C17 Birds of a feather

The soft sound of an engine came next, the vibrations of movement rocking my body gently. Rae’s voice was near me, though it sounded far away. “You’re going to be okay Miss Sofia,” she whispered, as if to reassure herself as much as me, before sliding Into unconsciousness.

**********

"Doctor!" I heard a voice yell, and the sudden juggling of my body.

The next thing I registered was the blinding brightness of fluorescent lights above me and the sterile smell of antiseptic. Voices became sharper, words I couldn’t make out blending with the steady beep of machines. I wanted to move, to speak, but my body felt like it didn’t belong to me anymore. I drifted again, the weight of exhaustion pulling me deeper, even as the voices around me grew more urgent.

"We need to take her into the OR," the frantic muffled voice surrounded me until I fell back unconscious.

*

*

*

A dull ache spread across my chest as consciousness crept back in, slow and hesitant. My eyelids felt heavy like they were weighed down by the weight of life, but I eventually managed to blink them open. The room was dim, the light was bright, but not bright enough to hurt my eyes.

My vision was hazy at first, as I took a look at the room. Gradually, the room came into focus. I noticed Rae first, slumped awkwardly in a chair beside the bed, her head resting on the edge of the mattress. She was fast asleep, her face soft with exhaustion, strands of her hair sticking out in every direction.

Turning my head slightly, I caught sight of Zack sitting by the window, his tall frame sprawled lazily in another chair. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his head was tilted back against the wall. His eyes were barely open, lids drooping as though he were fighting sleep and losing.

I swallowed, my throat dry and scratchy, and tried to move, but even the smallest effort sent a wave of weakness coursing through my body. How long had I been like this? Days? Hours? I couldn’t tell.

The faint beep of the monitors beside me was the only sound in the room, steady and unchanging. I tried to clear my throat, but it came out as a raspy croak. Zack’s head jerked up slightly, his blurry eyes sharpening just a fraction as he looked in my direction.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice rough with sleep, yet somehow steady. He rubbed his face as if trying to shake off the haze. “About time, Sofia.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out, just another hoarse sound. He leaned forward, grabbing a glass of water from the small table beside him. “Here,” he said, moving closer. “Drink.”

I tried to lift my hand, but it felt impossible, so he held the glass for me, tilting it gently against my lips. The cool water hit my throat, soothing the dryness, but it also made me realize just how weak I really was.

“Where…” I managed to whisper after a moment, my voice barely audible. “How long…?”

Zack glanced toward Rae, who still hadn’t stirred, before looking back at me. His expression was unreadable, a mix of relief and something else I couldn’t place. “Three days,” he said simply. “You’ve been out for three days.”

"How—I mean how's that possible, I could not possibly have been out for that long," I argued.

"Yes you've, Rae has been the one taking care of you, I even doubt she's had her bath in days," He replied, placing the cup back on the table.

"And you?" I asked, looking querily at him.

"I've just been running here and there, I'll take my leave as soon as the doctor gets here," He said and turned to leave.

"Wait!" I called, pulling his gaze back to me.

"What about—did he come at all?" I asked, bracing myself for what was to come.

"I didn't know you were that interested in whether or not Alex came, don't seek validation from him Sofia, he'll hurt you more than he'll ever make you happy," Zack said, harshly bringing me back to reality.

"And no, he didn't come, no even once," He said before turning to go outside.

"I'm going to bring the doctor," he said and I nodded, darting my eyes back to Rae by the bedside.

I couldn't fathom how much she had been running around to make her fall that fast asleep.

The clicks of show heels and a strong perfume filled the room, making me look up to see who it was.

"Alex..." I muttered, staring at the woman beside him.

Her arms were held tightly with his, and I scoffed sadly at the sight before me.

"Is this the wimp you got married to?" The lady asked, staring disgustingly at me.

"Yes, she is, but mind you,I didn't get married to her, she was sold to me," Alex replied, running his hands on her back to soothe her.

"Birds of a feather," I muttered to myself, watching them perform their theatrics.

"What did you say bitch?" The lady asked and I turned to stare at Alex. "Warn your whore Alex, sold or not sold, I've the title that I'm sure that even after sleeping with him and having him fuck your insides out, you couldn't manage to have," I snapped, watching her face turn red with fury.

"You dare to speak to me like that! I'm going to..."

"Put a leash on your dog Alex, you wouldn't want me to have to use your father's cane on her, will you?" I piqued, watching him clench his fist in fury.

"Sofia!" Alex growled, his voice startling Rae awake.

"Shut up Alex, your wife's been in the hospital for three fucking days, and you're here with this thing?" Zack said, walking in with the doctor behind him.

"Mind your words or I'll have to tell him that you're hanging out with her again," Zack said, pulling them back to sanity.