Catching You Read Free

couldn’t remember much at all. I vaguely remember fighting
about something and then I woke up in the hospital. I must have been given some
pain medicine because I could feel my eyes starting to get heavy. A few minutes
later, I was asleep.
    The next morning I tried to roll over, but found it
difficult to move. I opened my eyes and realized I wasn’t in my bedroom. That’s
when I remembered the accident, a tear rolled down my cheek, but I quickly
brushed it away.
    Glancing towards the window, I noticed my mother sitting in
one of the chairs.
    “Morning, Mom, "I groaned trying to sit up.
    She rushed over, firing questions at me. “Did you get any
sleep last night? How are you feeling this morning?”
    “I’m in a little bit of pain because of my ribs.” I took a
deep breath, winced, and gave my mother a disgruntled look.
    “Well, let me see if I can track down a nurse so she can
give you some pain medication. The doctor came in earlier, but you were still
sleeping and he didn’t want to disturb you. I’ll get the nurse to track down
the doctor for you.”
    I glanced around the room and saw a cart to my right. I tried
to lean over and move it towards me, but the pain in my ribs stopped me. When
my mother came back with the doctor, I was trying to catch my breath.
    "I'm glad to see that you're awake now. I’m Dr.
Summers, how are you feeling this morning?” he asked
    “I’m a little sore and hungry.”My stomach let out a big
growl.
    “I guess that’s proof there, isn’t it?” He came over and
pressed on my ribs.
    I winced. It even hurt taking a breath.
    "Ouch, that hurts! Do you think you could be a little
gentler?" I asked scowling at him.
     "Sorry. I just wanted to check something."
    He then turned to my mother, "Her ribs are definitely
bruised, but there isn't much we can do, except give you a prescription for
ibuprofen to give her as needed. It's important that she takes it because it
will help with breathing as she begins to heal.”
     "I'm also going to send you home with an incentive
Spiro meter, which is a tool that encourages deep breathing. It measures lung
capacity so Lauren will be able to see how well her lungs are recovering as her
ribs heal. I'll go find a nurse and we'll get you some pain medication for
those ribs."
    “Am I able to eat yet?” I asked as he began walking towards
the door. He chuckled.
    “You did say you were hungry. Let me check with the nurse
about what you can eat for now.” My mother followed him out.
    “Thanks.” I closed my eyes
as they left the room. I heard him and
my mother whispering in the hall and then silence. A nurse walked in a few minutes later.
    “Dr. Summers told me
that you’re hungry.” She glanced down at a clipboard, “It says here that you’re
on a liquid only diet.” She looked around and saw the cart that was pushed
aside.
    “Here you go, dear.” She
rolled it over towards me and opened the lid. She smiled and went over to put
something in the IV drip before she left the room. Before I could start to eat, I heard a knock at the door.
    “Go away!” I yelled. The knock came again. Whoever it was
wasn’t listening. The door opened and Elisabeth stood in the doorway. She was wearing
pink sweatpants with Aero on the butt, a white, short sleeved t-shirt that said
“This one time at band camp…” and pink flip flops. She had her dark brown hair thrown
in a messy ponytail and it looked like it hadn’t been washed since yesterday.
    “Oh hey, how’d you get in here? Visiting hours aren’t until
11:00 am, it’s only 9:30,” I said, glancing up at the clock.
    “I told the nurse I was your sister,” she replied.
    “That’s priceless.” I smiled. She didn’t smile back. She
looked down at her nails and began picking at her manicure.
    “You can come closer. I’m not contagious,” I said, trying to
lighten the mood.
     She began bouncing from one foot to another. “I’m sorry to hear
about Ryan.”
     “Thanks.” I glanced over at