Chapter 157 Back In My Arms

Chapter 157 Back In My Arms
Darcy's POV

It's been a whole month since I came here. Adrian and I barely talk. Yes, I'm worried. The thought of Hazel still within the claws of Camille doesn't sit well with me.

Camille may be her biological mother but they don't share mother and daughter relationship. I promised Adrian to cooperate, so I will just focus on getting better.

When I first arrived her, the first thing I felt wasn't hope. It was pain.

Real pain.

The kind that makes my entire body stiffen and force a gasp out of my mouth. I stare at my legs, my fingers tightening around the wheelchair until my knuckles turned white.

It hurt.

For the first time since the accident, I finally feel pain in my legs. They're no longer numb. A tear rolled down my cheek before I even realized I was crying.

This is an improvement. For the first time in my life, I'm happy because hurting. Not because it's normal, but because it shows that I have hope.

"Miss Darcy?" Dr. Eleanor crouch in front of me, watching my expression carefully. "Where exactly do you feel it?"

"My..." I swallow hard, afraid the words will disappear if I wait another second. "My legs."

She leans forward. "Both?"

I nodded rapidly. "Yes, both."

She gently presses against my calf. "Can you feel this?"

"...Yes."

She moved to my ankle. "And this?"

Hurriedly, I give her another nod. My breathing became uneven. "I can feel everything."

For a second nobody spoke. Then the doctor's lips slowly curve into a smile. "A month ago you couldn't feel anything below your hips." She blinked rapidly. "Darcy... this is progress."

Progress.

The word echoes inside my head.

Progress.

Is this what hope felt like?

I lower my head. "What if it disappears?"

The doctor place a reassuring hand over mine. "It won't." She smiled. "Recovery isn't always about standing overnight. Sometimes, it's about pain returning.The nerves are waking up."

My lips trembles. "So... I'll walk again?"

She doesn't answer immediately. Instead she choose her words carefully. "I believe you have a very good chance."

My chest tightened painfully.

Good chance. Not certainty. Still,it is more than anyone had given me in weeks.

Later that evening, I sit alone inside my room staring at my phone. The screen is dark again. I unlock it.

Adrian.

His number still sits at the very top. I dial it and the familiar robotic voice answer almost immediately.

"The number you have dialed is unavailable..."

Unavailable.

Again.

I end the call and wait without dialing his number again.

If there's a new development, I know that Maleek will let me know. For now, I'll exercise patience. It's the only thing that I can do right now.

I hugged the phone against my chest. "What has happened over there?" I mutter to myself. "I know something happened. I can feel it in my gut, yet I have no evidence to prove it."

A few minutes later, a knock lands on the door, startling me and disrupting my thoughts.

"Darcy?" Maleek calls out.

I wipe my tears before answering. "Come in."

The door slowly opens and Maleek steps inside carrying two shopping bags. "You skipped lunch." He frowns.

"I'm not hungry." I sigh.

He pauses and looks at me for a second. "You skipped dinner too."

"I said I'm not hungry."

He sighed. "You'll only delay your recovery."

Recovery.

It reminds me of the new development. I bite my inner cheek. I want to tell Adrian first. I want him to be the first person to know about the improvement but it's clearly impossible at the moment.

"I.... I," I fiddle with my hands.

Maleek takes a few steps closer. "What do you want to tell me, Darcy? You look conflicted but it's fine if you're not comfortable talking to me about it."

Conflicted?

Of course I am because you're not Adrian.

Comfortable?

Maleek has become my best friend. He put his life on hold for me and he has been here ever since.

He's my confidant and I wouldn't change that. I can talk to him about anything. Perhaps, this so called improvement isn't much if a big deal.

"I finally feel pain," I whisper.

He furrows his eyebrow, "huh? I didn't hear you."

I roll my eyes at him. Maleek can be the most annoying person when he wants to be.

"I said, I finally feel pain in my legs." I repeat this time a bit louder but without sparing him a glance.

He pauses with his jaw dropped and his eyes almost popping out of its sockets. The room becomes quiet and then, I jolt up when he suddenly hugs me.

A loud laughter tears from his throat. "Really? That's good news. Gosh, this is the best news ever." He starts crying.

I pull away and he turns his face away, sniffling. I haven't seen Maleek so emotional before.

"Are you okay? Why are you crying?" I ask.

"I'm overly happy. My best friend is getting better. There's no better feeling than that," he throws his hands in the air, making me laugh.

It feels good to see someone else been genuinely happy for me.

I lowered my gaze. "Any news from Adrian?" I suddenly question. I hate to ruin the mood but I really want to know.

Maleek freezes. That tiny pause is enough to know that he's hiding something.

"Adrian is fine." He replies.

"If that's true, why won't he answer me?" I press further.

Silence.

I groan. Getting angry. "Maleek."

"Eat your food, Darcy. Let me get your medications." Then he quietly turns toward the door. Just before he could leave, his phone vibrates.

He checks the screen and expression changes. He looks shocked and then relieved. Without another word he rush out.

"What happened?"

He didn't answer.

Almost ten minutes later, I hear hurried footsteps and an unfamiliar voice outside.

A child's soft cough. I frowned. A child? Why will there be... The door slowly opens and Maleek walks inside first.

He's carrying a little girl. My heartbeat stopped. No, it can't be.

The little girl's face rests against Maleek's shoulder. She looks like she just recovering. Her tiny lips looked dry.

My hands starts trembling violently. "H... Hazel?"

Maleek slowly nods. Tears immediately blur my vision. "What... What happened?"

I wheel myself closer without realizing I'm crying. Hazel slowly opens her eyes. They look tired. She stares at me for a few seconds.

Then, she smiled. "...Mama"

My chest shatters. "Oh God..." I cover my mouth. She looked so much smaller than when I last saw her."

She had lost so much weight. Her tiny fingers looks almost fragile. I reach for her carefully. Maleek lower her into my arms.

The moment Hazel rest against me, she wraps both tiny arms around my neck weakly.

"Mama," she whispers.

I couldn't answer because my throat has completely closed. All I could do is cry. I bury my face inside her hair.

Hazel holds onto me tighter. As if she is afraid I'll disappear again. After a while, she falls asleep.

"Adrian had someone bring Hazel. He says that he knows how much you need comfort and Hazel will do the work just fine." Maleek smiles.

I nod. "Is Adrian hurt? Did Camille find him?"

He shakes his head, "Adrian is okay. He still has a lot to do."

"What about Camille?" I clench my hands, anger course through me. She really did a bad job in taking care of a child.

"Adrian and Camille are yet to face each other but Adrian has laid a perfect trap for her." Maleek smirks.

"Hmm." Whatever happens, I hope he's safe and free from harm.

"Hazel is safe now.You've always treated her like your own." He says while I stroke her hair.

"I love her," I blurt out.

"Your baby is back in your arms and now you have all the reasons to get better." With that he walks out.

I inhale Hazel's scent. Adrian has fulfilled his part of the bargain. I shouldn't let him down.