My Hometown Love

Chapter 35 – Discharged

Kevin’s P.O.V

It had been 5 days since the accident. My stats were back to normal, the bruises on my right arm were almost completely healed and my left arm was slowly improving. Dr. Freeman was convinced that I was ready to be discharged.

I got up at 6.30 am and started to get ready, excited to get out of this hospital bed, and back to work. I was packing my stuff up to clear my hospital room when my attending, my team, and Mr. Freeman entered the room at 8.00 am.

“How are you feeling today, Dr. Walker?”, my attending asks.

“I’m doing great and ready to be put to use again.”, I reply enthusiastically.

“Remember Dr. Walker, you’re still not going to be able to use your left arm until it’s completely healed.”, Dr. Freeman warns.

“That’s right. So, I made a decision, consulted with your team and they agree that this is the best alternative.”, my attending says.

“What is?”, I asked curiously.

“You’re going to get discharged today and go back home.”, he says.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll go to our rented apartment and wait it out for a day or two. When can I start my duty again?”, I replied, oblivious to what my attending was implying.

“No, Dr. Walker. You misunderstood what I said. You’re going back home. To Jacksonville.”, he said clearly.

“Wait, what? No! Why should I go back home? There’s still a lot to be done here. I can still work.”, I replied with determination.

“We know, Kevin. But, you can’t risk your whole career by overworking your hand and not letting it heal.”, Mike chimed in.

I sat on the bed, pondering on what he said. I looked down at my bandaged arm in a sling. He was right. I can’t do much here with this and if I overwork it, my arm could lose its functions which could jeopardize my career. I sighed deeply as I stood up and faced all of them again.

“Okay. I’ll go home.”, I said, reluctantly.

“Okay. We’ve arranged a flight for you and the cab will take you to the airport in an hour. Don’t worry, the board is paying for everything.”, my attending says.

I nodded my head silently as I squeezed out a small smile.

“We’ve packed all your stuff at the apartment. Here.”, Dr. Wong says as she passes me my luggage bag with my things.

“We’ll see you back home, Kevin. Get well soon.”, Dr. Mike said followed by approval nods by everyone else.

“It was a pleasure working with you, Dr. Walker. Safe travels and take care.”, Dr. Freeman says as he pats my back gently.

“Thank you for everything.”, I say to all of them as they slowly walk out of my room.

I sit down on the bed looking at all my luggage bags.

Looks like I’m going home.

*********

I step outside the airport and use my hand to shield my eyes from the sunlight. I look left and right to see if there are any cabs available. I spot one in the distance and desperately try to pull my luggage bag behind me as I walk towards it.

The kind cab driver helps me load my bags into the car before pulling out from his waiting spot and exiting the airport.

“Where to?”, he asked.

I tell him my address and lay my head back as I look out the window tiredly. Seeing the familiar sight of home suddenly reminded me of the sequence of events that happened before I left for Salem.

I quickly alerted the driver to a new address and waited impatiently for my destination to arrive. I walked up to the door and dropped my bags before reaching on my right hand to ring the bell. The door opened to reveal her, standing there in shock and sadness. She had eye bags under her eyes and looked tired.

“Hey, Lex.”, I said with a small smile.

“Oh My God. Kevin!”, she screamed as she stood still at the door, staring at me.

“Sorry to sudden-”,

My explanation was cut off by Lexie running and hugging me as stood on her toes and threw her arms around my neck. I could hear her sobbing as her tears started running down my neck. I patted her back comfortingly as I held her close to me, my heart aching at the thought of her like this or worst if I got critically injured in the accident.

“It’s okay. I’m fine, Lexie.”, I said as I stroked her hair.

She pulled away abruptly as she stared up at me, glaring with those wet eyes.

“Why didn’t you reply or call? I have been worried sick about you.”, she started yelling at me as she started slapping my shoulder frustratingly.

“Well, I have been kinda busy.”, I said as I pointed at my arm sling.

“Oh my God! What happened?!”, she said, just realizing the existence of it.

“It’s a long story.”, I replied.

“Come on inside and sit down”, Lexie said as she rolled my bag inside the house with her left hand while her right hand was guiding me gently into the house.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V.

