When I was awake my body hurt. And when I was asleep, I didn’t sleep well. I remembered telling Donovan that he didn’t need to stay with me, and that I understood if he didn’t want to stay married to me. So when I opened my eyes after a very uncomfortable sleep and saw him still sitting next to my bed, I was relieved, but still very unsure about the future.
“Hey beautiful.” Donovan said to me.
I wasn’t sure if I smiled or not.
“Hey yourself.” I said.
“You didn’t sleep well did you?” He asked.
“Is it obvious?” I asked.
“You kind of fought in your sleep.” He said.
“Oh.” I said.
I touched my head with my hand and felt the bandages around my head for the first time.
“What are these?” I asked.
“You had to have surgery when you first got here.” Donovan said.
“For what?” I asked. “Was the beating that bad?”
“According to what I know, he bashed your head against the sliding glass window trying to knock you out.”
“What?”
“They had to relieve the pressure on your brain.” Donovan finished.
“Oh.” I said. “Brain surgery?”
“Yeah.” Donovan said. “Something like that.”
“And I guess they had to cut my hair?” I asked.
When I said it, the question seemed a little vain. But then again, I loved my hair. I had stopped putting relaxers in it and was wearing it in its natural state, which was very curly and thick. It wasn’t hanging down my back long, but I loved it.
“Yeah they did.” Donovan said. “But you’re still beautiful.”
I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to really say.
The doctors came in the room throughout the day to check on my vitals, and my stitches, and to poke and prod. I was tired of them really. I just wanted to go back to sleep. And the look on my face must have tipped Donovan off about how I was feeling. He took my hand into his. It was warm.
“They’ll be done soon.” he said. “And then you can rest.”
“Mrs. Williams, you are doing a lot better than expected.” The doctor said to me as he checked my bandaged head. “The beating that you took was quite severe, and in some cases the victims do not survive. You have also been recovering quicker than we expected.”
I didn’t say anything. I really just wanted to go home.
“Honestly Mr. Williams, if you wanted to take your wife out of here soon, you should be able to.” The doctor said turning to Donovan. “I know that you both are not from around here, but if you can arrange to stay in the area so we can monitor her, she does not have to stay here. I know that you both would rather be in a comfortable bed and in better surroundings than a hospital.”
Donovan looked at me. I nodded my head, because I just wanted to get out of there.
“Mrs. Williams, I want to assure you that your husband made sure that you had the absolute best care here.” The doctor said to me. “He spared no expense.”
I was kind of surprise when I heard the doctor say that. No one had ever spared no expense when it came to me.
“I’ll let you two discuss what you would like to do.” The doctor said. “I’ll be back later.”
The doctor left the room and Donovan continued to hold my hand.
“You didn’t have to do that.” I said to him.
“Jhordyn I don’t think you understand what marriage means.” Donovan said. “For better of worse. This is close to worse as we can get.”
“Come on Donovan.” I said. “Do you realize what you are getting yourself into? What about rehab? What about scars? I’m sure I don’t even look like the woman you met a few days ago.”
“And if I cared about that, I would have left you the the night after you got here.” Donovan said. “I’m not like the type of men that you have been with before. I made a promise to you when we got married and I’m going to honor that.”
“I dont want you to feel obligated to do this.” I said.
“Damn it Jhordyn its not that type of obligation.” Donovan raised his voice. “I love you that is why I am doing this.”
I felt myself blink a couple of times to make sure that I heard him correctly.
“I know what I said Jhordyn.” He said to me. “And I mean it.”
He let go of my hand and left the room. All I could do was stare at the door that he had walked out of.
Copyright © 2012 By Orlandrea “JadaRae”