I could not  see. My eyes were burning. My head was pounding. I could not open my eyes or move. I was paralyzed, my entire body was. Slowly I was starting to feel the pain all over again. I tried moving my body or open my eyes, but I could only move my hands. A few minutes passed and I slowly started to move my toes, then my feet, and my legs. Thank God, I was not actually paralyzed then that would be really bad. Using almost all the strength I had left, I was finally able to slowly open my eyes. The more I tried opening my eyes all the way, the more it hurt.

      "Doctor, she's awake! Come quick," a lady shouted.

       "Halley, can you hear me?" she asked.

     "Yes," I whispered. "Where am I?"

      "You are at the hospital. Here let's check your vitals before the doctor comes in," the nurse replied.

        "where's my dad? Is he okay?"

         "Easy with the questions. I'll let the doctor answer those for you," she exclaimed finishing up.

        "Good afternoon Ms. Halley, how are we feeling?" the doctor asked walking in my room.

         "Well for starters, my eyes burn, my right hand feels broken, and I have this killer headache. Where's my dad? What happened?" All these questions began swarming inside my head. I couldn't remember what happened after I rolled on top of my dad. My head hurt the more I tried to remember.

        "Of course, lets look you over and make sure you don't have a concussion."

        "But Doc, is my dad here? Is he alright?" I began throwing questions out, hoping he knew the answers to.

         "Good news is you do not have a concussion, but bad news is you have two black eyes and a fractured hand."

         "How bad is it?" I questioned before he could finish.

         "It's not too bad, but you will need plenty of rest. You will also have to wear a brace for your hand up to six weeks. But come back in two for a check-up," the doctor exclaimed.

           "Thank you doctor..." I paused.

        "Doctor Mizell. Cody Mizell," he replied.

         "Nice to meet you, Doctor Mizell," I reached my left hand out to thank him once again.

         "You as well Ms. Halley, but you can call me Cody. And it's my job to help you. I will let you rest but I will be back to check on you," he shook my hand and left the room.

           Talk about formalities with doctors. I tried to forget his name but it just rang in my ear, over and over. Doctor Cody Mizell, now why does it sound so familiar? I will have to find out later, right after I take a nap.

         A couple hours later, and I woke up to the sound of someone knocking at my door. Slowly waking up and adjusting the hospital bed, so I could sit up and see who is entering the room.

          "Yeah, come in!" I paused. "Who is it?" waiting to see who would be walking through the door.

         "Dad — you're alive!"

         "You thought I was dead?" dad asked, laughing at me.

        "No. Yes. I mean no, I don't know. Hell I thought I had died. I forgot what happened. Are you okay?" being concerned, I asked about his health.

         "Yes dear I'm fine, really" he said reassuring me. "I am more worried about you, than myself."

         "I'm alright dad. Did the doctor tell you anything?"

        "Yea you don't have a concussion but you were close to it he said. And I am sorry about your eyes and your hand," Dad said apologizing, walking over to my bed hugging me.
"I am so sorry Halley, for hurting you but this is how you learn."

        "Dad, it's okay I promise. Yeah it hurts like hell, but you are right! This will only make me stronger. I love you daddy!" I exclaimed, squeezing him in a tight hug.

        We sat there for a moment just holding each other. My mom's family is a hugging family, but not so much on my dad's side. Just like my uncle, he was pure evil. But this hug was so much more than a 'I'm sorry' kind of hug, it was the one we both needed.

       My dad and I were close again, but to think it took for all this to happen for us to realize it. In that moment forward, I knew if anything else happened, we would always have each other's back. Nothing has changed too much in our lives. Besides, our family got bigger and almost all of our family secrets are out. What kind of secrets does your family have?

         As we were starting to pull away from a hug a knock was at the door.    "Come in!" I exclaimed.

        "Hello Ms. — I didn't know you had a visitor," Doctor Cody blurted out.

           "Yes sir, this is my dad —"

         "Mr. Luke, I'm Halley's dad." he teased, smiling back at me.

          "Nice to meet you Mr. Luke, I am her doctor. Dr. Mizell," he chuckled.

          "Very well doctor, is everything okay?" Dad addressed impatiently.

         " Of course, just here to put her brace on her hand. And the nurse is here to give her dinner and some medicine for the pain," the doctor consoled my dad.

        "Thank you Doctor Mizell," dad croaked abruptly.
         "Halley I am going home to check on everyone and grab a few things, do you need anything?" he questioned gently.

           "Yes a change of clothes please, and tell mom or Bailey to ride back with you to come see me," not wanting to sound pushy, I exclaimed.

         Dad gave me a hug and left the room, leaving me with the nurse and doctor Mizell. He was roughly 6'1 in height, with bright blue eyes, short dirty blonde hair, and an olive complexion. His smile could light up the room. He looked very young to be a doctor, that's for sure. Doctor Mizell was a very well dressed and a good looking man. By the looks of it, he was not married. No ring on his left hand, but it did not mean he didn't have a girlfriend.

        "All done, is there anything else you need Ms. Halley?" he politely asked.

         "Oh yeah, there is something I wanted to ask you. Are you by any chance, single?" I insisted.

          The nurse looked at me and smiled, as she put my food and medicine on the table and walked out the room.

          He chuckled. "That information is confidential, Ms. Halley. But if you really want to know, then yes I am."
       "Why do you ask?" he abruptly questioned.

       "Just curious, you look very young," I teased softly.

          " I am 28." he said smiling faintly.

           "That is good to know, but you should get some rest now. I have other patients to see," he softly implied.

          He grabbed his things and left the room. My heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him again. Something I never left before, but my heart was still broken from before.

         Way before, exactly five years ago, when everything went south. So today, I use that to help push through all of my hardest battles.

            Five years ago, I lost myself and who I had become. But today, I am stronger than I once was.

1,255 words !

Note: Hey readers, it's been a long time since I been able to update. I'm here for finish my books, as this is my first draft. Any feedback is appreciated. xo