rug under the bed about halfway that matches the pale blue lamps.
“What the hell?” I mutter, mesmerized by the room I’d always wished for, down to the cartoonish paintings of women in fashionable clothes with long cigarettes and miniscule waists.
“Last night Liz said you needed bedroom furniture so Brent called two friends who own furniture places, and she went shopping and bought out their displays. Brent paid for it all. Said you couldn’t sleep in your old bedroom furniture, in case Rod—”
“Right,” I cut her off, not wanting to have that conversation. “God, how did you all accomplish this? And over Christmas? I feel sick. Everyone is missing their holiday.”
“They wanted to. Even the shop owners were happy to help. The truck rental gave it to Brent at half price. Liz organized like fifteen people here earlier. It was insane.” She walks to the walk-in closet and opens it. My clothes are there, organized and put away. “Cyborg,” she whispers with wide eyes and a smidge of humor.
“I can’t believe this. I don’t know how to repay everyone. And I’m too tired to think about it. I need a shower.” I walk to the en suite bathroom and slip my arm out of the splint carefully, letting Shawnee help me take off the foam collar.
“How long do you need to wear all this?”
“The sling until Sunday. I have to rest in bed for the week until light stops bugging my eyes. The foam collar I can take off tomorrow. He says I need to move my neck muscles so they don’t tighten up.”
“He—Sam?” She smiles at me in the mirror. “How crazy was that? God, he looks good.”
“That was awkward. He was nice and super sweet but why him of all the doctors in Canada? Like does God hate me?”
“After yesterday, it’s up in the air. You’ve clearly done something to piss her off,” she says with a nod.
“That’s my thinking too. I can’t imagine what it is.” I unbutton my shirt and slip it off and struggle out of my pants as she walks out, leaving the door slightly ajar. Every movement needs a pause or a breath so I don’t pass out.
I stare for a minute and take in my reflection.
My forehead is swollen as though I’m the missing link in evolution. It’s bruised and ugly. I touch it gingerly with my fingertips, shocked that it’s my body at all. But the pain reminds me it’s real. My right eye is puffy, more than the left, though they’re both swollen from crying. There’s a seat belt bruise along my shoulder that was dislocated. My neck looks thicker than normal too.
All in all, it feels much worse than it looks. Which is saying something. But the hot water of the shower is restorative and healing, despite the wounded wing and inability to wash my hair adequately.
My heart wants so badly to take a journey through the last twenty-four hours but my brain refuses, no doubt sensing the danger that would present.
Instead, I focus on not passing out with exhaustion.
I don’t bother with pajamas. Honestly, it’s not worth the effort. Instead, I let Shawnee put the neck brace on again and walk to the bed. She pulls back the covers and fluffs them.
“How was that?”
“Amazing.” I wince getting into the silky sheets my sister has no doubt washed four times to ensure softness. It takes effort and weird pillow fluffing for me to get comfortable.
“You need anything else?”
“Painkillers and water, please.”
“Okay.” She bends down and mini hugs me. “I’m glad you’re okay. You scared the shit out of me. We will be discussing it at a later date when you’re feeling better. Just like we’ll be talking about Rod when you’re ready.”
“Okay. And I’m sorry I scared you. I can’t believe I froze up.”
“I can’t believe old Helen ratted his ass out like that. I take back all my shit talking about her. That car was a legend.”
“Aww,” I moan, remembering she is dead. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
“Yeah, she’s in rough shape.” She offers a sympathetic stare. “I’ll get your mom and those drugs.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
She winks and leaves me there, frozen and not moving for fear of stabbing pain.
Less than two minutes later, my dad enters with a glass of water and a bottle of pills. “Hey, kid. Here. Your mom said the pharmacist told her two pills before bed. But don’t take them except at bedtime. They cause mild drowsiness and it’s not great for