Chapter Twenty
Tera
Ihurtlike I've never hurt before. I can't even move without pain stealing my breath. I take shallow breaths. My throat feels like I swallowed a pack of razor blades. What the hell is tickling my nose? I try to reach up, but I can't.
I frown. I turn my head slightly and white hot pain lances through my skull. I can't hold back the whimper.
"She's awake," someone says quietly.
"Ring the nurse."
Xander. He's here. I open my mouth to try to talk but I can't. What's wrong with me? I start to panic.
"Shh," Xan soothes. "You're okay, Tera. Here."
He rubs a swab full of water around my lips, inside and out. I'm thirsty. I want to guzzle a gallon of water. When I go to ask for water, my mouth won't open. I lift my hand to my mouth, touching it in a panic.
"You're okay, baby. You're okay."
He keeps trying to reassure me, but I know it's not true. Why can't I open my mouth? I can't breathe.
"Shh, shh," he soothes. "I'm sorry, baby. Stay calm. You can't talk. They had to wire your mouth closed."
I suck in a rush of air as I gasp.
"You're okay, Tera. You're okay."
I'm not okay. I can't remember why. I don't know why I'm in agony, why I can't talk, why I can barely move. I want to know. Hopefully the doctor will tell me because it looks as if Xander isn't going to.
I beg him with my eyes to tell me what's going on, then I realize they're closed. I'm seeing him in my mind. I know exactly what he looks like right now. He's afraid. He's worried. He's remorseful.
But why?
"More?" he asks, not waiting for an answer. He just places the swab in my mouth. I manage to close my lips around it and suck out the water. It hurts. My jaw. My face. My body. Everything. But that water feels magical.
I sigh with relief as the cold water flows over my aching throat. More. Then even more. He keeps swabbing my lips until my mouth isn't dry anymore. My throat still hurts but it's so much better.
"Mrs. Mackenzie?" a feminine voice questions.
I tense, and just open my mouth, then realize I can't. I don't know why I can't talk. I don't understand any of this. Why is my jaw wired closed?
I open my eyes just a tiny bit and the light shines too brightly. I gasp and close them again.
"I'm Vera, your nurse," she tells me.
Nurse? What happened? I tilt my head to the side slightly and slowly in question.
"You're in the hospital, T. You've been here for a couple weeks," Xander informs me.
I gasp.A couple weeks!I try to speak but it comes out as nothing but jibberish.
"Dr. Levine will be in shortly to give you a quick exam and answer any questions you have," Vera tells me as she finishes taking my blood pressure. Then she's gone.
"Xan," I manage to somehow communicate.
"You're okay, baby. You're okay."
"Water," I say. I sound so stupid but he understands.
