• Story Time

    #XD30-Chapter 30-Life Goes On

    “Why am I using this damn board to talk to you?!” I ask, waving the board in the air.

    Using her hand, Susan spells out LOL. I giggle before continuing.

    “From what the detective told me, the concierge called security, who went upstairs to the condo. Yelena was lying on the floor where we left her and immediately started talking. That’s when things got interesting.”

    Susan motions for the board.

    WHERE DOES MY MOM COME INTO PLAY? P.S. I’M THIRSTY.

    I pour her a glass of water. She takes a few sips.

    “You okay?”

    She nods. I continue.

    “Yelena tells the cops that she had an accomplice that was on her way to the condo to help ‘finish the job’. The cops decided that they would hide in the den and wait for the accomplice. Yelena opens the door for the accomplice. Lo and behold, your mother walks in with a very large handbag.”

    Susan takes another sip of water and motions for me to continue. I take a deep breath.

    “She comes into the room and asks Yelena where we are. Yelena panics and tells her that we escaped. Your mother gets pissed, telling Yelena that the plan is ruined, and that they have to find us. The officers, who were hiding in the den, walk into the living room, and start questioning your mother.”

    BUT WHY WOULD MY MOTHER HELP YELENA? I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

    As I read the board, something clicks.

    “The officer mentioned that your mother kept saying ‘It wasn’t over’. I don’t understand what she meant by that.”

    Susan is frozen. I’m talking quiet as a church mouse, breathing shallow as hell. Before I can say anything, the doctor enters the room.

    “Hello ladies. Susan, I will be discharging you in the next half an hour. You can get dressed.”

    Excited, Susan raises her arms above her head and wiggles her fingers. Grabbing a bag from the closet, I hand Susan a change of clothes. Once I get her dressed, the nurse enters with a wheelchair. While she get Susan into the wheelchair, the doctor comes in with her discharge papers. After going over her at-home care plan, he wishes us well and leaves. The nurse wheels Susan out of the room, while I leave to get the car.

    Meeting them outside, I get Susan into the car, and thank the nurse. Susan motions for the board.

    KARMA.

  • Story Time

    #XD30-Chapter 29-Wired Relief

    Opening my eyes, I see Ashley. She squeezes my hand and smiles.

    “Hey baby. Your mouth has been wired shut, so you’ll have to use your phone and this dry erase board to communicate.”

    That would explain the tightness that I felt in my mouth. I take the dry erase board from Ashley and quickly scribble a message.

    HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN OUT?

    Turning the board around for Ashley to see, she reads the question, and begins to write.

    A WEEK AND A HALF.

    Wow. I grab the board.

    WHY SO LONG? WHAT ABOUT THE BABY? WHAT ABOUT YELENA?

    Ashley stands up lays next to me in the bed. I move over. Reading the board, she looks at the doctor.

    “Susan, when you fell and landed on your head, your brain was slowly swelling. You were putĀ into a medically induced coma to decrease the swelling.”

    He pauses while Ashley grabs a tissue and blots the tears forming in my eyes. The doctor clears his throat before he continues.

    “In addition, the bleeding you experienced was caused by a ovarian cyst that ruptured. To sum it up, you and the baby are fine.”

    Relief never felt so good. Ashley stands as she walks the staff out. Closing the door behind them, she does a happy dance. I want to laugh so bad but it hurts wayyyy too much. She lies beside me on the bed. I start writing.

    WHAT HAPPENED WITH YELENA? WHERE IS SHE?

    Ashley laughs so loud it scares me. She finally regains her composure and responds via board.

    YELENA WAS ARRESTED…ALONG WITH YOUR MOTHER.