital room, but that was ridiculous none of her family or friends stayed past six. Anne blinked trying to see through her dimly lit room, Cathy was curled up in the corner of the room, where Kitty usually sat, holding her knees. Her small frame was shaking with sobs, so painful Anne felt like crying herself. Anne was conflicted, she didn't want Cathy to cry, but she didn't really know how to comfort her. Anne quickly took her water bottle from her bedside table and downed half the bottle.
"C-ca-cath…" Anne coughed hoarsely, as she took a sip of water, her voice scratchy from lack of use. "W-w-h-hat matter?" Anne grinned pleased with herself for finally finding the strength to form words even if she sounded illiterate.
Cathy just shook her head as if Anne's talking had been in her mind. Anne frowned at her lack of response, so, using her good arm, since the other was still a bit weak, Anne grabbed the stuffed puppy, from Cathy, off the tacky bed-side table and hurled it at her curly-haired girlfriend, which hit her directly on her head. Cathy jumped, uncurling from her position instantly. She looked around wildly, her eyebrows furrowing at the stuffed animal, laying on the floor in front of her chair before she looked up meeting Anne's concerned eyes.
"A-Anne?" She sniffed, she'd stopped using nicknames awhile ago, something Anne had noticed and was slightly hurt by. Anne hesitated before nodding confirmation. "Y-you talked!" Cathy exclaimed rushing to her side and Anne smiled slightly and nodded.
"M-m-matter?" She rasped unable to form the right words or strength to form the complete sentence. Cathy looked down, her smile melting away.
"Anna's mine collapsed, so far there's no survivors." Her voice cracks and she swipes her eyes trying to keep herself from crying. Though to her shock, Anne tugs her hand, scooting over she pulls Cathy into her bed and wraps her arm around her.
"Sh-she okay.." Anne murmurs, using her weaker arm to stroke through her hair and Cathy relishes in Anne's warm embrace.
5 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY…
Anne hobbled after Cathy, stumbling on crutches to keep up. Anne was going through physical and speech therapy, but things were looking up for the two now nineteen-year-olds. They were looking at apartments, Cathy had an interview with a publishing company. The only downfall was Anna, no one had heard from her or knew if she was even alive.
"Cathy I...no fast.. as you!" Anne huffed her words were getting better but she still sounded like a cavewoman most days. Cathy turned smiling cheekily at her girlfriend as she jogged backwards down the path.
"Come on Sunshine, you're not even trying to catch me!" Cathy taunted before sticking her tongue out at Anne.
"I am!" She huffed irritably as she worked her crutches forward trying to get her bad leg to cooperate, but it was killing her. Cathy slowed to a fast walk as she smiled encouragingly at Anne.
"If you beat me, I'll let you -" with a yelp Cathy tripped over a jump rope face planting into the paved park path. Anne stopped thankful for the distraction as she saw a couple of little kids give her apologetic looks. Anne struggled to sit next to Cathy, setting her crutches to the side in the soft grass. Cathy sat up with a huff, her chin scraped and blood dripping slightly from the wound, it was barely a surface scrape, but still, Anne froze up. "Stupid toys gah!" She untangled her feet bitterly and threw the jump rope back at the kids.
"A-are okay?" Anne whimpered catching Cathy's attention instantly, upon seeing the fear in Anne's eyes, Cathy quickly pressed her hand over her chin.
"Tis but a scratch!" She exclaimed in an odd voice making Anne relax then giggle at her dorky behavior.
"You're so dorky!" She exclaimed before smiling in triumph for saying the sentence she intended. Cathy grinned leaning close, she quickly pecked her lips.
"But I'm your dork!"
9 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY…
"It's almost been a whole year since anyone's heard from Anna." Cathy whispered sadly as she sat on her and Anne's shared bed, looking so downhearted. Carefully Anne crawled up next to her and kissed Cathy's cheek, brushing her fingers through Cathy's hair. Anne had a scar on her throat now, but for the most part, she was back to her old self. Though her hair was shorter, Anne was getting better and better each day. She still refused to drive and had PTSD over blood, bright lights in her face, or the occasional loud noises but otherwise, she was getting better.
"I know Puppy, I miss her too. But we won't rest until we find her. I promise." Anne whispered softly against Cathy's shoulder. Cathy sighed kissing Anne's cheek and pulled her down on their powder-blue sheets and curled closer to her warmth. Anne carefully pulled the sheets over them and brought Cathy's shivering form against her chest.
"Annie, love you," Cathy whispered tightening her hold on Anne's waist. Anne kissed the top of her head and smiled sadly.
"I love you more." She promised.
1 YEAR AFTER SURGERY
Anne smiled as Cathy paced the airport, though Kitty and Catherine weren't much better. Kitty kept checking the time on her phone like every three minutes, Catherine was impatiently tapping her foot. Jane was keeping herself calm by knitting, Anne kept herself entertained by watching her girlfriend.
"Anne what time is it now?!" Cathy demanded coming to sit next to her girlfriend impatiently tugging on Anne's shirt.
"It's three thirty-four." Kitty piped up from her seat in between Catherine and Jane. Anne gave Cathy a sympathetic smile before going back to playing angry birds on her phone. When she felt Cathy rest her head against her shoulder, Anne smiled gently returning the gesture by resting her head on top of Cathy's.
"Anne wake up!" Cathy is shaking her as she jumps up and Anne smiles blinking back her sleepiness as she stands stretching. Anna steps through the gate, her weary eyes find her ragtag little family and she smiles. They hadn't seen her in almost two years and hadn't heard from her in a year and a couple of months. Anna's hair was cut short, her body was very muscular, but it was Anna no doubt.
"Oi, what's with the welcome wagon!?" She teased her duffle bag thrown over her shoulder as she strode quickly through the crowd towards her family. Catherine was the first to reach her, tugging the now twenty-one-year-old into her arms.
"You're never allowed to scare me like this ever again!" She chastised tightly and Anna tearfully promised her mama she'd be more careful from now on. Cathy reached her next hugging her tightly, burying her face against her neck.
"I missed you so much, Anna!" She sobbed and Anna held her close before she carefully released her and got a good look at Kitty and Anne.
"You both look like hell!" She exclaimed sharply as she took in the scars on Kitty's skin and Anne's short choppy hair, that barely reached her shoulders.
"That's what happens when you get hit by two cars and become the cream in the middle," Anne exclaimed with a wink. Though only Anna found the joke even slightly funny.
"Wait you're serious?" Anna asked after taking in her little sister's angry expression.
"Yeah...wasn't one of my best moments," Anne mumbled with a sheepish smile.
"But we're making it better." Cathy reasoned gently grabbing Anne's hand and kissed the corner of her mouth.
"Wait when did you two get together?!" Anna demanded but Cathy just winked shoving Anna into a pouting Kitty's direction.
"I think everything will be okay now," Anne whispered, taking Cathy's chin and leaning down slightly to capture her lips.
"Marry me," Cathy whispered against her lips.