Chapter 2
Series 1 Chapter 2
When I woke, daylight filled the hospital room.
My left leg was braced.
My ribs were wrapped.
Every breath felt like a dull blade dragging beneath them.
The doctor told me I had two fractured ribs, ligament damage in my left knee, trauma to my abdomen, and a bruised spleen.
The bleeding was under control.
I still needed to stay for observation.
"You're lucky," he said.
I did not feel lucky.
Ethan came in not long after the doctor left.
He was still wearing yesterday's shirt.
His sleeves were wrinkled.
Dark shadows sat beneath his eyes.
"How do you feel?"
"Alive."
He frowned, as if my tone were unnecessary.
"The doctor said you're stable."
"Okay."
Silence settled between us.
A few seconds later, he brought up the accident.
"Natalie, yesterday was chaos."
I looked at him.
"Chloe was screaming. She could barely stand."
"She was standing."
He paused.
"She was in shock."
"I was trapped in the car."
"I know."
"No."
My voice stayed quiet.
"You don't."
His frown deepened.
"What does that mean?"
"You never came over."
His jaw tightened.
"The rescue team was already there."
"Not when you ran past me."
Ethan was silent for two seconds.
"What was I supposed to do? Tear the door open with my bare hands?"
I said nothing.
He exhaled.
His voice softened slightly, but it still was not an apology.
It sounded more like an explanation for something he believed was simple.
"You were conscious."
"You could talk."
"I knew you could hold on."
I stared at him.
"Chloe was different."
"How?"
The door opened.
My mother walked in carrying coffee.
She had heard the last part.
"Your sister has always been terrible with things like this."
She came closer.
"She panics when she sees blood."
My father followed her.
"She was terrified yesterday."
I looked at them.
"I was in the same car."
"We know."
My mother pulled the blanket higher over me.
"But you've always been stronger than she is."
The words were painfully familiar.
Chloe fell down.
You're the older sister. Let it go.
Chloe failed an exam.
She's already upset. Don't make it worse.
Chloe got her heart broken.
You're more mature. Stay with her.
As long as I did not cry first, everyone assumed I was fine.
As long as I could keep going, someone else could be helped first.
I had never noticed when that rule had entered my marriage too.
Ethan stood beside the bed.
He did not disagree with my mother.
He did not seem bothered by what she had said.
He believed it too.
Because I was strong, I could wait.
Later, Chloe passed my room in a wheelchair.
She had several stitches across her forehead.
The doctors found no serious concussion, and she could go home that day.
My mother immediately followed her.
"Slow down, sweetheart."
My father went too.
Ethan hesitated for one second.
"I'll check on her discharge paperwork."
I did not stop him.
About fifteen minutes later, a nurse entered carrying a folder.
She reviewed my medication, then checked another form.
"Your sister is cleared to leave today."
I nodded.
"Her emergency contact already confirmed he'll pick her up."
I barely paid attention.
Then the nurse checked the name again.
I looked at her.
"Her emergency contact?"
"Yes."
She looked up.
"Your husband."
The door opened again.
Ethan walked in.
I slowly turned toward him.
"Why are you her emergency contact?"