Escaping Neverland

New Blood

As I opened my eyes, I let out a contented sigh, not wanting to leave the blissful realm of sleep just yet. It had been so long since the last time I had slept so well. However, barely a minute passed before the door swung open, and Greg entered, his face etched with exhaustion, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He rushed over to me, taking my hand in his and planting a kiss on it before looking into my eyes and finally speaking.

"Are you okay, Janice? You had me so worried. I thought I would have to raise our daughter all by myself... I-I hope you don't mind, but I named her. We can talk about that later. First, we need to get the doctor in here to check on you and make sure you're okay." His sudden outpouring of concern overwhelmed me, leaving me at a loss for words."What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be fine? I mean, I understand I just had the baby, but there's no need to worry about me.""Janice, you almost died! You've been unconscious for a week now. I didn't know if you were going to wake up!" I sat there, stunned, not knowing how to react to this new information I had received. "Janice, you lost a lot of blood that day. The doctor who examined you said you might not make it. I've been so worried that I wouldn't get to see you again, hold you again, but it's going to be okay. I spoke with Damien, and I got permission to stay with you so you can be off room arrest. You'll also get a break. But for now, let's get you a check-up."

Greg stood up and walked out of the room, returning shortly with an older, well-dressed man. Greg moved to sit next to me, and the doctor approached. "Hello, Janice. I am Dr. Koolsturn. I was with you during and after you gave birth. I'll be here for the next month to conduct daily check-ups and ensure your proper recovery. But before I begin the check-up, I'd like to explain what happened and why you're in this position now, if that's okay with you."I took a moment before nodding my head, curiosity getting the better of me."Janice, your body underwent tremendous stress, and due to your suicide attempt, it overworked itself and couldn't sustain both of you with the lack of blood. As your body shut down unnecessary functions to keep you alive, the added strain of labor pushed it over the edge. Thankfully, the bleeding wasn't too severe, and we were able to save both you and the child. However, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. The bleeding was primarily due to some hemorrhaging, and you will recover from that just fine. It's crucial, though, that you take it easy and avoid any extreme stress." I nodded as his words sank in, and the doctor put on gloves to begin the check-up. Once he finished, he asked if I had any questions. I shook my head, and he left.

Once the doctor departed, Greg returned to his seat beside me, taking my hand again. Clearing his throat, he handed me a paper, pointing to the cover article. "I thought this might make you feel a little better, knowing that you sacrificed so much, and it was worth it... You succeeded, so you should be happy." As I read the article, tears welled up in my eyes. It detailed how a ranger had discovered 14 children deep in the forest, and an interview with the oldest child revealed a dangerous child trafficking ring. The article mentioned a brave young girl named Janice who had helped the children escape. The police had found the families of 11 of the children and, with the help of the oldest boy, identified 15 other missing children. It concluded that authorities would continue searching a 600-mile radius to locate the criminals' hideout and, hopefully, the one child left behind. The date on the paper indicated that this had happened only a few months after our escape. Greg wasn't wrong. I was overjoyed to know they all made it and that most of them had been reunited with their families."Thank you, Greg. This truly makes me happy to see and know. C-can we eat something, though? I'm really hungry, and it's hard to enjoy everything on an empty stomach." Greg quickly got up and moved to the door, calling out to James, who soon joined us, carrying two trays of food—one of which he handed to Greg. James set the other tray on a table across the room and began eating. Greg returned to my side, helping me sit up and placing the tray on my lap before taking his own plate off it."If you need help or want more food, let me know, okay? I'll get you whatever you need. And when we finish eating, I'll have them bring our baby in so you can meet her." I nodded, grateful, and began eating slowly, savoring the flavors of the meal that had been prepared for me.