Freckles...Chapter 7 (short chapter)

Mark caressed her check with his eyes. She was drained of blood and white in color. Her eyes flittered open and saw Mark. The edges of her vision were not clear yet she could make his shape out. 

“Tabby, you okay?” he whispered. Her voice was raw and small, “Yes, I am fine. What happened?”

“You fell down coming out of Desmin’s room! It’s been a stressful day and you were probably just exhausted. I need to take you home and put you to bed!”

“Wait, where are we?” she said disorientated. “Ummm, did you bump your head? We are still in the hospital?"

“Oh!” Tabitha groaned. She felt the sheets underneath her hands, cool and scratchy. The kind of itchy hospital sheets that almost make you sick—with their uncomfortable feel and texture. Tabitha looked around to double check his statement. She was there, in the hospital, for sure!

She sat up quickly and then she was knocked back down.  “Where is Desmin?” she immediately asked after falling back to the bed.

“She is still in the hospital for observations,” Mark quickly quipped.  “She is a few rooms down,” he said calmly. “She will be expected to stay overnight. After you fell, they put you into a bed so you could recover. Whenever you are feeling okay, we can go back home. How do you feel? You must be exhausted!”

She felt just okay. After the day she had it was no surprise. Tabitha looked down and felt something weighty on her hand. Looking down, she discovered an IV inserted and taped down on the face of her left hand. Mark anticipated her questions and remarked, looking at her, “They were worried you were dehydrated so they gave you an IV!”

“Oh” responded the weak Tabitha. “That’s good, I guess. They were probably right. Probably, I am dehydrated. I want to get off this bed.”

Tabitha stopped for a moment and thought about nothing and everything in one moment. She was just dizzy with thoughts and feelings. “I want to see her before we leave!” she quickly said. She started to get up again, this time more slowly and carefully. Her head did hurt a little. Mark stood up and hugged her. She could feel his arms secure around her and she almost couldn’t breathe. It was one of those quiet, tender moments and quickly Tabitha moved her body to stand up. He still did not let her go.

 “What is wrong, Mark?” she gently whispered in his ear, concerned with his overly excessive concern. “I was just so worried about you, baby!” he said as she pulled away a little from him and Mark looked at her overly tired and worn down eyes. She got up and he let go, reluctantly.  She found her shoes and put them on. Mark was trying not to hover around her and give me a little breathing room, but his thoughts were about her and he did not want her falling again.

“Mark, please give me some room,” she said a little annoyed and then added more softly, “Don’t worry, I am not going to fall again.”

“Alright, you know it’s just because I am worried about you, right?”

“I know,” she replied.

She found her coat that was lying on top of a plastic chair against the wall. She picked it up, noticing as she did, that her arms felt very weak indeed. Mark had already grabbed her purse and gave it to her.

“Thank you!” was his reply. Mark grabbed Tabitha’s arm for support. She was reluctant to take it and said with a wide beaming smile, “I am not disabled, you know!” “I know, but you are getting older” a jest that she didn’t like, but knew he was kidding. “You never know” he added very so slyly. “I could kick you right now!” she retorted as to not let him get away with it!”

They walked through the doorway and a few rooms over. Mark opened the door this time and it creaked open. He let Tabitha through first and kind of waited behind feeling it wasn’t his province. He hung back quietly and watched the scene unfold which was not unlike what he’d seen before, but this time it felt more poignant. She looked over the girl with such maternal affection and sadness for the girl’s sad state. Desmin was restrained with leather restraints tied to the end of the bed. She looks very peaceful and notice the girl had an IV, too. No doubt the drip was a sedative to keep her calm and saline to keep her hydrated. Desmin’s cheeks bloomed a little—much better than before. She was just as sweet as ever, and lay there still as stone. “Rest well, my little dear” Tabitha uttered quietly. “I will be back tomorrow.” she added. Maybe the girl couldn’t hear her, but she wanted her soul to hear it and feel the good vibrations of love and affection.  Tabitha touched the girls arm and then held her hand. “Until tomorrow,” she sighed and left the room. Mark again took Tabitha’s arm and then walked down the hall to check out. They talked to the same receptionist as before and then left together.

Mark opened the car door and Tabitha slowly angled her body into the car and groaned from overall body ache. Before Mark could get around to his side, she was fast asleep, but still moaning quietly from the stress that had built up in her body. Mark looked at her for a long second, before starting the car and drive out of the parking lot. Because Tabitha was sleeping, Mark took extra care to take any turns smoothly and not too sharp, as he was like to.