Chapter 4 Bumping Into A Cute Guy

• Zoella Pov
• As I burst into Chloe's hospital room, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my God!" The shock of the moment hit me hard.
• Eva, right behind me, quickly asked, "What happened?"
• I rushed closer to Chloe, my heart racing. "Did you see that? I can't be the only one who noticed!" I turned to Eva, my excitement bubbling over.
• "What did you see?" she inquired, clearly puzzled.
• I could see the confusion in her eyes, so I explained, "Chloe's finger just moved! Eva, do you realize what this means?" A huge grin spread across my face as I spoke. She took my hands in hers, her eyes lighting up.
• "So, she’s coming home with us soon?"
• "Absolutely," I confirmed with a nod. Eva then looked at me with urgency and anticipation in her gaze. "Are you going to call the doctor, or are we just going to sit here?"
• "Alright, Emm, I’m calling the doctor!"I dashed out of the room. I was over the moon that after three long years, my sister was finally coming home to us—well, to me, really. But then a wave of anxiety hit me as I thought about how to break the news to her about Mom and Dad. It’s been three years since I last saw them, and honestly, I can’t even picture their faces anymore. I don’t have any photos to jog my memory, which makes it even harder. Maybe I could lean on Chloe for support, but I really don’t want to burden her; she’s been through enough already. I need to track down our parents, but where do I even begin without any pictures? Perhaps I should reach out to Alex for some assistance.
• Just a few minutes later, the doctor walked into Chloe's room, accompanied by two nurses. He gently opened her eyes and shone a light into them, and I noticed her pupils reacted, even though her body remained rigid. The doctor then explained that she was in a state of hidden consciousness, but he reassured me that she would start responding soon. The fact that her finger moved was a positive sign, and I felt a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty.
• I felt this overwhelming urge to cry because, for just a brief moment, I genuinely believed she was going to be okay. There were fleeting seconds when I thought she might be coming home with me soon, and I held onto the hope that my sister would walk out of that hospital bed. But now, all I can do is wait, and the loneliness hits hard since I don’t have any family around.
• I can’t even recall if I have any aunts or uncles to turn to for support. It left me feeling completely lost. I dropped to my knees and prayed, realizing that was all I could do in this situation without anyone to lean on. I thought about calling Alex for help in tracking down my parents because I knew he had connections, but then I remembered I didn’t even have any pictures of them or a clear memory of what they looked like. Taking a deep breath, I tried to muster a smile, but it felt forced.
• "Come on Zoe, let's go home," Eva urged me. I would have loved to, but I felt completely paralyzed in that doorway.
• I heard a sharp intake of breath, like someone was desperately trying to get words out but was having a tough time finding their voice. At first, I thought it was Eva, but she was right in front of me, so I turned my gaze to Chloe's bed.
• There she was, her eyes wide open, looking straight at me, trying to speak but unable to form the words. Suddenly, tears streamed down my face, and I had no idea where they came from; they just kept coming. "Chloe?" I was frozen in place, my hands instinctively covering my mouth in disbelief. It felt surreal, like I was seeing a ghost... a miracle, really; it was proof that my prayers had been heard.
• I leaned in closer, needing to confirm that this was real, and it was. She looked so pale, her lips cracked and dry, and I could feel the weight of her suffering. In that moment, I would have gladly taken on her pain if it meant easing her burden; it was clear she was in distress. I shook my head in frustration and gently removed the oxygen mask from her face, but she still struggled to find her voice. I settled down beside her and managed to say, "I missed you," the only words that felt right at that moment.
• I attempted to have a conversation with her, but she was struggling to speak, taking deep breaths instead. After putting the oxygen back on her, I decided it was best to consult the doctor. Although she had just woken up, talking was clearly a challenge for her. The doctor mentioned it was a miracle she was doing better, especially since her condition had been quite dire just an hour earlier. He reassured us that it was completely normal for her not to have spoken because it’s been three years.
• After checking her pulse, which was stable, he invited us into his office for a more in-depth discussion. He explained, "She will need to relearn everything from scratch. While she might understand languages, she may not be able to speak or write just yet. Plus, since she’s been bedridden, physical rehabilitation will be essential."
• I was taken aback and asked, "So, are you saying she’ll have to learn like a baby?" I was trying to wrap my head around the situation.
• The doctor nodded and clarified, "If that’s how you want to put it, then yes. With the right physical therapy, she’ll be okay. It’s important to build up her muscle strength again."
• I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness wash over me for Chloe. "Is it going to hurt?" I wondered aloud, knowing deep down that he could sense the weight of my worry.
• "She'll be okay," he reassured me, but I could tell he was just trying to comfort me with a lie.
• The truth was, Chloe was going to endure a lot of pain, and she would have to relearn how to walk. My heart ached for her. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to soak in a few more tranquil seconds before heading back to her room. The doctor had mentioned that she would be moved to a rehabilitation center soon to start her muscle exercises, with her full treatment kicking off tomorrow. It was a bittersweet feeling; I was relieved to see her awake, yet my heart sank knowing the tough road ahead of her.
• I gently took her hands in mine, hoping to offer some comfort. Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I felt a jolt of anxiety at the sight of Alex's name lighting up the screen. He wanted me to come over, but I couldn't focus on that right now. I let the message slide, but when it buzzed again, I glanced at Chloe and decided to step out for a moment.
• I stepped out of the room to take his calls, letting him know I was swamped with work. I really didn’t want him to find out that Chloe had already woken up. Once I hung up, I felt the urge to indulge in some chocolate to help ease the stress I’d been dealing with lately. I started asking around for the best place to grab some, and eventually, someone pointed me toward a nearby kiosk.
• It was just a minute before 10 PM when I finally got my hands on the chocolate I craved and made my way back to the hospital. As I navigated the hallways, I was on the lookout for the quickest path to Chloe’s room. Just as I turned a corner, I bumped into someone, and I heard him exclaim, "Fuck!" as he stumbled back, causing me to fall against him and my chocolates to scatter across the floor.
• I quickly tried to regain my balance, pushing against his chest to create some distance. "I’m really sorry!" I blurted out, offering to help him up. He took my hand and stood tall, easily towering over me at about 6 feet 2. I’m 5'7", so I usually feel pretty tall, but next to him, I felt like I was looking up at a giant, bending my neck just to meet his gaze.
• As he turned to walk away, he reassured me, "It's alright," while cradling his elbow with his other hand, as if shielding something. That’s when I noticed the blood.
• My gaze locked onto him, and I asked, "Did I do that?"
• He spun around to face me, and I pointed at his elbow, finally taking in the full view of his face. His jaw was strong and defined, adorned with light freckles, and his hair and eyes were both a deep black.
• "You didn't do that, and I apologize for bumping into you," he replied, offering a faint smile. I bent down to gather the scattered chocolates, and before I realized it, he had vanished. With a sigh, I headed back to Chloe's room, noticing a stain of blood on one side of my shirt.
• Eva squinted at me, stepping closer to inspect my clothes. "You’re bleeding, Zoe," she remarked, and I glanced down at the blood-stained by the side of my off-white sweatshirt.
• "I’m not hurt; it’s from a guy I bumped into in the corridor."
• A playful grin spread across Eva's face. I could already sense the question coming. "A guy, huh?" she teased.
• I braced myself for what I knew was inevitable. "Please don’t ask me if he’s cute."
• "You know I have to ask, right? So, is he cute?"
• I let out a groan and handed her the remaining chocolates after taking three for myself. "He was bleeding and looked exhausted. I can’t say if he’s cute," I fibbed, trying to downplay the encounter.