WildFire - Chapter 8

The nurse pushed the drug in her IV, and Nola felt herself start to float. She was still awake, but her sense of smell was dulled. Pierre had left just a moment ago, saying he would come back later, so grapefruit hung in the air. But still no rainforest. Nola closed her eyes and started to drift.

Oliver rushed through the corridor, looking for Nola’s room. He had been so preoccupied with the Undertaking he had almost forgotten her operation was today. He saw a nurse push a bed in front of her, recognized the red hair under the cap.

« Wait ! »

He bent over her and put his hand on her cheek.

« Nola. I’m here. »

Her lids were so heavy, but she managed to open them. Finally, the scent she had been waiting for.

« You got this, you're strong. And I’ll be here when you wake up. »

He put a soft kiss on her lips and let the nurse push her into the OR. Nola fell asleep surrounded by the green.

Oliver stayed in the hospital. The coffee was terrible, but he was here for her, and discomfort was the least of his worries. He thought about what Nola had told him, about responsibilities. The list he had taken from his father's body was what kept him going, what gave him purpose. For five years, he'd had but one idea in his mind, get home. And once home, make sure wrongdoers would pay for their crimes. His father had seen the errors of his ways, but didn't have time to correct his deeds. So it was his duty to honor his father's wishes and make sure justice prevailed.

Dr Kellerman looked confident when he came out of the OR a couple of hours later.

« The surgery went as well as expected. She's in good health, so if everything goes well, she should be back on her own feet in a couple of weeks. »
« Is she awake yet ? »
« No, but you can go see her for a minute as soon as she's in ICU. »
« Thank you doctor. »

Through the window of her room, Oliver watched Nola sleep. She looked paler than usual. His gaze dropped on the other side of the bed. The sheet on the left side was definitely lower. And he did feel responsible.

Nola didn't want to wake up. She was drifting in scents and colors, and though in her mind they were all blurry, it was better than waking up and facing the harsh reality that she wasn't whole anymore. She wanted to go back to her life before the kidnapping. But that would mean no rainforest, and she couldn't bear the idea. She smelled the green amongst the hospital grey and thought some people were really stubborn.

« Come on, Nola, I know you can hear me. Wake up ! »

Oliver took her hand in his and sat on the bed. Nola sighed and looked at him.

« Hello Sleeping Beauty. »

She had to smile.

« Hello Robin Hood. »

His smile froze.

« Sorry, the medication is making me babble. »
« How do you feel ? »
« Fuzzy. »
« I'm allowed five minutes with you. »
« It's usually all you need, right ? »

Oliver laughed. His phone rang, and he checked it.

« Sorry, I have to go. But I'll be back later, okay ? »
« Whenever you want, I'm not going anywhere. »

Nola closed her eyes again once Oliver had left. She didn't want to look, didn't want to see. The pain was erased by the drugs, and she couldn't feel her left leg, so she let the slumber take her under again. She lost the rhythm of night and day. Nurses and doctors came and went, washed her, changed the bandage on her stub. Somebody talked about measurements and prosthetic foot.

She didn't know how much time had passed when Oliver came again. And this time, he wasn't alone, Pierre had joined him. They had reduced the amount of painkillers she received, so her mind was clearer and her sense of smell more accurate. It felt good to see them. Oliver closed the door and leaned on it while Pierre sat down in the chair beside the bed and turned to Nola.

« We have a problem, girl. »

Nola's face closed.

« Doctor K. told me you haven't seen your foot, that you always close your eyes when they come to do the stump care. »

She remained silent, looking far in front of her.

« You have to face the truth, you have to look at your stub and learn how to care for it. That's the way it works. I know how hard it is. But you don't have to do it alone. »

Nola turned to him, saw courage and strength.

« I'm scared. »
« I know. »

He took her hand and held tight while her eyes were filling up. Oliver sat down on her other side and enfolded her in his arms.

« We're here with you. »

Nola closed her eyes, inhaled deeply the rainforest and the grapefruit, and opened her eyes again. Oliver pulled the sheet and uncovered her severed foot. It was tightly bandaged, and noticeably shorter beside her right foot. Her breath hitched and tears fell on her cheeks. She started sobbing silently. Both men couldn't help it but cry with her. Despite his numerous wounds, Oliver couldn’t imagine what it was like to have a part of himself missing. He could barely look at her amputated foot. Pierre wiped his cheeks.

« Good girl ! »

She tried to move, but the bandages didn’t allow for it. She moved her right toes and thought she wouldn’t be able to do that anymore with her left. 

« How do you feel ? »
« I don’t know. Weird. »
« I promise you, one day soon you will see yourself as whole. I’m not saying you won’t miss your foot, hell, I miss my legs every day. But it will feel like yourself. »

The nurse who came in smelled like lavender. Nola had scented her before, but she couldn’t remember her face.

« Oh, good, you’re ready ! » 

Oliver put a kiss in her hair and left. Pierre remained to help her deal with what was coming. Nola didn’t like touching her scar, but she clenched her teeth and learned the right way to care for her stump.

« I’m very proud of you, Nola. Our meeting’s tonight, I’ll tell everybody I saw you. We’re all thinking about you. Stay strong, girl. »