I had wondered why he wasn’t released sooner, as he’d been awake now for two full weeks to the day.
“He has to be able to keep food down, and able to move around on his own,” Violet had explained after I asked. “He’s had a concussion once before, and because of the brain injury he has, he’s being kept a few days extra as a precaution. It’s nothing to worry about in the long run.
“Also, I know my brother-in-law, and I know he won’t just stay at home and rest like he needs to. Not when there’s a killer out there that has made a hit on both of your heads. Keeping him for a bit longer will do him, and you, some good,” she finished.
That I could understand. Somewhat. It didn’t mean that I didn’t have to like it. I hated the idea of having to sleep somewhere other than where he was at. The doctors wouldn’t allow me to stay the night, since I was not officially his wife yet. Stupid procedures.
Zachariah would not have rested for anything, even now as he was being released. I was sure his mind was going a hundred miles an hour with lists of things he thought he had to do. Even after every male that I had met so far told him to not worry about anything until he was fit to do so.
“He’ll have headaches more often than normal,” the doctor had explained the day before. “It’s normal, and the pain reliever I have prescribed should take the edge off, as long as he doesn’t push himself. If a headache is accompanied by fever or double vision, he needs to be brought in right away.”
“I’ll keep a close eye on him,” Violet stated, keeping her head held high. It was clear as day that she didn’t much like this doctor, and I couldn’t blame her. I was sure he didn’t care about his patients, but more about the money he earned. His bright, but yet dull eyes hardly looked at anyone.
“We’ve been through this before,” Zachariah stated tiredly as he limped his way to us in the doorway. He refused the aid of a walking stick, claiming it was a tool for the old to use.
Thankfully, he was no longer bed bound, nor in the ICU. He had his own room, and Julia had been staying with him almost every night. His eyes were sunken from lack of sleep, and worrying about things he didn’t have control over. The same look of tiredness I wore, no doubt.
I certainly wasn’t the only one that was ready for him to come home. It was only a matter of hours now, and I was bouncing with nervous energy. I could have stayed at the hospital and come home with him, but after my last therapy session, I was in desperate need of a shower and a change of clothes.
The physical therapy sessions had become a welcome distraction and helped me get some of the pent up stress out, even if the therapist pushed my buttons on purpose.
Julia and Carlos had it handled. They’d be able to get Zachariah home without any issues while I waited at home, impatiently. They would make sure he had enough security to make it home in one piece.
I certainly didn’t put it past the man that wanted us dead to try to do the same thing, again and do it successfully.
In the meantime, since discharging from any hospital took hours, or at least felt like it, I curled up in the chair in front of the front window with a fleece blanket over my lap in a sleep-filled daze.
The past month had been more tiring than I could ever imagine it to be.
What else would life bring me? Did I even want to find out?
