When I Met You

Chapter 4 (Cassie's POV)

Harsh rays of light woke me up. I was blinded for a few seconds. The ceiling was white and clean; this wasn't my house. I tried to sit up, but a searing pain tore through my body. My ribs and my torso ached. That's when I noticed the white gown I was dressed in. I looked down and noticed something white peeking out of the covers, my leg? The blanket shifted a little to reveal a cast. What the hell?

My eyes ran around the room, a couch at the far end, a TV, a nightstand by my left and a dresser by my right. I was in a hospital. Suddenly, it all came crashing back: the car, my body flying in the air, and the excruciating pain I had felt before blacking out. I broke out in a cold sweat.I tried lifting my hands and found out I could, then I lifted the covers to find a perfectly intact leg. I was lucky.

Seconds turned into minutes, but nobody came. What time was it? Given by the rays peeking out of the curtain, it was morning. So why weren't there any nurses or doctors? What kind of hospital was this?

A knock on the door pierced through the silence. A woman in blue scrubs came in. She didn't notice I was awake and went on with adjusting the drip by my side.

“Hello.” My voice came out low and dry. The nurse startled, turning to face me. “You're awake!” It took less than a second for her to switch, standing upright with relaxed shoulders.

“Good morning, how do you feel?” she asked softly. My throat was dry, and I pointed at it. “Excuse me,” she said, understanding immediately, “I'll get you a glass of water once I'm done checking your vitals.” She brought out the instruments and got to work. It was a bit uncomfortable, but it didn't take long for her to finish and return with the glass, a doctor and another nurse, and a covered tray which was placed on the overbed rolling table.

“Good morning, Cassie,” an old man in a white lab coat said. He had a wide smile on his face. “How are you feeling?”

One of the nurses brought the glass of water to my side and helped me adjust, propping my back up with a pillow. It was painful. She placed the cup to my lips, tilting it so I could sip.

“Pardon me for the lack of introductions. I am Doctor Jackson, and these are the nurses assigned to you, Jenna and Mary. We're glad you're awake”

“Do you remember what happened? You don't need to reply, nod or shake your head.” I nodded.

He clasped his hands together. “That's beautiful.” He turned to the nurses and said some things I didn't understand.

“How-how long was I out?”

My voice was still low and croaky. He redirected his attention to me. “Why are you looking so serious? W-what's today's date?” “It's the 25th of June.” My heart sank. Three days had passed. I had not gone to work for three days. No no no no no. That was my last chance. I shook my head, it was impossible, they must've been a mistake. I looked at the doctor but he just nodded. Why? I laughed. “You're joking right? Tell me you are.” No one replied. My chest sank. I dragged up my blanket to cover me, the room suddenly became cold? Why was nobody answering me? “It's a joke right?!” My voice trembled, rising a note higher. “How am I going to pay my rent?” My breathing became ragged. What was going to happen to me? Tears streamed down my eyes.

I looked at my cast and clenched my fists. I couldn't even do anything in this condition. I was fragile, a child. “Who did this?” My voice became louder. “Who is the bastard that did this to me?!” I thrashed my arms, the blanket flying off the bed. I needed answers, now!

As if on cue, there was a knock. “Doctor, can I come in?” came a deep voice. The doctor sighed, but before he could reply, the door parted to reveal a handsome, tall man in a perfectly tailored black suit. My fists clenched. Was he the one?

“I told you to wait,” the doctor said with a tired voice. “I needed to see her for myself ,” the man replied, eyes locking with mine. I scoffed. “So you're the bastard. You seem to be doing well.” There wasn't a trace of lint on his suit. He looked expensive, untouchable. Of course.

“Why did you want to see me? To calm your conscience or to express your disappointment?” I asked. He didn't reply immediately. “It was an accident, that's all it was.” “That's all it was?” My mouth hung open. Did he seriously say that? “You literally destroyed my life. Because of you, I have no house, no job, no money. I am not you.”

There was another knock on the door. A man dressed in a dark brown suit emerged, a black suitcase in his right hand. The doctor groaned. “I told you to give her some time.” He sounded agitated. The first man- the bastard spoke. “I wanted to clear things up as soon as possible.” He didn't break eye contact with me, his voice remaining composed. Then he did something that caught me off guard- he bowed. “I apologise for the inconvenience I've caused you. I didn't come here to bicker. The man beside me is my lawyer and he will brief you on the legal implications.”