A S P E N ' S    P O V

I've been in the hospital for the past 2 weeks. I'm getting released tomorrow and thank god because I'm sick of this place.

I've been going to physical therapy for a while and I feel like it hasn't been helping. I can barely use my wrist without it hurting like hell.

I also feel scared every time I see the cast on my leg. Hunter insisted on everyone signing it, making sure they all wrote something meaningful.

I was currently laying in bed, watching a Disney movie but barely paid attention to it. I was zoned out, thinking of what would happen once I got out of here.

Graduation was only a month away and I had missed so much while I was in a coma. Rosa and Vita still made sure to help me catch up on my work while I was in the hospital.

I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard a knock on my room door. I looked over just as I saw Mom walk into the room.

We both briefly made eye contact as she mustered up a small, soft smile at me. I turned the sound down on the movie, watching as she pulled up a chair next to my bed.

"Hey, sweetie." She spoke, looking into my eyes.

"Hey." I simply greeted, feeling kind of awkward.

"You ready to be discharged tomorrow?" She asked, reaching forward and grabbing my hand.

"As ready as I can be." I mumbled, thinking about all the shit I would have to face once I'm out of here.

"It's gonna be okay, sweetie." She told me, kissing my temple as she smiled at me.

I felt bad as I watched the tears cloud her eyes. Mom rarely ever cried and when she did, it was really serious.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, squeezing her hand comfortingly.

"I just feel so bad. I was so worried about you and I didn't know if you were going to wake up or night. I couldn't bare to lose my baby." She sniffled, avoiding my gaze as she wiped her eyes.

"Mom, it's okay. I'm okay." I reassured her, feeling upset that she was crying over me. "I'm awake and I'm going to get better. I only have a few minor issues."

"Your car spinning and having a truck crush into the side doesn't cause a few minor injuries, Aspen. Your leg is broken and you were surgery for hours. I know me and you haven't had the best relationship but I still love you and you're still my daughter." She paused, taking a deep breath as one tear fell.

"You can't blame me for being worried about you, okay? I just wanted to make sure my daughter was alright. God forbid anything worse happened to you." She mumbled, taking deep breaths.

"Mom, it's okay. I don't care about how we didn't get along as much. What matters now is that I'm here and nothing happened to me. Everything will be fine again." I told her, softly smiling as she nodded.

Now, I just needed to take my own advice.

♤♤♤

I sighed as I sat in the wheelchair, getting pushed down the hall to the PT room. At first it was new but now it's just boring as hell and repetitive.

"You ready for PT today, Aspy?" Rosa asked, pushing my wheelchair down the hall.

Rosa had been the one who had been taking me as she was studying to be a nurse herself. I felt better having a friend with a decent amount of medical knowledge with me.

"No. But that doesn't mean I can't go." I frowned, staring ahead.

She just hummed in response, leaving the conversation at that. I felt myself zone out again, thinking about what if this was all a dream.

Hopefully, it was all a dream.

Any minute now I would wake up and realize that I had just been taking a nap and slept for a little too long.

But it wasn't a dream it was my reality. A reality I was forced to live with and that I couldn't forget.

♤♤♤

"You're getting discharged, today!" Livi spoke excitedly, doing a little happy dance.

Now 18 weeks pregnant and she was a lot unlike her usual self. She was a lot more hormonal and her emotions were all over the place.

Pregnant Livi was a handful.

She was going to find out the gender tomorrow, leaving her more excited than ever. She said she didn't want to know as she wanted me to plan the baby shower.

It was a way for me to take my mind off of everything that was going on. I know I put on a front all the time but on the inside I was scared.

How did this happen? I was more than careful when I drove.

I felt upset when I found out my car was totaled. The mechanic tried to fix it but they ended up trashing it and just telling Dad to buy a new one.

I loved that car so much and now it was gone. It was a gift from Dad and Livi that I really cherished and now it was gone.

"Yep." I mumbled, trying to sound as happy as I could.

"I know you're not gonna be staying in your dorm but aren't you happy to come back home again." She boasted, grabbing my hand softly. "I'll be home everyday to help you."

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just still trying to process everything." I told her, clearing my throat as my voice sounded raspy.

"Don't worry, Ens. It's gonna be alright." She smiled, kissing the top of my head.

She helped me up out of the bed and into my wheelchair. My friends would've been here but I didn't want them see me struggling to barely sit up.

The doctors didn't find out until a few days ago that I had some bruised ribs. We only found out when one day I tried to get up and go to PT but my ribs were hurting like a bitch.

She helped me out the room, already signing my discharge papers. We rolled down the hall silently, eyeing all the people waiting outside for their loved ones.

I looked down, my eyes trained on the floor as I waited to finally leave this hospital. Once we made it outside, I was thankful to see Cole's range rover in front of us.

He got out the car and came around, guiding Livi into the passenger seat. He kissed her temple and rubbed her belly slightly, smiling at her as she smiled back.

He came over to me and rolled the chair towards the backseat. He helped me into the car, setting my leg up on one of the seats.

"Are you comfortable?" He asked, watching as I put my seatbelt on.

"As I can be." I breathed out, ignoring the pain shooting up from my leg and my ribs.

"Let me know if you need anything else." He told me, shutting the door before walking back over to the drivers side.

I stayed quiet most of the ride, trying to ignore my injured self. I felt helpless as Cole drove to our house, one of his hands tightly wrapped around Livi's.

Livi had leaned her seat back, resting one hand on her belly. She looked tired but attempted to keep a straight face on for me. I simply ignored it, looking out the window and holding the cast around my wrist.

As we got closer to the house, I dreaded what I was going to come home to. I tried to clear my mind of any negative thoughts and tried to think positively about everything.

Suddenly, Livi broke me out of my thoughts as she gasped and smiled widely. She looked at Cole as he stopped at a red light and looked at her alarmed.

"What happened? Are you okay?" He asked, inspecting her body for any injuries.

"I'm fine but guess what?" She smiled as he raised an eyebrow and hummed. "I just felt the baby kick."

Cole smiled and looked at her in excitement, kissing all over the side of her face. He reached his hand down to rub her belly, smiles on both of their faces.

"That's definitely our mini ceo in there." He grinned, rubbing her belly carefully as I looked at them both.

I couldn't wait to have something like that.

I zoned out again and didn't realize until we were pulling up in front of the house. Cole had gotten out the car and Dad came out the house to help him bring me out.

Mom helped Livi set up my wheelchair as they pushed it right outside the door. I heard them whispering to each other as I stayed quiet and just waited to get out the car.

Dad and Cole helped me out and sat me in the wheelchair before Livi started pushing me towards the house. My eyes didn't miss the ramp they had installed on the other side of the steps.

They led me inside and I couldn't help but notice all the subtle changes. Everything looked more...different.

Like they made it easier for me.

I took a deep breath as Livi wheeled me into the living room and everyone gathered around me. I tried to avoid their pleading gazes as they all began talking.

I just wanted this all to be over with.

yall this book is coming to an enddd

im so sad :(

we got like 2 chapters left and then we got a new book otw

im gonna be honest idk if i should write the new book or a prequel to how livi and cole got together- (def not gonna be the last ur seeing of the gang tho)

hope u guys enjoyed! lmk what you think? prequel or new book?