CHAPTER ONE
ANNABELLE'S POV
TODAY'S HOROSCOPE : "Dear Pisces Venus begins its transit of your intimacy sector today, dear Pisces, and will transit this area of your solar chart until September 10th. It can be a fortunate period for money, support, and negotiations. With your affections, it’s a time of regeneration and processing recent events. The weeks ahead can be particularly enjoyable for your intimate life, and you more easily attract resources, financial or emotional. Feelings of love and attachment intensify during this cycle. You tend to gravitate to more focused or in-depth projects. Today, try not to overthink things but do weigh the pros and cons. Communications may be blocked in some way, and you are less likely than usual to share your ideas, possibly second-guessing them. Try to keep a healthy perspective. You’re inclined to juggle different topics, worries, and concerns, making concentration on priorities a real challenge now. You may find it better to wait out a decision if you’re feeling a little stuck between alternatives."
"Pffts, like I give a damn you lying luna of an astrologer and fuck the horoscope..." I hissed as my phone dropped from my shaky left hand. I have always been a right-handed person, well till at least some hours ago and again that's if my mental state is still fit.
I shut my eyes, trying my best to block out the smell of medicine and beeping sounds of IV connected some part of my body I can't see or feel while lying down in this position. No pain, just frustration. My right hand is completely bandage leaving only the crooked tip of my freshly anime-themed acrylic nails which I took forever to paint perfectly for the first week of senior year at Princeton High school. I let out a sigh intentionally blocking out every thought that will bring back the horrific memories...
"Annabelle my baby, I brought you some food and your favourite unicorn teddy to keep you company..." My mothers high pitched cheery voice came in she was still wearing the uniform she wears at the 'Sweety High Mall'. She kept the big unicorn teddy on the brown two-seat sofa opposite my bed. I watched her with hooded eyes, seems like she is hiding something from the way she was all over acting busy arranging pieces of stuff in the wardroom.
"Oh, here. Your phone must have slipped from the bed sweetie" she ended down and picked my phone and kept it on the side stool attached to the bed. She let out a long sigh, sniffed and sat beside me gently while I just looked, feeling all dull.
"Baby, you don't have to panic. I am here for you and the Doctor said it's probably too early to ask you questions but if you feel comfortable enough to share. I am always here for you...and I love you so much " she said hug ing me from my left side gently.
Everything was too fuzzy and I can't think of any reply to give her, it was shocking enough to wake up in the hospital with a single shaky hand. The Doctor knocked lightly and came in without waiting for a response. Mother quickly stood up and shook the middle-aged man with protruding belly in a white lab coat with the name Dr Sebastian on it.
"Please Doctor, tell me my baby can paint again..." Mother asked him with a shaky voice and I felt my soul on the edge waiting for his reply too. He glanced over at me before sighing.
"It is too early to tell, but I will recommend her to help her heal after her vitals have are back to normal. Talking about what happened will be the biggest step to her recovery and she will let us know what really happened when she is ready" He said in a flat tone.
"What if she can not remember...and Doctor, painting is her life!..."
"Call down Christian, one step at a time. It is going to be alright, I will give some meds for the pain and to help with the healing of the bone and its reflexes but the rest will have to be Annabelle, maybe with a little help from a therapist. Now, can I check her vitals...? He asked patting my mother shoulder slightly before moving over me touching, filling, writing and pressing some buttons but all these blurred to the background and the only thing my head could process at the moment is...
I can't paint anymore,
I can't paint again?
How am I going to live without painting!
No, no-no. The numb feeling was replaced by a squashing heartache which I felt right in my brain. I shut my eyes tightly to fight away the pain that was fast spreading throughout my entire bit except the hand, my right hand!
The Doctor annoyingly smiled at me with kind ageing eyes " Will you like to tell me what really happened Annabelle...? Or perhaps how you are feeling right now?" I only shook my head sideways, a lone tear rolling down my right eye.
"It's okay when you are ready." He smiled, nodded curtly at my mother and left. My mother sighed and walked to me trying to fake a big smile
"Your friends from school have been trying to call you and check up on you. Will you like to talk to them, I can help you hold up the phone?" I only stared back at her blankly, if only she knows the rage consuming me right now.
She stood up to check who was knocking even before I could reply to her with one of my popular blank stares.
"Hello, bitches!" Shouted the Mexican beauty in a tight black yet shimmery cheerleader's outfit that matched her perfect straight black hair. Before I could process anything about 6 or I can't count, other girls popped into the room behind Sassy holding up the largest canvass in the art class with rough hand-painted canvass "Get Well Soon Ann" awfully written on it. It looks like something made by someone from preschool but no art is imperfect, it was so thoughtful of them.
Mother stood far behind close to the door, her hands on her chest smiling at them while 'awwing', it wasn't amusing at all, I almost smiled at them my first real smile since when I got conscious till Ashley who was busy streaming everything live on Instagram somehow carelessly got her high heel boots mixed some wires and while struggling on whatever the hell happened in the not so spacious room, the big beeping machine fell, oh my!
