There is that noise again. The sound of machines and hushed tones of people talking fill my ears.
Heavy.
My eyes are so heavy.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“I think she’s coming around now,” a man says.
Who? Who is coming around? My body feels stiff and heavy. My brain struggles to understand what has happened and what the man is talking about. My eyes slowly start to open as a bright light fills my vision, making me close them quickly again.
Pain. So much pain.
My right side is on fire. My mouth is dry, and the ringing in my ears makes it nearly impossible to think straight. Then, suddenly, flashes come back to me.
“David!” my mother cries. “David! Hurry, come quick! She’s opening her eyes. Eva. Eva, darling, please wake up. Honey, open your eyes for me?”
Why are my parents here?
I try to rotate on my side and stop immediately as a stabbing feeling shoots through my ribs. I can’t scream. I can’t make a noise. My breathing is painfully slow as I struggle to fill my lungs with air.
“Take it easy, now,” commands the man’s voice at my side. “Take it slow, Ms. Monroe.”
I open my eyes slightly and attempt to look at him. In his white coat, he stands at my right holding a clipboard as he examines the length of my entire body before going back to writing on his pad of paper. Slightly glancing to the left, I notice my mother sitting at my side as she grabs my hand and squeezes lightly. My father looms over her, a look of concern fills his features.
“You gave us quite a scare,” the man on my right says. My mother’s eyes fill with tears. My father puts his hand on her shoulder for comfort as she tries to keep strong. I turn back to look at the man I don’t know. Finally meeting my eyes he smiles. Reaching up he checks the bag attached to an IV.
“I will give you three a moment while I go order you some more fluids,” he says. “It could’ve been way worse, young lady. You must have a guardian angel up above looking out for you.”
I close my eyes as my grandmother’s words fill my head. Your road doesn’t lead here anymore. A lonely tear rolls down my cheek.
“You’re one lucky girl, Eva,” he says. “Do me a favor and slow down and enjoy the ride next time, okay? There are only a few things in life worth risking dying for.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Noah
“Dr. Hackworth, you’re needed in surgery.”
The sounds and smells of the hospital leave me numbly in disbelief. How did we get here? How did this happen?
“It didn’t look good. I tell you that young girl is lucky to be alive.” A male nurse discusses his latest case with his colleague as they pass by. I look up slightly as they walk down the hallway to my left before hanging my head low and resting my elbows on my knees.
“What if I can’t promise you forever.”
My stomach revolts. My breathing quickens and then becomes so slow I question if I am having a heart attack. Taking a few deep breaths, I try to calm my nerves. My right knee begins to bounce up and down rapidly.
We still don’t have any word. What can be taking so long?
I look up and see Gwen huddled in a far corner with Rex. And although it seems odd watching the two of them actually getting along and seeing Rex console her, it doesn’t take long before my head is filled with memories and words that put their peculiar display on the back burner.
“I love you. If loving you is wrong, I will take my chances.”
Damn it! I jump to my feet and start pacing the hallway with such haste it causes strangers to look my way. Catching the eye of Gwen and Rex, I look up as Michael walks down the hallway towards us scrubbing a hand down his face in worry.
“Still no word?” Rex asks as Michael walks past. His eyes are trained on mine with an intensity I haven’t seen since that night on the patio a few months back. Stopping right in front of me, I take a few steps back as I wait for him to speak.
“You better pray to whoever it is you pray to that she is okay,” he snaps before walking off.
