While my vision darkens, my eyelids becoming heavier, I can hear another voice, distinctly, like it's so far away.
"Cassie!"
It sounds just like Luke's voice. I hear a huge splash of water, and that's when my unconsciousness begins to engulf me.
Even though I can hear someone coming to get me, it's too late, because the only thing I can feel now is darkness enveloping everything around me.
Then everything goes black, and I can nolonger feel anything.
32
________
CASSIE
Please, save him.
I couldn't feel anything but pain in my body, just as painful as my heart. I couldn't move, and it seemed like my life was being drained out of my body.
"No!" I wake up. My chest hurts like hell.
"Cassie." It's Luke's voice echoing in my ear, filled with worry.
I'm panting, trying to absorb the new reality that I'm in. I'm sitting up on my bed, sweat all over my body.
What was it? Was I having a bad dream? But it felt so real.
I turn to Luke, who's sitting beside my bed, holding my hand firmly. Concern skates all over his face. "How are you feeling?"
Again, I'm trying to adjust to what's actually happening. I look down at myself and notice that I'm not drenched anymore, already wearing my clean pajamas.
The clock on the wall tells me that it's almost evening.
"Aiden." My voice shakes as I speak the name, tears forming in my eyes. I stare at Luke in fear, my lips trembling.
Is he okay? Please tell me that he is.
Luke caresses my hand, trying to soothe me.
"He's okay," Luke says. "He's in his room. The doctor has examined him, and thank God, he's alright. He woke up earlier, but now he's taking a rest again. He's not as traumatized as I feared he would be. But, Cassie, you—"
"I want to see him," I cut him off, urgency in my tone.
Luke tightens his hold on my hand. The worry on his face is still very much visible. "Okay. We're going to see him now. But,Cassie, I'm worried about you too. Your condition was worse than his. You don't know how frightened I was when I pulled you out of the water."
I remember that—it was like hell. I wasn't only drowning but also had a sudden force striking my head like a hammer.
I'm starting to wonder whether my brain cells are indeed damaged.
"The doctor said that you need some rest," Luke continues. "But when you slept, you kept tossing in your bed, restless. You were talking in your sleep, like you were having a bad dream."
I did. I did have a really bad dream. But it doesn't matter now.
Luke looks like he wants nothing more than to hug me in his arms—I can see how much it tortures him to hold back, but what happened between us has made him extra careful to not do something against my feelings.
"Please, Luke. I need to see him," I beg, my voice barely a whisper due to how weak I am, but I won't be able to rest until I can see Aiden again.
Luke sighs and helps me get up from my bed. When I do, I feel incredibly dizzy and quickly hold his arm for support.
