It had been an awkward month that passed since you awoke in the hospital and was told about your father. Despite their offerings, you had simply requested to be left alone and had turned away all but your mom, your siblings, and Randall, your friend from school. Even when the offer came from the person who had, up until a month earlier, been your first real girlfriend, you couldn't shake the memory of who now resided in that body from your head. In fact, it was because of that painful experience you suffered a major relapse and had slipped into a near catatonic state. Only by the grace of God and the diligent ministrations of the nurse, Yolanda, were you able to make it back onto your bed before everything turned fuzzy.
When you came to, Randall was sitting by your bedside, paler and more shaky than you had ever seen him. He immediately latched onto your arm and, with his free hand, he swatted at the nurse call button. You wanted to tell him that he could let go, that you weren't going anywhere in particular anytime soon, and that he was acting a bit...well...fruity. There was no way your mouth was going to respond, though, and neither did any part of your head or body below your neck.
.....?!?!?.....
Randall shook his head and stood, leaning over a little to make sure his head was in your line of sight. "You had a set-back, dude. The docs...they don't know how they missed it but you had several clots in your brain. They think it was from the medications that were used during your operations but why they never caught it, no one knows for sure. One moment, you were up on your feet, the next your eyes were rolled up and your body went slack." He sighed before motioning to the door for someone outside of your field of view to come in. "Since you've been out, we've been taking turns watching you." He stepped a little bit closer to the top of your view to make space for someone to join him. "Don't worry...it's not Alison, if that's what you're thinking."
After your heartrate calmed down, you spotted Randall's girlfriend, Heather Brian, who you had known for several years. Although the two of you were never too close, you were at least on very good terms and often would hang out after school to wait for Randall before the three of you headed home. Heather was a good match for him, for anyone to tolerate Randall had to be a saint, and she often allowed you to remind him of it.
"Easy there, Randall, let him get adjusted."
"Did you call his mother?"
She nodded and waved the cell phone in your view. "She's leaving work right now and on her way. Your sister and brother are at school right now but they'll be on their way after." Heather smacked Randall on the shoulder and, though she didn't say it out loud, you knew it had something to do with him mentioning Alison's name. A moment later, his apology all but confirmed it.
****Three Weeks later****
"...If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to contact your PCP for a follow-up or, if you need to, you can come back here."
You looked back at Yolanda, a middle-aged woman, who had been one of your closest confidants and caretakers during your extended stay in the hospital and, for her rough exterior, you could tell she was trying to avoid the tears creeping up around the corners of her eyes. She looked over your chart and then handed you the papers. "Thank you..."
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