She looks sosmall and helpless in her hospital bed wrapped in scratchy white blankets and an oversized blue flower-patterned gown. The machine she’s hooked to beeps steadily, but that incessant beeping means she’s still alive. Still here. And for that, I’m so fucking grateful. For a moment, I thought she wasn’t going to pull through seeing her body slumped on the floor.
For as long as I’ve prepared for a war against my brother, I never stopped to consider the consequences of losing. And if the price is her, then it’s not worth it. I’d rather see him getting away with murder, then lose the one good thing in my life. She’s my whole fucking heart, and nothing is as important than keeping her safe.
I let my pride and my vendetta get in the way, but never again, I vow. Taking her small hand in mine, I bring it to my mouth for a kiss, but she doesn’t stir. The drugs pumping through her veins are too strong, keeping her sedated until her mind is ready to come back to me. The doctors were able to stop whatever drug Kyle had injected her with from taking over her entire brain, but it was clear that it didn’t mix well with theprescription drugs she was on for her anxiety. I’d gotten her here just in time.
Thankfully, the rape kit came back negative, but that’s my only solace in this mess. If she would just open her eyes again, then I could stop the rage assaulting me at every turn. The thought of ‘what if’, plagues my brain as I stare at her monitors, taking comfort in the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.
The room is cold and sterile, with a large window facing the parking lot. I look out and watch the comings and goings of all the people to pass the time. Wondering where they’re coming from. Who they’re here to see.
Wincing as I readjust my position, I decide to take another pain pill noticing that the last dose has long wore off. X-rays confirmed what I already knew to be true about my ribs. The fight with my father cost me four broken ribs and very nearly punctured one of my lungs. Had he hit the smallest bit harder, neither of us would have made it out of there alive.
And that’s a sobering thought.
We’ve only just started to get reacquainted with each other. There’s been no time to just enjoy being together. Learning each other on more than the physical level, though she’d hear no complaints from me on that front. As much as I enjoy her body, it’s her mind that I want too. All the fucked-up parts that make her the person she is. The person I love.
A rapt knock on the door interrupts my thoughts, and in walks two women. One a nurse, and the other a woman I’ve only seen on Hazel’s computer.
“Ace? This is Dr. Thurston, Mallory’s therapist.” The nurse says. “Can you get back in your bed, I need to take your vitals.”
“Nice to meet you.” I say, shuffling back over to my side of the room and stopping to greet Hazel’s therapist. The hospital is nothing but constant interruptions. I take the thin woman’s bony hand in mine and shake. Her hands are cold and frail. Theskin so translucent that I can see her blue veins popping through her white skin. She has a calming presence about her though and it’s clear she cares about my girl.
Upon admission, I was able to coax the administration into letting us share the room. In the end it only took a hefty donation, but one I feel is well worth it if it means I can stay right next to her.
“And how are we feeling today?” Nurse Harrison asks, as she pops the thermometer under my tongue. How she expects me to answer her like this, I’ll never know. It’s like when a waiter asks you how the meal is when you’ve just taken a bite. So, I do what I do in that case and just nod my head yes.
Next comes the blood pressure cuff and I glance over at Dr. Thurston as she takes a seat next to Hazel.
I’d given the hospital Hazel’s alias of Mallory Winters, which has her health insurance information attached to it.
“She hates hospitals.” Dr. Thurston murmurs, almost to herself, but loud enough that I can hear her.
“Alright, your lunch tray should be in shortly.” Nurse Harrison says, leaving the room in a cloud of antibacterial scent as she runs her hands under the foam dispenser. That woman is blur in blue scrubs.
“You, are new.” Dr. Thurston says, and this time I know she’s talking to me.
“I am.”
“Hmm.” She frowns, assessing me. The look she gives me, makes me feel as if she can see deep down into my soul and is about to declare that I’m unfit to court Hazel. But she stays quiet, focusing back on my girl.
“You call me if anything changes.” She says, wobbling over to me after some time has passed. “You have my number?”
I nod.
“Good. Take care of her, she deserves to have someone good to lean on for a change.” And then she’s gone, her Chanel Number Five lingering after she’s gone.
“Where, where am I?” Hazel’s frightened scream jolts me out of a dead sleep. I rush over to her side, wincing with pain at how fast I sat up.
“I’m here, I’m right here. You’re in the hospital.”
Her eyes are full of fear. Wide and tear stained. The monitor she’s attached to is clocking her heart rate at 153 beats per minute and sweat lines her forehead. She’s clawing at the IV on her arm.
“Babe, you’re okay.”
“Sir, sit back down.” The nightshift nurse commands. This one is a bulky male that looks like he could easily snap me in half just by looking at me.
“Mallory? My name is Nurse Terrance. You’re in the hospital and I’m going to give you some medication here to calm you down, okay?”
She shakes her head no. Looking so frightened.
