SERENA
ONE WEEK LATER
This one week has been one of pure torture. Constantly having to take drugs, not being able to move or do a thing.
But now it is all over. I would no longer be confined to the bed. I was healed enough to be in a wheelchair now. This was far better than being stuck in bed all the time.
A knock turned my attention to the door. "Come in," I said, and the door swung open. Nurse Tamar walked in, a smile evident on her face.
"Good morning! Are you excited for today?" She asked, as she took off her stethoscope and placed it on the table.
"Are you kidding me? I'm going to be out of this room for the first time in a week!"
Another knock came from the door, and this time, Tamar spoke.
"Come in!" The door opened and Malcolm walked in with a wheelchair.
It wasn't just any wheelchair, it was an electrical wheelchair. Excitement brewed in my belly.
"Sweet!" I muttered as I took in the design of the chair. It had different buttons at the handle, where my hands would be placed. It looked so beautiful. Malcolm rolled the wheelchair, beside my bed.
"Are you ready?" Nurse Tamar asked, and I immediately nodded.
She moved close and placed her hands on my shoulders, helping me to sit up. The pain in my belly had subsided a lot and it hurt less. With the help of Tamar, I stood up and slowly walked to the wheelchair.
I sat down and rested my head on the cushion. Fuck! It felt so nice to be able to sit again!
"Uhm…" I moaned as my eyes closed in satisfaction.
"The buttons here are to move the wheelchair to any direction" Malcolm said, making me open my eyes.
I pointed at the right handle "this?" He nodded.
"And this buttons are to adjust the sitting" he pointed to the left handle. I fiddled with the buttons on the right handles, moving forward, backwards and turning the wheelchair around.
"This is so nice!" I almost screamed as I let out a laugh.
I pulled the wheelchair to a stop, and turned it off. I looked at Malcolm who held a large smile on his face, like he wanted to laugh.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" I asked, as I took my hands to my face to feel if there was anything on it.
He immediately shook his head, and lightly chuckled "no, no. I'm just surprised. I haven't seen you smile in a long time. You look beautiful"
My smile immediately dropped, and I looked away from him. He was right. I had forgotten what it felt like to be happy.
"Ehm…" I muttered, looking anywhere but him. The ceiling, the fan, the door.
He giggled, and bowed "if you'll excuse me. I have to leave now. I have to pick Mr. Smith at the airport"
That was true. I hadn't heard from Gabe in ages. It's even been more than a week or so.
I nodded my head, and after that, he left the room.
My attention turned to Nurse Tamar, who was busy arranging the medicines I was going to take for the day.
"Isn't it time I stopped taking that?" My face contoured in disgust, as I drove the wheelchair closer to her.
She shook her head and turned to me "nope! You still have to keep taking it until you are fully healed" she smiled.
"But I think I'm going to puke from the smell" I pouted, and placed my hand on my nose.
She let out a laugh, almost spilling the drugs in the process. She gathered them together, and gave them to me, with a cup of water.
I hesitantly took them, and quickly drank the drugs, immediately gulping down the glass of water.
"Fuck! I think one's stuck in my teeth" I said, which earned me a laugh from Tamar.
She walked closer, and placed her hands on the wheelchair "i was thinking yea? How about you go out for a walk? You haven't been out of this room in a week. I think you need some sunlight. Maybe the garden?" She said, and I nodded.
It was true. I hadn't been out of here in a week, and I was kind of excited about the thought of sitting in a garden. I love flowers.
"Okay" I muttered. "You want me to go with you?" She immediately asked, but I shook my head.
I wanted to be alone. I wanted to be in my thoughts.
"It's okay. I want to go alone"
I began to wheel the chair out of the room, shutting the door behind me. I looked around, I wasn't quite familiar with this place, and when I was brought here a week ago, I wasn't paying attention.
Shit! I should have asked Malcolm or Tamar where the garden was. Well I guess I was on my own.
At first, I struggled to find the exit or even the entrance. I kept going back and forth. It felt like I was in a loop.
"This is crap! Where exactly is the door?" I sighed.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" A gentle voice called from behind, almost scaring me. I quickly turned to look at who it was.
A lady dressed in a blue gown stood in front of me. She looked like she was in her early twenties. She walked closer to me, and smiled. "You must be Ms. Cordinni? It is nice to finally see you. Master has asked us to take care of his wife"
By master, did she mean Gabe?
Master my foot! I rolled my eyes at that.
"I'm not his wife!" I groaned, which earned me a shocked expression from her.
"Well technically, I am but…." I added, then her face contoured in confusion.
"Whatever. It doesn't really matter" I shrugged in defeat.
She held a light smile again, but her face still held confusion.
"Where's the garden please?" I asked, trying to soothe the awkwardness in the air.
"I'll take you" she held the chair and began to push me forward.
********
The garden was beautiful. It was peaceful. I sat, surrounded by flowers of different scent, colors and shapes.
It felt really good to be outside. I liked it as the sun warmly slapped my face.
"This is refreshing"
"What is?" A familiar voice rang in my ears. I turned around to look at who it was, and my mood instantly became gloomy.
"What are you doing here Gabe?" I asked, irritation laced in my tone.
"Well I came to say hi to my wife after my one week trip" he smirked, and took a seat by the bench beside me.
"I'm not your wife!" I groaned, glaring at him, like my eyes could just magically rip him to shreds.
"That's not what the contract says" he grinned, as he stretched his hands wide on the bench.
I rolled my eyes, and looked away from him. "I can't believe I have to put up with this for the next two years" I mumbled under my breath.
He leaned in, "what did you say?" He asked, but I ignored him.
He stared at me for a few seconds and after a while, he reached for his pocket and brought out a small white envelope. He handed it to me, which I took, still glaring at him.
"What's this?" I asked, as I tore off the top of the envelope.
"Your new identity"