100

CH 100.
Andrianne slowly got up from the couch, feeling every ache and pain in her body. Her leg was stiff and swollen from sleeping in an awkward position all night. She sighed and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a mess. She splashed some water on her face, brushed her hair, and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
She picked up her bag and made her way out of the hospital room. As she walked down the hallway, she saw other patients and their families going about their day. Some looked happy and relieved, while others were visibly stressed and worried. Andrianne couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy for those who seemed to have everything together.
When she stepped outside, she was hit with the morning sun and the sounds of cars rushing by. She took a deep breath and started walking towards her car. As she drove home, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for leaving Lucas alone in the hospital. She tried to shake off the feeling, reminding herself that she needed to take care of herself too.
When she got home, she went straight to her bedroom and collapsed on the bed. The baby in her womb kicked her, reminding her of its presence. She smiled and placed her hand on her stomach, feeling the tiny kicks. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to forget the stress of the past few days.
After a few moments, she got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower. The warm water felt soothing on her sore muscles, and she took her time, enjoying the sensation. When she was done, she dressed up in a fresh set of clothes, grabbed a few snacks, and made her way back to the hospital.
Andrianne was sitting in the driver’s seat of her car when Jackie arrived. She rolled down the window and smiled at her friend, feeling grateful for her presence.
“Hey, Jackie,” Andrianne said. “Thanks for coming.”
Jackie walked up to the car and leaned in to give Andrianne a hug. “Of course, I wouldn’t want you to go through this alone. How’s Lucas doing?”
“He’s still in surgery,” Andrianne said with a sigh. “It’s been a long night.”
“I can only imagine,” Jackie said. “Do you need anything?”
Andrianne shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Well, I’m here now, so you can take a break if you want to,” Jackie said.
Andrianne smiled. “Thanks, Jackie. That means a lot to me.”
Jackie got into the passenger seat of the car, and Andrianne drove to the hospital. They talked about everything and nothing on the way, trying to keep their minds off the worry and stress of the situation.
When they arrived at the hospital, Andrianne parked the car and they went inside. They made their way to Lucas’s private ward, where they found Emily sitting beside his bed, holding his hand.
Andrianne felt a pang of jealousy as she saw Emily’s hand intertwined with Lucas’s, but she tried to push the feeling away.
“Hi, Emily,” Andrianne said, forcing a smile. “How’s Lucas doing?”
“He’s still in surgery,” Emily said, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “But the doctors said it went well.”
Andrianne nodded, feeling relieved. “That’s good to hear. How are you holding up?”
Emily shrugged. “I’m okay, I guess. Just worried about Lucas.”
Andrianne bit back a sarcastic remark and instead said, “I know how you feel. We all just want him to be okay.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Andrianne couldn’t help but notice how uncomfortable Emily looked, sitting there beside Lucas’s bed. It was clear to her that Emily didn’t belong there.
Just then, the doctor walked in. He gave them an update on Lucas’s condition, saying that the surgery had gone well and that Lucas was in stable condition. Andrianne breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
After the doctor left, Emily got up and said, “I should go. You two can stay with Lucas if you want.”
Andrianne and Jackie both nodded, and Emily left the room. Andrianne couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief as she watched Emily go.
“Thank god she’s gone,” Jackie said, letting out a breath. “I don’t think I could have stood another minute of her fake concern.”
Andrianne didn’t say anything. She knew that Jackie was right, but she also knew that she couldn’t completely dismiss Emily’s presence. She was still carrying Lucas’s child, after all.
They stayed with Lucas for a while longer, until Andrianne’s phone rang. It was David, her lawyer, calling to give her an update on the custody battle with Lucas.
Andrianne excused herself from the room and took the call in the hallway. She listened as David gave her the latest news, feeling her stress levels rise with every word.
When the call was over, she took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She didn’t want to go back into Lucas’s room feeling upset.
Jackie was waiting for her when she came back into the room. “Everything okay?” she asked.
Andrianne nodded, forcing a smile. “It’s nothing really,” Andrianne avoided Jackie’s gaze and focused on Lucas all through the day.