I had been so overjoyed and angry at Kevin that I fail to notice his bandaged arm in an arm sling. But when I saw it, all my anger diffused and was replaced with the feeling of worry and pity.

“Here, sit here. I’ll get you something to drink.”, I said as I helped Kevin sit down on the couch and ran to the kitchen to get a drink from the fridge.

I handed him the drink and plopped myself next to him on the couch as I watched him try to move around in pain. I must not have realized how my face looked as I stared at him until Kevin tapped my knee.

“Lexie, are you okay? Don’t look so worried. I’m okay now.”, he said comfortingly.

“Tell me what happened.”, I asked as I braced myself to hear what happened.

And so Kevin told me everything that happened from the time he saw my text message till the point he stepped foot in front of my door.

I clasped my mouth in horror as I heard how he selflessly jumped under a possible bone crushing boulder, just in time to save a little girl. I breathed heavily as I imagined the situation and what would have happened if either he pushed the girl out in time but didn’t get to escape or if he didn’t make it to the girl in time. Before I knew it, I felt tears wet my cheeks as I desperately tried to get the thought of Kevin getting hurt in that situation, out of my head. I quickly wiped them off before he could notice.

“Wow. So much happened in one day.”, I replied after he finished his story.

Kevin just nodded solemnly as he stared down at his arm, making me flinch with hurt.

“I am proud of what you did for the little girl but I can’t bear to imagine what would have happened if you didn’t make it out in time.”, I said as I choked a sob.

Before he could reply, I got up and ran to the kitchen as I stood in front of the sink sobbing, desperately trying to control my tears. I suddenly felt an arm on my shoulder behind me.

“Lexie..”, Kevin said comfortingly.

I bit my lips hard to stop crying and use the back of my palm to wipe off my tears. I turned to face him as my back touched the sink counter.

I was doing well controlling my tears until Kevin put his hand under my chin and lifted it toward his face. That was it, the waterfalls started again as I gazed into his eyes. He pulled me towards him and put his good arm around me, hugging me as he rested his chin on the top of my head.

He kept doing this till my sobbing slowly died down and I calmed down.

“I’m right here Lex and I’m not going anywhere, okay?”, he said before planting a soft kiss on the top of my head.

I felt so comfortable and safe in his arms, not willing to let go of him just yet.

“Lexie! We’re home!”, my parents screamed as soon as they opened the front door.

I quickly pulled apart from Kevin, turned to the sink to wash my face and wipe it with a kitchen towel. I pushed Kevin towards the living room before following him at a distance.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I made my way to the living room as I watch Lexie slowly trailing me in the distance.

“Kevin! Hi! I didn’t expect to see you here.”, Mr. Cooper said as soon as he spotted me.

“What happened to your hand?”, Mrs. Cooper said worryingly as she made her way next to me hastily and examined my arm.

“Dad? I brought your toolbox back.”, I could hear Jake scream from the front door.

“Jake, come see who’s here!”, Mr. Cooper yelled back at him.

Jake made his way to the living room and was shocked to see me standing here in the living room. His eyes quickly shifted from me to Lexie behind me and back at me again before breaking out a smile and shaking his head as he eyed me suspiciously.

He too, like Lexie, didn’t notice my arm till Mrs. Cooper alerted him of it.

“Bro, are you okay? What happened?”, he started pestering with Maria following him, as they made a fuss over me.

“Enough, enough. Come, Kevin, sit here and tell us everything.”, Mrs. Cooper said as she sat me down gently on the couch.

And so, I repeated the story I told Lexie from the time I left for Salem till now.

When I finished, the whole room was silent as they all looked at me. It was not long till they all came up and expressed their pride in my bravery as well as their anger at the construction company.

“So, how are you going to manage alone in your house like that?”, Mr. Cooper asked.

“It’s okay. I’ll try to manage. It’s no problem.”, I replied to pacify them.

“I would invite you to come to stay with us, but I and Jake will be working most of the time and won’t be at home.”, Maria said.

Jake suddenly cleared his throat loudly, getting our attention as he flashed me a sly grin.

“Wait a minute. I have an idea where Kevin can stay.”