I'm Broken

Freedom

One month and four days. That's how long I've been in this hospital since I woke up. My fractures and breaks had healed while I was in a coma. With this last month of physical therapy I was walking again, everything working as it should. When I thought I was going to die at Matt's hand, I had welcomed death. At the time it seemed like my only escape from the mess that was my life. When I woke up I was a Jane Doe. That should have wrecked me, terrified me, but all I felt was relief and hope. Hope that, here on this seemingly small town, I could start again. Be someone new. Relief that Matt had finally let me go, of course he probably thought I was dead but, who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth? With this hope and relief came another emotion that I haven't felt in a very long time, determination. I am going to live, I am going to be strong, and I am going to make my life a good one. Since I woke up the cops had come by a few times asking if I could remember my assault, I always lied and told them no. They were the only ones who ever came by, I had not seen or heard from Vin Teag since he left that day. I counted my blessings on that as well. I will always be grateful for his kindness and concern that gave me a new life, but this time, my life is mine to live. I was almost bouncing, excited for today, they were releasing me. The time ticked by at a snail's pace as I waited for the doctor to come in and give me a final check up. I ate my mushy and cold food with gusto at breakfast and lunch. Finally at 1:03 PM he walked in.

"Well Miss Bloom, all of your vitals are doing great, and you've completely recovered physically. I am referring you to a great therapist to help you along with the mental distress of what you've been through but other than that, I see no reason to hold you here." The smile that broke out on my face could have been compared to a kid on Christmas morning. I am free. If it was possible time moved even slower waiting in my discharge papers. Missy walked in two hours later with my papers but also with a purple gift bag. Missy, the nurse that had been there when I first came to, had become a fast and wonderful friend. I felt guilty about keeping up the lies with her but at the same time I had to. She smiled at me with her brilliant megawatt smile and instantly dove in for a tight hug.

"I'm so happy you're finally getting out but I have no idea what I'm going to do without you here! Now I hope you don't get mad at me but I asked my husband to take up some collections to help you out." Her face had fallen from the overly happy to a worried one as she told me the last part. I didn't want to accept her gifts but at the same time I literally had nothing. My face heated up and I know I looked red as a tomato when I whispered an embarrassed "Thank you."

Instantly her smile was back as I took the bag from her. "Girl, think nothing of it, for real, you're helping me out by giving me good karma!" She giggled and winked as she handed me the bag and my discharge papers. "Get dressed and you're free to go. Just don't forget to say 'bye' when you leave. OH! I put my number in a card in there so you better keep in touch!" Missy was all smiles as she left my room to get back to work, her blonde curls bouncing as she walked. I sat there in a heavy silence. Then the weight of everything I had been stressing over hit me like a ton of bricks. What will I do? Where will I go? How can I even get a job without ID? A heavy sigh escaped my lips. When the cops had asked about who I was and if I had any family for them to contact I kept things as close to the truth as possible. I had told them I was and orphan that had aged out of the foster system. They had accepted that without much objection, I don't know of it's because that made less work for them or just because they pitied me, to be honest I don't care. I was just happy they didn't push the issue. I finally opened the bag seeing several wrapped gifts and it made me smile. It had been so long since I had a friend and even longer since someone cared enough to do something like this for me. I felt happy tears well up behind my blue eyes but held them back. As I opened the gifts I couldn't believe what Missy had gotten me. There were a few outfits, gift cards, even a voucher type paper telling me I had a weeks stay paid for at a local hotel. At the bottom of the bag was a plain envelope. I opened it and it was just a 'Thinking of You' card, but some papers fell out into my lap as I went to read it and when I looked down I gasped. There laying on my blanket was a new ID card, birth certificate and even a social security card all with my new name. After I gaped at everything for a few minutes I finally read the inside of the card.

"I hope this helps, kitten.

-Vin"

I felt a familiar feeling settle into my stomach, regret. I now regretted throwing that phone he gave me away, how could I possibly thank him now? I shook my head to get ahold of myself and threw on one of the new outfits and packed everything else into a duffle bag that was another one of the gifts. I threw my long dark hair into a ponytail before finally making my way out of the room and going to the nurses station. When Missy saw me her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around me.

"Jess, you look amazing girl!" Finally those happy tears from earlier fell as I hugged her back.

"I don't know how I could ever thank you or your friends for all of this." I broke from her as I gestured toward the bag, sniffling but smiling.

"Don't you worry about that, just be happy and safe. Now you better skedaddle before you make me cry too, I have a grumpy old man to tend to that can sniff out weakness and hes been looking to terrorize any nurse he can." We both giggled like teenage girls before she shooed me off. Taking the elevator down to the lobby and walking out the front door I was just looking at my new ID. As I exited the hospital, of course not paying attention, I ran straight into a wall, but walls aren't that warm, and they certainly don't have strong arms that reach out to catch you. I'm also most definitely sure they don't have a panty dropping deep voice or a sexy chuckle.

"Woah, there, kitten." Oh. My. God.