Avery Kane stirred awake, her eyelids heavy as if weighed down by the aftermath of a restless night. Her head throbbed with a dull, relentless ache, and the sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nostrils. She blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights overhead, disoriented by her unfamiliar surroundings.
Her throat felt dry as she tried to speak, but all that came out was a faint croak.
“Avery?” a familiar voice said softly.
She turned her head slightly, wincing at the sharp pain that radiated through her skull. Janice was sitting beside her bed, her face etched with worry. Ryan stood at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his hazel eyes filled with concern.
“Jan…?” Avery managed weakly.
Janice immediately leaned forward, her voice a mixture of relief and urgency. “Oh my God, you’re awake! Thank God.”
Ryan stepped closer, his hand gripping the footboard of the bed as if to steady himself. “Avery, you scared the hell out of us.”
“What… happened?” Avery asked, her voice raspy.
Janice glanced at Ryan before answering. “You were in a car accident. Someone called 911 when they saw your car. The paramedics said it was bad, Aves. They rushed you here.”
Avery’s eyes widened as fragments of the accident came rushing back—the rain, the honk, the crash. She swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the blanket covering her.
“The car,” she whispered. “Was anyone else hurt?”
“No, thank God,” Ryan said quickly. “It was just you. The other driver swerved at the last second, but your car spun and hit the guardrail.”
Avery exhaled shakily, her heart racing as the weight of the situation settled over her. “I don’t remember much… just the headlights and the noise.”
Ryan stepped closer, his voice soft but steady. “You have a concussion, Avery. The doctors said you’re lucky it wasn’t worse. You’ve got a few bruises, and they’re keeping you for observation, but you’ll be okay.”
Just as Ryan finished speaking, a doctor in a white coat entered the room, holding a clipboard. He smiled kindly at Avery.
“Good to see you awake, Ms. Deveraux,” the doctor said, stepping closer to the bed. “I’m Dr. Patel. How are you feeling?”
“My head hurts,” Avery admitted, wincing slightly.
“That’s to be expected,” Dr. Patel said. “You have a mild concussion from hitting your head during the accident. You’ll likely experience headaches, dizziness, and fatigue for a few days, but it should improve with rest.”
“And the other injuries?” Janice asked, her voice filled with worry.
Dr. Patel glanced at his clipboard. “She has some bruising on her chest and shoulders from the seatbelt, but nothing serious. We performed a CT scan when she arrived, and there’s no sign of internal bleeding or fractures. That’s the good news.”
Avery nodded slowly, though her mind felt foggy. “So… I’ll be fine?”
“Yes,” Dr. Patel assured her. “But you’ll need to take it easy for a while. No strenuous activity, no driving until the concussion symptoms subside, and plenty of rest. Your body needs time to heal.”
After the doctor left, the room fell into a heavy silence. Avery stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. She couldn’t shake the memory of the crash, the sound of metal crunching, the blinding headlights.
“I can’t believe this happened,” she said softly, her voice trembling.
“Avery,” Janice said gently, reaching for her hand. “It’s okay to be in shock. This was terrifying. But you’re alive, and that’s what matters.”
Ryan nodded, his voice filled with emotion. “When I got the call… I thought I’d lost you.”
Avery turned her head to look at him, her eyes meeting his. “You were called?”
“Yeah,” Ryan said, his voice cracking slightly. “The paramedics found your phone and called me. I came as soon as I could. Janice got here not long after.”
Avery’s chest tightened at the thought of how worried they must have been. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Ryan frowned, stepping closer to the bed. “You have nothing to apologize for. This wasn’t your fault, Avery.”
Janice squeezed her hand. “He’s right. Don’t even go there.”
Avery closed her eyes for a moment, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I was just… trying to pick up my phone. If I’d been paying attention…”
“Stop,” Ryan said firmly, sitting down beside her. “Avery, it was an accident. No one’s blaming you. You can’t do this to yourself.”
She nodded, though the guilt still gnawed at her. “I just… I feel so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” Janice said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You’re human. And accidents happen.”
Ryan leaned forward, brushing a tear from her cheek. “What matters is that you’re here, and you’re okay. That’s all I care about.”