Interrupted (The Progress Series) (7 page)

“What were you dreaming about?” Sabrina said, smirking.

“Oh god, Sabrina. Piss off. Really, you just had to wake me?”

“Ha! Well, I heard a strange noise from upstairs. It sounded like you were talking, or in pain or something. So I came down. Were you seriously having a sex dream?” Sabrina covered her mouth, trying to conceal her snickering.

“Fuck you, Sabrina.”

“Ha! Well, it seems like you have some unfinished business to tend to. I’ll let you get back to your dream with Jesse.”

Charlie’s eyes opened wide.
Not Jesse!

“I was not dreaming about Jesse!”

“Yeah, right. The only word I could understand within all that groaning and mumbling was
his
name.” Sabrina’s brow lifted as if to say ‘busted,’ just as she hopped back up the stairs.

Charlie rolled her eyes and tried to get back to sleep.

*

Upon waking, Charlie got up quickly, took a shower and got ready for the day. Her mornings were usually reserved for the
New York Times
crossword, but this day she made a very large cup of coffee and decided to sit down with her journal.

Dear Journal,

This is ridiculous. My entire body is shifting and gravitating toward Samuel. He’s sweet, smart and from what I’ve seen, emotionally stable and sane. So, if what Sabrina told me is true, and my subconscious is somehow acting out and trying to tell me something about Jesse, too bad! Jesse can kiss my ass. He will not, I WILL NOT LET HIM control the rest of my life and relationships. I deserve to be happy, damn it!

That’s it. I’ve had it. I’m going to seduce Samuel. Soon. Tonight, maybe. I’m going to go out today and buy the sexiest bra and panties I can find and ask him to come over. Screw Sabrina’s dinner, I’m going to bring him here.

Charlie put down her pen and found her phone.

Hi Samuel. May I see you today? Something I need to tell you.

She scratched her temple in hesitation, then hit send. As she waited for his response, she remembered she had an email address and thought it would be the perfect time to check for new messages.

Nothing but spam.

Her phone beeped and she scrambled to get the new message.

Tonight might be difficult. What time?

Damn.

I was thinking around
6pm.

This waiting is killing me! What ever happened to good old conversations? I’m just going to call him.

As if on the same wavelength, her phone rang and the caller ID showed it was Samuel.

“Hello?” she said.

“Hey, you.” She could hear his smile through the phone.

“Will
six o’clock work?” she asked, smiling back.

“No. I mean, I don’t think I could get there that early. Could we shoot for seven?”

“Oh yeah, that’s fine.” She couldn’t hide the slight disappointment in her tone.

Seven won’t give us much time if my family is going to dinner around
five o’clock.

“I’ve just got a few things to take care of. I’m getting together with an old friend. But I’d love to see you as soon as we’re done,” he said.

“No, that’s fine,” she said. “Would you like to come to my place?”

“Yeah. Oh, and Charlie? I have something I need to tell you, too.”

“Okay.”
That didn’t sound good.
“I’ll text you my address.”

“See you tonight, Charlie.”

“Bye.”

*

Driving home from the mall that afternoon, she let out a burp from the homemade pancakes and sausage that her mom had made her. She could taste the maple syrup again. She exhaled deeply and felt her shoulders relax as she cracked her neck from side to side, waiting at a red light. She looked down at her Victoria’s Secret bag and saw the corner of the red satin bra she had just purchased. She bit her bottom lip and thought about Samuel.

I wonder what Samuel needs to tell me. He sounded reserved and a bit nervous.

He’s different. He’s concrete. Samuel is tangible; I can feel him, touch him. It’s smart to like Samuel. He doesn’t make me nervous. And I refuse to believe that dream was about anyone but him. He smelled the same as Samuel, the dark hair, the strong, artistic fingers…

The light turned green and Charlie eased on the gas pedal. In her reminiscent haze, she didn’t see it coming. A brown truck ran through the red light and collided with Charlie’s Taurus. Her car spun around and was facing oncoming traffic, just as Charlie’s vision faded to white.

Beep, beep, beep, beep…

“Charleeeene…hearrrr meeee?” A cloudy voice kept repeating the words.

Beep...beep.

“Charlie?” A different voice was clearer.

What happened? Where am I? Why can’t I open my eyes?

“Charlene, dear. Can you hear my voice?” The woman spoke again.

I can’t move my arms. I want to, but I can’t. Where was I before this? I was at my house. Where did I go after that?

“Charlie, it’s me, Dad. Can you try to open your eyes?”

Beep…beep…beep.

Open your eyes, damn it, Charlie!

“We can let her sleep. She’ll wake when she’s ready.”

“Can we stay with her?” Charlie recognized her mother’s voice.

“You can stay as long as you want. Your voice will help her.”

“Coffee?”

“Down the hall, to your right at the nurse’s station. Let them know who you are; they’ll get you anything you need.”

“Thank you.”

That was all Charlie heard before everything went white again.

*

Beep…beep…beep.

The beeps were becoming louder. Feeling a slight pain in her abdomen and her shoulders, she still wasn’t able to move her limbs. A rapid boom filled her head and both her ears popped. Her eyes flashed open and the dim bedside light made her squint. It was nighttime; the shades were drawn and the only sound in the room was her heart rate monitor.

Beep…beep…beep.
She heard the beeps pick up pace as she looked around the room for someone. Anyone. Her parents. Sabrina. Samuel.

“Sa…” she choked. Her throat was dry and sore.

In a second, her mom was by her side, smiling. She began speaking when she saw the fearful expression on Charlie’s face. “You’re fine. You’re busted up pretty good, but you’re gonna make it. Don’t worry. You got in a car accident, remember?”

Charlie blinked and foraged her mind for the memory. Pain in her throat, head, and shoulders was expanding and intensifying into her torso and hips. She blanched at the sensation.

