Chapter 29. Reality - It's Still Rough

                                    

                                          
[November 6th, 2016]
Harry sits beside me and says gently, "Noa, you've been here for two days straight. Go home, take a shower, get some rest, and enjoy a decent meal—something other than hospital food. I'll stay here, and if anything changes, I promise I'll call you."
"Harry, what if..?" I begin.
He takes my hand, cutting me off. "I won't leave her side. I promise I'll call you if anything happens. You need to take care of yourself so you can be there for her when she needs you to."
"Go on, Noa," he urges softly. 
With a reluctant nod, I finally drag myself out of the chair. "Alright," I mutter, feeling every ounce of exhaustion weighing me down. Harry gives my hand one last squeeze before letting go. I gather my stuff, steal a final glance at her door, and shuffle down the hospital corridor. The tension in my shoulders starts to ease up, and despite the harsh fluorescent lights, the thought of a hot shower and a bit of sleep sounds pretty inviting.
Outside, the cool evening air is a welcome change from the stuffy hospital. I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head. The world outside is just as I left it, and weirdly, that feels...nice.
I stumble my way home, the route so familiar it practically guides me. Once inside, I make a beeline for the shower, hoping that the warm water will somehow magically erase all the exhaustion and stress I've accumulated. 
Afterwards, I find myself in the kitchen, staring blankly at the fridge like it's going to offer some profound advice. I settle for a basic sandwich, and as I eat, it hits me just how long it's been since I had anything that could be called a meal. The 
simplicity of it feels oddly comforting.
Once I'm done, I trudge off to bed. As I lie down, my thoughts wander back to the hospital. Harry's words play on repeat in my mind, kind of like a lullaby. I close 
my eyes, sleep washing over me and I can't stop it.
Sleep comes in fits and starts, and I drift in and out of consciousness, my dreams a jumbled mess of hospital hallways and muffled voices. When I finally wake up, it's still dark outside, and my first thought is a frantic scramble to remember where I am.
I roll over, hoping for just a few more minutes of rest, but my mind is already racing. Harry's voice echoes in my head, reminding me to take care of myself so I can be there for her. I groan and force myself out of bed, realizing that even after the short sleep, I feel more refreshed than I did before.
I make my way to the kitchen again, more out of habit than hunger, and put on a pot of coffee. As the rich aroma fills the room, I find myself staring at the clock, waiting for the daylight. The routine is oddly grounding, a small reminder of normalcy in the middle of all this chaos.
After I have finished some work I should have done days ago, the sun eventually rises, casting a warm light through the kitchen window. I sip my coffee and try to clear my head, focusing on the things I can control. I pull on some clothes that don't make me look like I've been through a disaster zone and prepare myself for the drive back to the hospital.
I tell myself that this time, I'll be ready to face whatever comes next. I might be tired, but I'm determined. The road back to the hospital seems less daunting this morning, and I hope today ends with some good news.
"Hey," I say softly, giving Harry's shoulder a light touch to let him know I'm back.
Harry looks up from his spot by the door, his face lighting up with a tired but genuine smile. "Hey," he replies, his voice warm despite the exhaustion etched in his features. "Glad to see you back."