Chapter 4

“She’s fine, Haven. She had a few burns that have healed nicely. She asked about you all the time when she was here. She comes with her parents once a week to see how you are,” he explained.

“I’m glad she’s ok.” I was incredibly happy to know she was healed up,and flattered that she and her parents checked on me.

“I have to ask: what made you run into that building, Haven? You could have died,” James asked with a very serious expression.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I heard her screams and cries for help and I had to help her. I didn’t care for my safety, I just wanted to help her.”

“You are either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid,” he stated flatly.

“A little of both maybe,” I admitted.

“Not a lot of people would have done that.”

“Well it’s like you said: if the situation were reversed, I’d want someone to do it for me.”

“You’re an incredible person, Haven,” James said with a smile, causing his blue eyes to sparkle. “I have to get back to the station. I was only going to stop in for a short while. I didn’t think you’d be awake,” he spoke as he stood up from the bed and ran a hand through his hair.

“I understand. Go put out fires and save people.” I smiled up at him. He chuckled as he leaned down and enveloped me in a hug.

“I’ll come back and see you tomorrow. Get some rest. Bye Haven.”

“Bye James.” I smiled as he walked out of the hospital room, leaving me in the quiet.

I sighed and laid back in the bed. Now I finally had time to think and reflect on everything that happened. As odd as it may seem I wasn’t thinking about James or Ezra or the other winged man. No, I was thinking about my house and how the power was most likely cut off and that everything in the fridge was rotting and stinking up my house. When I get out of here, I’ve some serious cleaning to do and a lot of explaining to do to my boss.

For the next few hours I used the phone in my hospital room and made some calls. First, I called my boss at the restaurant and pub. When I said it was me he started yelling. It wasn’t till I explained the situation that he stopped yelling. He said with a doctor’s note and a clean bill of health I could return to work. Next, I called the electrical company, then the bank, then the phone company. 

Lastly, I called a cleaning service, told them where to find a key and gave the information over the phone. I didn’t want to go home to a rotten-smelling house when I was free to go. I’m going to need a new phone as well since I’m positive mine was destroyed. Once everything was done, I was exhausted and my throat was sore.

After I had a cat nap the doctor came in and wanted to do some exercises to get my body used to moving again. First though came the uncomfortable experience of having a catheter removed. Never again. Once we started with the exercises I quickly became discouraged and frustrated. My body was sore and walking a few steps was becoming difficult. I felt like a child learning to walk all over again.

Once the doctor decided I had done enough for the day, I was sent back to my room where I was told to take a shower. I was so relieved. It was difficult to stand but not impossible. The water felt good on my sore body. After I was cleaned and dry I put on a new hospital gown and pants with a robe over it, so my back wasn't exposed. I purposely avoided looking in any mirrors.

Once out of the shower, the doctor changed the bandages on my face and the few on my back and legs. There weren't as many as I thought there would be and they didn’t hurt to the extent one would expect. After that, food was brought in for me: soup, jello and juice. Eating the tasteless food was not a pleasant experience. It had me craving a cheeseburger really bad. Once the food was finished there was nothing for me to do besides lay there and count the ceiling tiles.

After the second time counting the tiles my body grew tired but my mind would not shut off. I kept thinking of Ezra and the winged man, and the choice I made. The thought terrified me. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get Ezra out of my head. As if my thoughts conjured him out of thin air, he was standing by my bedside.

“What are you doing here?” I was surprised. Seeing Ezra in a normal setting was a little surreal. He looked so out of place in my hospital room.

“I am here, Haven, because you wished me here. I am your Guardian and when you think of me, I will come,” he stated in a calm voice. I blinked at him as his words sunk in.

“So any time I think about you, you automatically show up, even if I don’t mean to?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes.” He confirmed with a nod.

“That’s… kinda… creepy., I stated, not liking that fact. “I didn’t mean to think about you Ezra. I was just thinking about everything that happened.”

“I understand, Haven. It’s a lot to take in.” Again he nodded as he stepped closer to the bed. “But now is not the time to dwell on this matter. Now is the time to rest.” As he spoke he lifted his right hand and placed two fingers on my forehead.

The moment he made contact I felt tired. I frowned at him as I started to fall asleep. “Cheater,” I managed to whisper as sleep enveloped me. The last thing I heard was Ezra’s deep chuckle as I fell asleep.