Wintergirls

Lia is taken to the emergency room. At the hospital, Lia imagines Cassie beside her reciting Lia’s medical information to her. Many of Lia’s vitals are low, but she’s breathing okay. Lia is given 33 stitches in her chest. Lia is placed in a hospital room.

Lia is released from the hospital two days before Christmas. Lia’s mother decides to send Lia back to New Seasons, the inpatient hospital where Lia has already been admitted twice before, but they won’t have a bed available for Lia for a week. Lia’s father picks Lia up from the hospital. As they’re driving Lia asks when she can see Emma. Lia promised Emma they’d bake cookies, wrap presents, sing carols, and play in the snow. Lia’s father says that Lia can’t see Emma for a while, explaining, “You won’t be seeing Emma until you’re better. Maybe that will give you some incentive. If you won’t try for yourself, try for her” (229). Lia’s father tells her she’ll be staying at her mother’s house until they have a bed available for her at New Seasons.

At her mother’s house, Lia learns that a nurse will stay at the house to watch Lia whenever her mother isn’t home.