Page 114 of Rock Me

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Noémie

When I come to, I'm in his arms.

He's carrying me and I can hear voices in the background. None I recognize, but they're yelling, loud and it's making my head ache.

We stop moving, and I try to open my eyes, but it feels as though they're welded shut. Then I hear the sound of a car door open, and my body being laid against cool, soft leather. His arms slip out from under my body and I try to reach out to stop him. To beg him not to leave me alone.

'Uhhh," is the only sound that comes out.

"Shhh, you're okay. I’m going to get you out of here," he whispers, cool fingers on my burning forehead. He's gone but it's only seconds before I feel him slide in next to me, pulling me back into his arms.

"Go," he says, and I feel the car move and I slip back into the dark.

***

"Is she going to be okay?" I hear Jez saying to someone when I wake up again.

I'm back in the bed at the Bellagio, but everything feels different. What once felt like a haven, soft, safe, now feels like I'm back in the hospital. Cold and sterile, a half-way house.

"She should be fine, it doesn’t seem to be related to her head injury. You said she's prone to claustrophobia?"

"Yes, it's happened before. Before her injury."

"Then this is probably what it is. Has she been in under any undue stress?"

"Hasn't everyone?" His voice is bitter, angry.

"Well, call me if she doesn't wake up soon. Otherwise, just let her rest. No too much excitement."

"Thank you, doctor."

I hear footsteps on the marble floor and a door close.

Well, at least I know it's nothing serious.

Just my brain's usual dickiness.

The door to the bedroom opens, and Jez walks in.

But I barely recognize him. He looks like he's aged twenty years. His face is pale and gaunt, his eyes rimmed red.

He doesn’t look at me.

"Oh, you're awake. How do you feel?"

"I'm okay. Just a little bit weak, but my head doesn't ache."

He just nods and walks over to the window, staring out into the night.

"Jez." I say, not sure what I want to say. I just want him to at least look at me.

But he just stands there, like I no longer exist in his world.

"Jez." I say, louder, firmer. He cannot ignore me.

His shoulders rise and fall and he turns to face me.