13 She is not my granddaughter

Annabelle woke up to the sounds of beeping machines. As she opened her eyes she noticed her environment had a kind of funny smell. The smell made her nauseous and anxious. Wait a minute, she was at the hospital!

She tried looking around when she saw a little girl, her head still hazy 'How did I get here' she thought to herself, she tried speaking but her voice was not obeying her. Finally feeling helpless she looked at the little girl whose head was bowed as she was scribbling something in a very serious manner.

Sophia, the little girl noticed the slight movement on the bed and raised up her head. Seeing Annabelle awake she stood up excitedly "Auntie is awake, do you need a glass of water?" she asked thoughtfully.

When Sophia finally came into Annabelle's view she was a bit surprised her eyes darted around the hospital ward. "Are you looking for grandma?" Sophia asked seeing Annabelle looking around.

Annabelle felt her throat were a bit dry and just nodded her head, she was too weak to move her body anyway. "Oh, she went home to prepare something for us?" she said to Annabelle before raising a cup of water to which Annabelle nodded her head.

Once, Annabelle drank the water from the cup, she felt a cooling sensation down her former parched throat. When she finally had enough strength, she asked Sophia in concern "Are you not supposed to be in school?"

If she was not wrong today was a Monday as Rose had her birthday celebration on a Sunday. Sophia looked at her a little confused. "Auntie, it is the weekend" she finally said.

Sophia had forgotten her grandmother's instructions, telling her to call the doctor if and when Annabelle woke up. 'It is the weekend' those words kept echoing in Annabelle's head causing her to feel a wave of dizziness.

Why did she feel so weak anyway? looking at Sophia who was also given her proper scrutiny as if she had forgotten something related to her decided to ask her what day it was, "Sophia dear, could you be a darling and tell Auntie what day it is?"

"Yes auntie, it is a Saturday" Sophia answered proudly her nose forming cute tiny arcs. "Hmm, okay thanks" Annabelle replied thinking the girl was probably spouting nonsense but knowing who she is she thought otherwise.

Sophia was usually smart, looking at her she finally asked "What about the date?" after Sophia answered she let out an 'OH!' before her situation finally sunk in her brain. In her shock, she let out a loud shriek once she finally realized the problem.

Sophia was worried about her and suddenly remembered her grandma's instructions. Looking worriedly at Annabelle she finally left the room. Moments later Annabelle heard the sound of footsteps approach her.

The door to her hospital room was opened and a middle-aged woman in a white coat came in. "You are finally awake? Do you know what happened the day you fainted?" the doctor asked while checking Annabelle's vitals.

The day was supposed to be yesterday Annabelle thought to herself but nonetheless, she shook her head. "I thought as much," the doctor said as she checked her bandaged head. It was only then Annabelle noticed that she have something on her head.

The doctor saw her perplexed look and decided to help her out "Dear, you have been out of it for almost 7 days now, when you fainted you hit your head on an iron bar in the building Miss Adrian saw you at, thank God she got to you when she did".

With that, the doctor explained what had transpired and how Grandma Adrian had carried her on her back before she could get to civilization. Luckily for Annabelle, a young man just happened to pass through the area and helped them out.

It was later she found out that the room she was in was different from any normal hospital room. The young man had generously paid her hospital bills and made sure she was given proper care.

The day of the incident

Lester having shouted at his assistant felt his mood turn sour and decided to leave the hotel altogether. He had only driven for a while when he saw her.

Annabelle was walking aimlessly without a destination in mind and without Lester knowing it he followed her until they came to an old neighborhood.

Lester finally found a place to park his car and got out to follow her, but when he did he couldn't find her. He had been looking for her all this while and had no plans of losing her again.

Lester decided to brave it and walk into the offensive neighborhood, he was starting to give up when he remembered the neighborhood was actually a project the government had given to his company which he had declined earlier.

Remembering he still kept the proposal after denying them he went back to his car to take out a map with the details of the neighborhood. Having retrieved it he had searched everywhere for her but he couldn't find her.

He was starting to give up hope when he saw an old woman with a walking cane carrying someone at her back. He had planned to ignore the woman but he couldn't forget the color of the dress Annabelle had worn today and that made him take a proper look.

He ran after them when he noticed this, the old woman was already weak from carrying Annabelle and was slowing down. With tears in her eyes, she kept on calling her name

Lester caught up with them, seeing someone blocking her part grandma Adrian was angry but she was already too weak to even argue. She had just opened her mouth to speak when the man in front of her suddenly said "Let me help you with her ma'am, my car is parked not far from here"

Lester saw the skeptical look the old woman was giving him and continued, "You can come with me as well. I swear I just want to help" he added seeing the expression of the old woman softening he took Annabelle from her back and walked with cautious but steady steps all the way to his car.

If Ryan had seen this scene of his heartless boss been humane, he would have definitely bitten himself to death. Lester carried Annabelle to his car not minding the blood stains on his usually white shirt.

After they got to the hospital, Annabelle was directly sent to the ER. Lester excused himself and walked to the cash register to pay her bills. He made sure he got her the best hospital room.

Once he was done he wrote a note to the old woman and added his business card before giving it to one of the nurses to give to the old woman he came with. After Lester was done he waited secretly in the hallway of the ER it was only when the surgery ended that he left the hospital.

Back to the hospital room

Annabelle was busy answering a series of questions when grandma Adrian came in. She had gotten a call not long ago telling her Annabelle was awake. She forgot she was cooking and ran out of her house but seeing as she forgot her purse, she ran back in to retrieve it.

That was when she noticed she was cooking, she decided to finish the food properly so Annabelle could eat out of it. Moving closer to Annabelle, grandma Adrian noticed she was now fine making her shed tears of joy.

She had been so scared when she saw Annabelle so lifeless before and her heart had ached to see her in tears the day Annabelle had collapsed.

Wiping her tears "Stupid girl, do you even know how heavy you are? forcing me to carry you on my old back. If not because I have a lot of skills you will still be lying there by now" she humphed

One old woman had practically forgotten how she really was that day and lied so convincingly to Annabelle's face. "Grandma" Sophia ran to her grandmother after the latter was done lying through her teeth.

Although Annabelle was skeptical and did not really believe grandma Adrian she still felt warm inside. A surge of gratitude and energy filled her. Seeing as there were no snide remarks from Annabelle grandma Adrian was alarmed.

Turning to the doctor she asked "Is there anything wrong with her head?" she eyed Annabelle suspiciously. Annabelle who had been overwhelmed earlier to the point of tears suddenly sneered

"Of course, something is not wrong with my head, at least I know my identity unlike someone that changes from a sister to an old woman only when it is comfortable for her" Tut, Annabelle clicked her tongue

Rolling her eyes grandma Adrian saw that she was okay, although she was happy she still asked the doctor who was laughing at the side by now "Are you really sure something is not wrong with her, see she can't even address her elder properly" At this, she pointed her walking cane at Annabelle.

Thinking for a while she added "Perhaps her head is bandaged too tightly" she gave an expression of her discovering the truth. The doctor could only smile before reassuring grandma Adrian "Your granddaughter is fine, miss Adrian"

"She is not my granddaughter" "I am not her granddaughter" both Grandma Adrian and Annabelle shouted at the same time causing a fit of laughter in the ward.