“What do you need? Are you in pain?” Karen asked, noticing Charlie’s expression.

Charlie nodded and her mom left the room to find a nurse. She was gone mere seconds before she returned with one.

“You’re awake, Charlie. How are you feeling? Can you speak?” the nurse asked.

Charlie tried to motion to her throat, but something stopped her arm from the gesture. She looked down and saw her right forearm in a cast. Her eyes darted around her bed as she tried to make sense of her wounds.

Move the blanket—all I can see is a cast on my arm and bandages on my foot. Move the damn blanket!

“You’re fine, Charlene. Would you like some ice chips? I bet your throat is a little sore. They had a tube down there when you were in the Emergency Room.”

Charlie gave her an urgent nod.

“We’re glad to see you’re awake; your family was pretty worried about you. My name is Michelle and I’m the RN on tonight. I realize it might not be easy for you to speak right now, so I’ll just do most of the talking, okay?”

Charlie lifted the corner of her mouth, indicating she was finished with the ice-filled cup, and nodded. Michelle took the cup from Charlie and started fiddling with the beeping machines.

“You were in a car accident. You received a hairline fracture in your right ulna, which explains the cast on your forearm. It’s difficult to move right now, but your elbow is free and you’ll be able to start moving it again in a few days. Your ankle is a bit swollen, but not broken. You also knocked your head pretty hard, but don’t worry, we haven’t seen anything that would imply permanent damage. You have several lacerations on your arms, legs and torso from the shattered glass. The rest are bumps and bruises that should heal within a couple of weeks. Are you with me so far?”

Charlie nodded again.

“Good. You’ve been here for a little over a day. We’re all taking great care of you; the doctors and nurses here are some of the best.”

“Are you in pain, Charlie?” Bill asked.

“I would imagine she is. I have some pain killers here, if you think you can swallow them. Otherwise, we have an IV here that had been pumping morphine into your system. But now that you’re awake, there will just be a bit of testing to do in the morning, and if everything looks all right, you should be discharged in the next day or two. Just remember to stay ahead of the pain, so if you need anything, make sure you press the red button on the side of your bed, here.” Michelle pointed to a remote control attached to the hospital bed. Charlie tipped back the pain killers with her free hand and Michelle helped her with the straw. “It’s a lot to take in all at once, but just feel assured that you’re in good hands. The doctor will be in to see you in a couple of hours.” Michelle turned to Bill and smiled. “Karen, Bill, do you two need anything else for now?”

“No, I think we’re okay.”

“Great. Rest, Charlie,” she said as she headed out the door.

Karen walked to Charlie’s bedside and rested her head against her daughter’s. “You scared me. Don’t do that again.”

Charlie painfully swallowed.

“Don’t try to speak. Rest. We’ll be here if you need anything. Go to sleep.”

Charlie shut her eyes as the pain medication took over.

*

“Is she awake?” A strange voice echoed in Charlie’s semi-conscious ears.

“No. She hasn’t moved for a few hours,” said Samuel.

“Charlie? I’m your doctor, can you open your eyes for me?”

She strained her lids and opened one eye at a time. The room was fuzzy and she could smell faint roses. Her skin prickled and she felt a cold shiver move up her spine. Still sore from the accident, she could feel muscles she didn’t even know existed, beaten and achy. She tried to find Samuel’s face in the room.

“On a scale from one to ten, where is your pain?”

“She hasn’t spoken yet, her throat is sore from the tube thing,” Samuel said.

“All right Charlie, is your pain at a five? Nod if I’m close.”

Focusing, Charlie looked up and met the doctor’s eyes. Instant horror struck her face as she realized who he was.

The doctor closed his eyes, hoping she wouldn’t remember him. “Hi, Charlie. I’m Doctor Aaron Paulson.”

“You’re nothing, Charlie Johnson. Nothing. You’re a waste of a human being. A huge, worthless, disgusting human being. Why don’t you try a salad?”

DOCTOR Aaron Paulson? A doctor? Could this be any more of a nightmare? And Samuel is here to witness this.

“I realize this might be a little awkward for you…” the doctor said.

Tears welled in her eyes as she squeezed them shut, hoping the rage and fury would come to dry them. She turned to Samuel, who was inches from her bed. A look of curiosity across his face told her that he was trying to understand what the doctor had meant by using the word “awkward.” Just past Samuel, Angie was lying asleep on the chair, hugging a pillow.

Jesus, Angie, wake up! Get this motherfucker out of my room! As soon as you see him, you’ll know what to do. I can’t say anything, I can barely move! Angie! Help. Get him away from me. He’s going to crush me. He’s going to make me feel like nothing.

I can’t let him see me cry.

Noticing Charlie’s hesitation toward the doctor and what looked to be an attempt to get Angie’s attention, Samuel tugged on Angie’s sleeve and told her to wake up. Angie stirred and looked at Samuel.

“Oh, hey,” Angie said, stretching. “Is she awake?”

Charlie pleaded with her eyes and Angie tilted her head to one side, noticing the signal.

“What’s going on?” Angie asked, standing up, now alert.

“I was just telling Charlene that I would understand if she were uncomfortable with me on her primary care team. If she would prefer—” the doctor started.

Angie’s eyes opened wide as she recognized the bastard that had stripped Charlie of her self-worth.

“You! Uncomfortable? You’ve got to be joking me. Uncomfortable? You bet your ass she’s uncomfortable! Get out. And if I see your ass in this room one more time, I won’t hesitate in dragging you outside and kicking the shit out of you! Miserable waste of a—just get out!”

The doctor nodded, rolled his eyes and left the room. It was almost as though he knew it was coming.

Charlie lay in her bed, bawling. Uncontrollable sobs poured from her hoarse throat.