Chapter 4
706 Words
A nurse entered, handing him a phone. "These belong to her. It rang all night."
He nodded, taking the phone.
The nurse left, aware of Ryan's reputation and not wanting any problems.
The phone rang again, and in his attempt to prevent the noise from waking the girl, he answered the call.
"s**t!" he cursed under his breath.
"Amy! Are you okay? Oh my God, I've been trying to reach you for ages!" a voice cried on the other end. Ryan hesitated, considering ending the call.
But what if this was family?
"I should let her know Amy's hospitalized," he thought.
He brought the phone closer, but before speaking, the caller's cries intensified.
"I heard about Landon... I'm so sorry about his death. I couldn't believe it when I heard. It's really heartbreaking. I can't imagine your pain, losing your brother suddenly."
His gaze fell on the girl, and for the first time in a while, he felt genuine sorrow.
“Talk to me please, everything will be fine,okay?” The caller cried more.
Ryan's words died on his lips. He ended the call and dropped the phone beside him.
His gaze fell on the small picture clutched in Amy's fingers. He gently lifted it, and the smiling faces pierced his heart.
"They looked so happy," he thought, tears welling up in his eyes.
Memories of his mother's passing flooded back. He had locked himself away, starving and grieving, unable to bear the loss. His mother was the closest person to him, loosing her felt like loosing a part of his soul, that was the greatest pain he had ever experienced.
"Who are you" Amy’s tender voice brought him back.
Ryan turned, wiping away escaped tears. He cleared his throat and faced her.
Amy took in her surroundings, the medical equipment's gentle hum soothing her. Her hand instinctively folded around the picture, relief washing over her troubled face.
Her eyes met Ryan's, reminding him that he hadn't answered her question.
"Umm... I ran you over with my car last night. I'm deeply sorry," Ryan said, his tone sounding genuine. The cruel words he planned earlier were far gone.
Amy sighed, recalling the accident. "It's fine. I wasn't looking, it's my fault." Her sore throat forced her to speak calmly.
"I accept all the blame,"
Ryan hesitated, unsure if he should reveal the fact that he was a bit tipsy behind the wheel. He didn't want her feeling sorry for him.
Amy fell silent, lost in thought. Ryan felt uneasy, unsure how to break the silence.
Should he ask how she's feeling? If she needs something?
Knock knock.
The second nurse's entrance rescued Ryan from the awkward silence. He almost smiled in gratitude.
"Ma’am , how are you feeling?" the nurse asked, clipboard in hand.
She checked the beeping machine, jotted notes, and examined Amy's hand and eyes with a tiny light.
"When can I leave?" Amy asked, eager to escape.
The nurse's hands slid under the duvet, applying gentle pressure to Amy's knee.
"Ouch!" She cried out.
Ryan's glare made the nurse straighten, clearing her throat.
"Careful," he warned, his tone low and even.
"Your knee is badly hurt, and you have bruises on your legs. I'm afraid you'll need to stay for a couple of days," the nurse explained.
Amy's eyes closed, worry visible on her face.
"Seriously? Oh goodness," she whispered, biting her lower lip, making Ryan feel a pang of guilt.
"After that, she's okay, right? No permanent damage?" he asked.
The nurse reassured, "Not at all. After a few days, she'll be good to go." With a nod, she departed.
Ryan turned to Amy. "You don't have to worry; it's just a few days. I can stay with you, provide whatever you need."
Her gaze returned to the ceiling, her expression troubled.
"You really don't have to do that," she murmured.
The silence returned, and Ryan studied Amy again. Despite her worries, her beauty shone through, like the morning sun.
Her phone rang again, breaking the silence and he handed it to her.
“I’ll just get you something to eat. You must be hungry,” Ryan said, excusing himself. He wanted to please her, thinking of something delicious to bring back.
- Writer
