Chapter 9 : My Only Hope

*Ember*

I sat beside Rowena’s bed, holding her hand and occasionally getting up to fuss with her pillows. The hospital room was cold, and too white with its white sheets, white walls, and white decor. I was already on edge and the lack of color was doing nothing for my nerves.

Rowena kept trying to get me to stop my hovering, encouraging me to go to the cafeteria after we’d been there over eight hours, but I wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t think about food.

Not only was I concerned for my friend’s health, I didn’t want there to be problems if more of those thugs showed up.

“Well?” I asked the doctor when he came back in for the third time, having just hemmed and hawed the first two times he’d been in the room.

“Ms. Alden, do I have permission to speak with Ms. Haiven about your condition?” Dr. Patel asked.

Rowena waved a hand. “Might as well. She is all up in my business, anyway.” She gave me a sharp look, then smiled it away.

He nodded. “Ms. Alden has a few broken bones and