Sophie's Point of View:
"Hey Soph, wake up! You don't want to be late on your first day back, do ya?" Anne's voice pulls me out of my dreams.
I groan miserably. Waking up used to be no problem, I always hopped out of bed and was a ray of sunshine, but things have changed since the operation. I slowly rise, adjusting to my surroundings with a slight headache. Ugh, does this never fade?! :/
I know I shouldn't complain, especially remembering the first days after I got out of the OR. The pain was so bad that I needed morphine all of the time, but that clouded my mind. The doctors said it was normal to wake up with a few problems in concentrating and remembering recent events and that it would all come back eventually. 'Blah, blah give it some time...' I hated that! The worst about all of it were the painkillers which always kept things slightly out of my reach. Every time I felt like I was just about to remember something it slipped.
Luckily my friends helped me out of my frustration. Anne and Max would repeat stuff for university with me and fill me in on what I was missing. We started learngroup meetings with other students in my hospital room and when I got back home in our apartment. Eleanor joined a lot of those, contributing her knowledge on sociology. Working together made me feel less like a complete moron and afterwards we would watch movies or just chat. At first the others were confused about Eleanor and her accent, but she was soon accepted into our little group and I am happy to say that we are good friends now. I'm glad she made so much time to see me, knowing that her time with Louis here is limited.
The boys came visiting me a lot, too. They are a very fun group to hang with and they never made me feel left behind because of my lack of agility. But sometimes it was a tad too much, put together they are just always prattling or singing or running around or screaming. At those points my headache would worsen and Niall would send them all out and take me for a walk or something like that. He is always so worried about me and wants to protect me from everything, it's so cute :3

*flashback* (a day after first waking up from successful surgery)
I open my eyes to the neonlights of the hospital again. A wave of pain surges through my head, washing every thought away. Moaning uneasily, I press the button that boosts my medication.
"Hey" I hear a low voice to my left. I turn my head and a cute blonde guy comes into my field of vision. I know him from somewhere, but I don't really remember. He looks like someone I've seen on TV maybe? No I think I know him personally... I should, or else he wouldn't be here. Since he seems very happy to see me (He's smiling brightly, which brings out a glow in his gorgeous eyes) I decide to smile slightly back at him, replying 'Hey back'
His forehead crinkles in worried lines "You don't look good... I mean you are beautiful of course, but like... Are you in pain?"
"Only a bit" I assure him depleted. What kind of relation do we have? He seems honestly worried, but also nervous, exhausted and eaten up by guilt.
"For how long have you been here?" I ask cautiously. This is a unsuspicious question isn't it? But the answer could enlighten me.
"I haven't left since the accident"
'The accident' Ok, I know about that. When I woke up, my father told me about a car accident and a brain surgery. Where is my father?
"Do you happen to know where my father is?" I ask frantically.
"He will be back soon" The boy soothes my panic "He needed something to eat and some sleep. He wanted to give you some space to get better, too. We all agreed it would be best if someone is always with you, but not more than one at a time"
'We'? "Who's we?"
"Your father, Anne, Max, Eleanor volunteered, maybe one of the lads at times and me"
Let's think about which of these persons I can recall: My father of course; Anne and Max are my friends, I study and live with them; Eleanor? Hm... A picture of an attractive brunette pops into my head. I don't really know who she is, but at least I know what she looks like; The lads? No clue!; Him... I suddenly remember that he said he hasn't left since the accident. I think he was there, too. Eyeing him up and down I notice dark shadows under his eyes and black bruises under his crumpled tanktop, right where a seatbelt would be.
"What about you, are you alright?" I ask
He follows my gaze and pulls his shirt up a bit, concealing the mark. "Yeah, sure. Everything fine with me"
"You look tired. Did you even sleep?"
"A bit..." He looks away sheepishly biting his lip.
When did the accident happen, maybe 3 days ago? "I think you need some rest, Niall" Wait, is that his name?
"You're right, I know that, but you...there... I... just had to know you'll be ok"
Do I sense guilt in his voice? It's not his fault that I am here right? I'll just go ahead and suppose it isn't. He is such a cute boy, he wouldn't cause any harm to me!
"Maybe you should go home"
"You don't want me to stay?" Did I hurt him with that?
"No it's just I..." I really want him to stay! Could it be that I have feelings for this boy? I don't know anything about him except his name! And that he is so worried about me that he would hardly sleep for days... "I'm not the only one who needs some rest"
He sighs deeply and stands up. "I'll get one of the others to come here then. But I'll be back!"
"Hasta la vista baby" I laugh with a wink.
He smirks and leans down to me, giving me a peck on the cheek. Oh my god, don't faint Sophie or at least wait until he's out of the room
*end of flashback*

In the following weeks, Niall kept up his protective, worried, selfless attitude, but not too much. I mean, he never makes me feel uncomfortable just... like I'm drowning in his fondness. I don't mind that ;) To be honest, he makes me very happy. Even when I was in despair...

