International Love

Chapter 7

Beep

Beep

Beep

Beep

Beep

Beep

My eyes fluttered open and I was looking at a bare white ceiling. I heard the heart monitor beeping at a constant rate. I had heart monitor stickers on my chest and an IV in my hand. I also had a neck brace on. I moved my hands and feet to make sure I still had movement. I did. Thank god.

I looked around and saw Derek sleeping on the couch. I looked out into the hall and saw Lacey and Steven talking on the phone. I went to say something but nothing came out. That’s when I started to panic. The beeping of the heart monitor sped up and that’s when Derek shot up and Lacey and Steven along with a doctor ran in.

“Hey hey hey calm down.” Derek said as I clawed at the neck brace, “Ivy calm down. You have to calm down. Deep breaths.” He continued pulling my hands away from the brace.

I started taking deep breaths and my heart rate started to come down. I went to talk again but nothing came out.

“Ms. Andersen, I’m Dr. Zenoni.” A tall blonde woman said, “You’re not able to talk. You have severe swelling in your vocal chords. You’re going to make a full recovery but you’re going to have to be on vocal rest. No talking, no singing.”

I felt tears well up in my eyes as I recall all the events that have happened this evening.

“Is her voice going to be the same?” Lacey asked.

“I have no doubt that her voice will be the same. She’s going to make a full recovery. There is no serious damage evident on the CT Scan. The other thing, she does have a mild concussion so I do want to keep her overnight.” The doctor explained.

“How long do you think it will take to get her voice back?” Steven asked.

“It could take a couple weeks to a couple months. I’m sure you have important events coming up but it’s important that you make sure she is resting her voice.” Dr. Zenoni said, “Without proper rest you could be looking at permanent damage.”

“What about bruising? And the busted vessels in her eyes?” Steven continued.

“Once the neck brace comes off she will have bruising. That will go away over time. Eventually it won’t be as tender and some makeup will cover it. The subconjunctival hemorrhage will go away in 2-3 weeks.”

I swatted at Derek’s hand that was resting at my side. I motioned for him to get me paper and pen so I could write something. He handed me a pad of paper and a marker.

What’s going on with my parents? I wrote.

“Your father has been taken into police custody. There was nothing that they could charge your mom with so she was released. Turns out she was in the emergency room for some food poisoning but she definitely does not have cancer.” Derek responded.

I rolled my eyes and threw the notepad across the room. Leave it to my parents to find a way to screw me over one last time before I cut them off completely.

All these years I hoped they would come back and want to have me back in their lives. They came back, alright. Came back just to get some money. I felt tears well up in my eyes and I rolled to my side away from everyone. Outside I saw the lightening. But once again, it wasn’t lightening. This had already made the news.

“Ivy babe,” I heard Lacey say, “Steven and I are going to head home. We will be back first thing in the morning with Katie to determine next steps. Derek volunteered to stay tonight since he drove you here.”

I didn’t make eye contact with her. Instead I just nodded my head and gave her a thumbs up. I couldn’t look anyone in the eyes. I was too ashamed and embarrassed to look at anyone.

When everyone cleared out of the room Derek shut the door and dimmed the lights. He walked over to the bed and pulled up the chair next to my bed. He took my hand in his and kissed it softly.

“Baby,” He said, “I know you’re scared. But things are going to get better. I’m going to hire the best body guard for you.”

I rolled my eyes and turned away from him. I didn’t need protection. I needed my family to stay away from me. Far away from me. I could only imagine what the press was saying about me at this point. I decided I didn’t want to hide from it anymore. So I turned on the TV.

When I turned on the TV ‘Breaking News’ was written across the top on the entertainment channel. On the TV was a brunette reporter standing in front of the hospital I was in.

“Sources confirm it was Andersen’s own father who strangled her.” She said, “Ivy Andersen is expected to make a full recovery but it is unknown if she or Harmony Dreams will move forward with their performance at this years Grammy Awards. The group is nominated for 6 Grammys this year and a world tour slated to start in May. Check back tomorrow morning at 6 AM for an update on Ivy Andersen. This is Julia Johnson with Entertainment Channel signing out from Long Beach Hospital. Goodnight.”

“This is such garbage.” Derek said sitting back in the chair.

I picked up the notepad and marker that made its way back to me after I threw it earlier and started writing on it.

You losers better still be performing at the Grammys. I will gladly take a side seat. I wrote.

“I don’t know what Katie has planned for us just yet. But whatever it is, you’re going to be there with us no matter what.” He smiled, “Are you hungry for that pizza now?”

I put my hand on my stomach and nodded and smiled. Derek smiled and kissed my forehead before exiting the room. I’m assuming he was going to get pizza.