Chapter 15: Homeward Bound

Melissa arrived at the hospital early in the morning, ready to help her mom pack up her dad’s belongings, as he was finally being discharged after several days of treatment. The room was filled with the familiar, sterile scent of antiseptic, and the low hum of hospital machines in the background seemed louder than usual. Mrs. Wright, who had already packed most of her husband’s items, turned to Melissa with a small but important reminder. “Don’t forget to pack the plates. They’re ours; your brother got them for us,” she said, pointing to the stack of small, floral-patterned plates resting on the bedside table. Melissa almost left them behind, thinking they belonged to the hospital, but a quick glance made her realize her mistake.

“I almost forgot about those,” Melissa chuckled, grabbing the plates and carefully putting them into the bag she was preparing.

Her father, now sitting up in bed, looked over at Melissa who was packing up. “Where’s your brother?” he asked, his voice a little more excited than usual after days of being in the hospital.

Melissa smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face, she could tell her father was excited about getting discharged today, she answered. “I left him in the parking lot. It was full, so I came down while he looked for a spot to park outside the hospital.”

Her dad nodded slowly, and the conversation shifted as the door to the room opened, and the doctor entered. “Good morning, Mr. Wright. How are you feeling today?” the doctor asked, adjusting his glasses and pulling up a chair next to the bed.

“Much better, doctor,” Mr. Wright replied, his voice tinged with relief. “The pain I feel today is less severe than yesterday, thanks to you and your constant care.”

“That’s great to hear,” the doctor responded with a nod. “You’re on the right track. You’ll need to come back for a follow-up appointment next week, so we can make sure everything’s healing well. And remember to take your prescribed medications. You don't want to miss a dose.”

“He won’t forget,” Mrs. Wright replied on behalf of her husband, smiling at the doctor. The doctor chuckled, offering a warm handshake before stepping out of the room to attend to his other patients.

Victor entered just as the doctor left, his face slightly flushed from the walk back inside. “Did you find a place to park?” Melissa asked her brother.

“Yes, but it’s a bit far from the hospital building,” Victor replied, walking closer to their dad. “Dad, let me get a wheelchair for you. It’ll make it easier for you to get to the car, especially with how far I had to park.”

“I don’t need a wheelchair,” Mr. Wright insisted, shaking his head. “My legs work perfectly fine. You guys should stop treating me like a baby just because I got hospitalised one time. I’m a grown adult,” he added, feeling a bit downcast.

Mrs. Wright stepped closer, her voice gentle yet firm. “Of course, you’re a grown adult. But even grown adults need care sometimes. Why don’t you sit in the wheelchair so you don’t strain yourself?” she advised.

Mr. Wright sighed, looking reluctant but realizing that his family had a point. “Fine,” he muttered, “ I don’t need the wheelchair; I’d rather have you hold my hand for extra support while I walk than sit in a wheelchair." He said facing his wife.

The family smiled, understanding that he still wanted to maintain some sense of independence. “ OK Dad, anything you're comfortable with is fine, ” Victor said.

With that, Melissa and Victor picked up the bags, preparing to head out of the hospital. Mr Wright held onto his wife's hands tightly, just like he had agreed to, for some extra support as they made their way to the long distance where the car was parked.

“Lydia, Mr. Wright has been discharged from the hospital today,” Lydia’s mom said, seeking extra confirmation from her daughter.

“Yes, he has,” Lydia replied.

“I’ll head to the market to get some ingredients to prepare some food for the Wrights,” Mrs. Joe informed Lydia as she stepped out of the house carrying her grocery bag.

Melissa got out of the car and quickly opened the gate for Victor to drive in. As they all exited the car, Mr. Wright expressed his joy at being back home. Taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. “I’ve missed this house so much,” he said. A grin spread across his face as he sank into his favourite chair, which only he occupied. Mrs. Wright smiled as she settled beside him. “I’m glad you’re back, dear,” she said.

As they all settled in, the familiar sounds of home comforted Mr. Wright. The hustle and bustle of the outside world seemed to fade away as he relaxed into the rhythm of being back where he truly belonged.

Shortly after settling in, the Wrights heard the sound of the doorbell. Breaking the peaceful quiet atmosphere. Melissa checked the camera monitor and saw Mr. and Mrs. Joe, along with Lydia, standing outside the gate.

“Who’s at the gate?” her father asked, curious but still relaxed in his chair.

“It’s the Joes,” Melissa replied as she went out to open the gate for them.

As she opened the gate, Melissa greeted Mr. and Mrs. Joe warmly with a pretty smile on her face. She noticed Lydia holding a large food flask. The scent of something warm and rich seemed to waft through the air, but the flask remained tightly sealed, its contents a mystery. Excited to see what delicious dish Mrs. Joe had prepared, she began to wonder what was inside the flask.

They all entered the house as the Joes and the Wrights exchanged pleasantries. “It’s so good to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Joe,” Mrs. Wright said, her voice warm. “Thank you for coming,” Mr. Wright added, grateful for the visitors who had taken out their time to come see him, despite still being a bit tired. They all smiled and chatted about various topics. “ So what’s in the flask?” Melissa asked Lydia, her curiosity bubbling over.

“I’m sure you don’t want to know,” Lydia replied, but her words only piqued Melissa’s curiosity further.

As her anticipation grew, Mrs. Joe said to Mr. Wright, “I made you bone broth soup to speed up the healing process.” The mention of bone broth soup sent shivers down Melissa’s spine; it was a dish her mom always forced her to eat when she was sick, creating a negative association with it. The thought of the warm, gelatinous liquid made her stomach churn. Lydia, noticing Melissa’s reaction, grinned mischievously and said, “I told you!”

The girls quickly moved to Melissa’s room, chatting about the latest happenings in their lives. Lydia filled Melissa in on her date from the previous day, recounting every detail with excitement. They also talked about how quickly their break had gone by, lamenting the fact that school would resume in less than two weeks.

While they talked in the room, Their conversation was interrupted by a call from Mrs. Joe, who shouted Lydia’s name from the living room. “Lydia, we need to get going!” she said.

Lydia sighed, rolling her eyes at the interruption but knowing it was time to leave. Both families exchanged their goodbyes in the living room, offering hugs and well wishes as the Joes got into their car.

“Take care, Mr. Wright,” Mrs. Joe said, her voice soft but sincere. “I hope you recover quickly.”

“We’ll see you soon,” Mr. Wright replied, his voice filled with gratitude.

The two families waved as the Joes drove off into the distance, leaving the Wrights to enjoy their quiet evening together.