*flashbacks*
(the week after the accident)
"I look awful!" I'm sitting in tears on my hospital bed, because I have just seen myself in a mirror for the first time after the accident. They needed to shave my hair for the surgery, I didn't give much thought to it when they did, because I was so afraid but now I do. I love my long, blonde, slightly wavy hair and now it's gone revealing an ugly scar on the back of my head. My face has become gaunt and I have bruises all over my bony body. Anne engulfes me in a warm hug, but she's careful because my physics are still damageable.
"It's not completely horrible honey. Look, your hair will grow back and cover this scar, the bruises will heal and if you would only start eating more your body will look healthier, too."
I know she's right, but I can't stop crying on her shoulder. I've been an emotional and physical wreck these last few days. I can't even get dressed on my own and everything that has happened is just too much for my emotions.
I'm still weeping a bit, but already pulling myself together loosening my grip around Anne. She's wiping the tears from my face when someone knocks on the door and opens it.
It's Niall, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Are you... Is everything... What's wrong?" He blurts out.
"It's nothing" I sniff "These are beautiful flowers"
"Just like you" His mawkishness makes me smile a bit.
Anne looks at me suggestively and says she would go and search for a vase. She leaves the room and closes the door behind her.
Niall and I stand in somewhat awkward silence. He has visited me here a few times now and I finally remember him clearly, but he never fails to make me dizzy. I just never know what to say to him!
"So uhm, how's everything going? Are you doing alright? You know, with the pain and stuff..." He sits down on the chair beside my bed.
"Yeah, I'm...it's bearable" I say, pulling my knees towards my chest with my arms around them. It's strange how worried I was about my looks just a minute ago. With Niall here I couldn't care less, as long as he looks at me like that. I smile at him timidly and he grins back at me
... (three weeks after the surgery)
Max helps me packing up in silence. I am supposed to be discharged today, but I'm still not strong enough to do it on my own. Or at least that's what everyone keeps telling me. I could probably do stuff like packing alone, but Max insisted on helping me.
Normally we would chat happily about what it will be like when I come home, but our previous conversation darkens our mood. I'm about to return home to our apartment, but for how long? My father wants me to return home home, to Germany. I understand him, he's worried about me. He says, the city is too dangerous and I got away this time but what about the next time?! Everyone has to agree that the delinquency rate in New York City is higher than in Münster and I'm not even talking about the sleepy small town where my family lives. But that makes sense, since I'm in a fucking metropolis here! And I'm loving it. Waking up from honks of cabs in the morning, the strange smell in the subway, the tourists on Times Square - I love every stinky, dirty detail about this city!
My father would never force me to go back to Germany, but if he doesn't stop his concerns I think I would do it. His opinion is very important to me and he just wants the best for me. Sometimes I still feel like the little girl that jumped into his arms when he returned from a bussines trip. As soon as he was on the porch, I'd drop whatever I was occupied with and run into his arms. "Papi, du bist wieder da!" I always squealed with glee and he laughed hugging me tightly. I was a daddy's girl and still am - He's my rock.
If everything goes wrong I will now have to choose between the city of my dreams and my loyalty to my father...
The ride to our apartment is quiet, too. My dad drives extra careful, because I'm still a bit scared to be in a car. Max holds my hand and gives my father the directions. When we arrive, Anne, Niall and Eleanor are already waiting for us all of them greeting me with hugs. The boys carry the few luggage I have upstairs and I follow them with Anne and Eleanor on either side of me. They have their arms around me, as if they are afraid I would trip and fall like a damned invalid. I let them though, they only care about me after all. After my father has found a place to park he comes up, too. In the meantime, Max and I have already filled the others in on his considerations while putting everything up in my room.
"But what do you want?" Niall asks, right when my father comes in.
"I don't know" I mumble, looking at Niall, my father and then on the ground.
My father comes over and hugs me, kissing my forehead. "I know this is difficult for you, I don't want to put you under any pressure, Sophiechen"
I nod and he let's go of me.
Niall clears his throat "Uhm, Mr Klett could I maybe talk to you for a second?"
"Of course you can" My father replies confused but polite. He has always been strange to boys I liked, but I can tell that he really likes Niall. He just puts on the 'severe father' show to protect me and learn their true intentions.
I turn around to the others "What is that about?"
Anne and Max shrug looking as confused as I am, but on Eleanor's face a little smile is forming
...
*end of flashbacks*

I thanked Niall at least a hundred times for convincing my father to let me stay here. He would never tell me what exactly they talked about though, which is driving my curious mind crazy!
Contemplating over the last few weeks I have put on my makeup and clothes. Now I leave my room, ready to deal with whatever this day may bring.

Notes

So I kind of skipped Sophie's healing process, but maybe I'm gonna add some flashbacks in the next chapter(s).

I imagine Niall to be very cute when he's worried about someone he likes/loves :)

Who else loves their father? :D I got really sentimental writing the bit when Sophie remembers her childhood, it's basically my father and me.

Sorry I'm a bit erratic today

xoxo