Karl Gordon Is Back

Chapter 15 : The Drama Queen

Karl was still standing when the nurse appeared at the end of the corridor and lifted her hand slightly, signalling to him.

“You can come in now.”

He moved immediately.

Anna was no longer lying flat when he entered the small recovery room. She was half-seated, her injured ankle elevated on a thick cushion, wrapped neatly in a compression bandage. The swelling had gone down slightly, though the skin around her ankle still looked angry.

Her hair had come loose from its neat ponytail. A few strands clung to her cheek.

She looked tired.

But when she saw him, her face shifted in a way that made something tighten low in his chest.

“You’re back,” she said quietly.

“I told you I would be.”

He closed the door behind him and crossed the short distance to her bedside.

The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and plastic. A heart monitor beeped softly somewhere behind the wall.

The nurse gave him a brief update before stepping aside.

“No fracture. Severe sprain. She’ll need rest and physiotherapy. We’re discharging her now. She shouldn’t put weight on it.”

Karl nodded without looking away from Anna.

“Can you sit up a little more?” the nurse asked her.

Anna shifted carefully, one hand gripping the edge of the bed. Her face tightened despite her effort to keep it relaxed.

Karl moved closer. “Slow,” he murmured.

She followed his voice.

When the nurse stepped out to bring the discharge papers, silence settled between them again. Anna let out a long breath.

“It still hurts,” she admitted softly, almost apologetically.

He watched the way her shoulders lifted and dropped, the way she kept her injured foot perfectly still, as if even the thought of movement made her tense.

“It will,” he replied. “But it will heal.”

She glanced at him and it lingered more than several minutes longer.

“You waited the whole time?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Her fingers curled lightly into the sheet. He could see the question she didn’t ask.

Why?

He shifted his weight slightly. “You don’t have anyone here with you.”

Her lips parted. Then closed.

“I met Ruchie Emold.”

Anna's eyes brightened, “Rwally?! When?”

He gestured at the door, “A few seconds ago.”

Anna smiled, “That's amazing!” she muttered, “I'm not to tell anyone yet uh?”

He nodded, “Until I have everything sorted out. Can I trust you on that?”

Anna nodded, “Definitely. You brought me to the hospital, it's the least I can do.”

The nurse returned with the wheelchair and paperwork. After a few adjustments and instructions, Anna was helped into the chair.

Karl remained close, his hand hovering near her shoulder without touching her.

As soon as the nurse stepped away to process the final clearance, Anna turned slightly toward him.

“You really don’t have to take me home,” she said.

He bent slightly so their eyes were level. “I’m not leaving you to get a taxi like this.”

“But, Ms Melody..”

“...is being taken care of. “ Karl cuts in. “I’ll drop you off. That’s all.”

She searched his face for something. Whatever she was looking for, she did not comment on it.

“All right.”

Karl took hold of the wheelchair handles. The corridor felt longer on the way out.

Anna kept her hands folded neatly in her lap, not saying a word all through the ride. The sliding doors at the entrance came into view.

“…are you telling me I have to wait again? Do you even know who I am?”

Karl didn't need to look up to know whose voice that was. Several heads in the lobby turned in curiosity.

Caden stood slightly behind her, one hand resting at her back as though unsure whether to calm her down or step away.

Melody’s arm was in a light sling now. Her sunglasses were gone but her eyes were bright with fury.

The receptionist remained outwardly calm, though her jaw tightened faintly.

“We are doing our best, ma’am. Please lower your voice.”

“My voice?” Melody laughed sharply. “You ignored me for over thirty minutes!”

Karl felt Anna stiffen immediately, her fingers tightened together in her lap.

She turned her face slightly away, as though she could disappear into the chair if she angled herself just right.

Karl stopped walking. For half a second, he considered turning back but it was too late.

Melody’s eyes had already landed on him and on Anna.

“There he is,” Melody said loudly.

Caden followed her line of sight. His expression shifted when he saw Karl and then Anna.

Melody stepped forward, ignoring the receptionist’s attempt to stop her. Several people in the lobby turned fully now, following Melody as she worked, wondering who has managed to irritate her now.

Anna lowered her head. “I can't do this..” she muttered to herself.

If there's one thing Melody is known for, it would be blowing everything out of proportion.

Melody walked closer. Her eyes travelled slowly over Anna’s bandaged ankle and lifted to Karl in anger.

“Oh,” she said in rotation, “So you really stayed with her.”

Karl’s grip tightened around the wheelchair handles. “What do you want, Melody?”

Her eyes narrowed, “What do I want?” She glanced at Anna, “You're here wheeling around her instead of me and you're asking what I want?!”

Caden took a step forward. “Karl, seriously, this is crazy. I mean, Melody is your girlfriend and this..come on bro.”

“She looks fine to me.” Karl said, giving her cast a once over.

“You rushed her to the hospital like she was dying,” Melody said, her voice rising again. “But when I needed you, you didn’t even look back.”

The receptionist cleared her throat. “Please keep your voices down…”

“I was hurt too!” Melody snapped. “You saw it!”

A murmur rippled through the waiting area.

Anna’s face burned. She bowed her head, covering her face with her hand as people sent curious glances her way.

Karl's grip on the wheel tightened , why must it always be a damned drama with Melody?!

“Karl,” Melody continued, her voice trembling now with something dangerously close to tears, “you didn’t even ask if I was okay.”

Karl leaned forward slightly. “This is not the place.”

She laughed. “Of course it isn’t. It never is, when it’s inconvenient for you.”

Anna reached for the wheel of her chair and pushed herself from Karl, trembling. The looks were getting to her and knowing Melody, she would blow this out of proportion.

“Anna, you don’t have to..”

Melody's lips curled in a smirk. Karl

began walking after the wheelchair but Melody stepped directly into his path.

“You’re just walking away again?” she demanded.

Karl stopped. Every muscle in his back felt tight as he turned to face her, jaw clenched.

“You were humiliating her,” he said quietly.

Melody scoffed. “Humiliating her?” she repeated. “She’s the one sitting in front of everyone like some tragic little victim.”

“Enough.”

The single word cut through the noise in the lobby.

Melody stared at him. Caden went still.

“You don’t get to speak to her like that,” Karl continued, his gaze unwavering. “Not here. Not anywhere.”

Melody opened her mouth but Karl cut her off. “If you need attention, take it somewhere else. This is a hospital.”

The receptionist pretended to busy herself with paperwork while trying not to burst into laughter.

Karl walked past her and out the door, running after Anna.