Chapter 138
The sun filters through the hospital blinds, painting pale stripes across my blanket. I’ve been awake for hours, waiting for the doctor to finish the final round of checks so I can finally go home. It’s been two days and it’s finally discharge day.
The bed tray in front of me is covered in “get well soon” cards–some colorful and cheerful, others simple and handwritten. With everything that happened and between doing the tests and visits, I didn’t get the chance to read them before.
Now, alone and waiting to get discharged, I can finally open some of the cards.
A white card with a gold border. “Wishing you strength and healing, Sierra. We miss your brilliance in the lab.” – Director Kay.
“We are rooting for you, sis. Get well soon.” – Iris, Olivia and Emery,
“Get well soon, sweet girl. We love you.” – Aunt Ava and Uncle Rowan
I smile faintly. The next is from Benji, his handwriting messy and slanted. “Come back soon, boss. Carl’s already broken two beakers trying to ‘help.“” 1
That earns a soft laugh from me. For the first time in days, it doesn’t feel forced…on and on they go. I read card after card until I can barely see straight as tears cloud my eyes.
The one from mom is the hardest. I can feel her pain, fear, and hope. All her emotions are in each and every word.
She was here earlier. I can still see her face when I told her to go home. The tired lines around her eyes, the exhaustion she tried so hard to hide. She’s barely slept since I was admitted. It took nearly an hour of convincing her and basically throwing a tantrum, but she finally agreed to rest after I promised that Lilly would be here when it was time to leave.
She tried convincing me to go with her, where she could watch me, but I just couldn’t take her up on that offer. I know she’s worried about my safety and how I’ll cope with a broken hand and healing wounds, but I just can’t be a burden to her.
Sighing I look towards the door. Two bodyguards stand quietly outside the door. Lilly told me that everyone thinks she arranged for them, but apparently it was Noah. I still don’t understand why he’s bothered so much when he clearly didn’t want anything to do with me and the baby, but right now his motives aren’t that important.
Anyway, I don’t like the idea of being watched, but after what happened, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel safer… and maybe I should get some help. A dayburg, maybe. She can help around the house while I recover.
I’m reaching for another card when a knock sounds at the door.
“Come in,” I call softly.
The door swings open and a familiar burst of chatter fills the room.
Carl enters first, carrying a paper bag and grinning like he’s just snuck past security. Benji follows, juggling a small bouquet of flowers, with Rose and Brandon, the last member of my team, behind them.
Brandon, just like Rose, is more on the quiet kind. He’s the kind of guy you wouldn’t even notice he’s around until he speaks.
“Sierra!” Rose exclaims, rushing over to hug me carefully, avoiding my cast. “Oh, thank God. You look so much better than we imagined p>
“Speak for yourself,” Benji says, eyeing me dramatically. “You look half–dead p>
Carl smacks the back of his head. “Dude p>
I can’t stop the laugh that bursts out of me. “It’s fine. I probably do p>
I saw myself in the mirror when a nurse helped me take a shower. Looking half–dead, as Benji said, is mild.
“We would’ve come earlier,” Rose says quickly, pulling up a chair. “But you know how work is, and with you away, chaos doesn’t even begin to cover it p>
“Is everything okay?” I ask, seeing the worry they’re all trying to hide.
Brandon says with a small smile, “We should be asking you that p>
“I’m good,” I tell them while noticing the tension in all of them
Carl sits on the edge of the visitor couch, shaking his head. “You have no idea how much we’ve missed you.
“Don’t try to change the subject.” I narrow my eyes at him.
They all stare at each other, as if silently communicating and discussing whether or not they should tell me what’s been going on.
Carl sighs before finally saying, “Jocelyn’s been running things p>
Benji snorts. “That’s mild… she’s been Running things straight to hell p>
“Benji,” Rose warns, though she’s smiling.
I frown slightly. “Jocelyn took over p>
Carl shrugs. “Yeah. Since you were gone, she appointed herself team leader. The director didn’t stop her, probably because it’s temporary p>
“Yeah,” Rose chimes in. “He told us to appoint someone to take charge for a few days, but before we could, she appointed herself p>
My heart sinks. “And she’s handling it well p>
Benji and Carl exchange looks.
Rose sighs. “She’s been difficult to work with p>
She doesn’t need to tell me more. I’ve known Jocelyn since we were in college and she’s the most difficult person to work with. I remember how no one ever wanted to get paired with her during group projects or assignments because she was a major bitch who thought everyone else was stupid.
Even lecturers found it hard to deal with her. Eventually they stopped trying to pair her with other students and she ended up always working alone. Like I said, she’s really good at research, I’ll admit, but her attitude and sense of superiority turn people against her.