Page 56 of Sorry

“Is he …” I said, but she stopped me.

“Sam is okay. Stable and transferred to the in-patient room. He is still asleep but you can go in to see him. Only one of you can go in at the time.” She stated.

I turned to Matt and Jake groggy from sleeping on the uncomfortable couch, and they shooed me to go. Walking into Sam’s room, he looked so small on that bed. I choked up, unable to stop tears from flowing. I ran beside him and sat down in the chair. I grabbed his uninjured forearm, and leaned to kiss his swollen lip.

And I whispered, “I am here Pup. I am here.”

CHAPTER 59

SAM

PAIN! I was in so much pain. Breathing hurt like a bitch. That meant I was not dead. My eyes felt so heavy, I couldn't open them. Panic overtook me because if I was alive and in pain that meant he came back and took me with him? My pulse skyrocketed and I had to attempt to breathe faster, but that hurt so bad.

Iheard Alex’s voice, “Pup! Baby, it’s ok. It’s ok! I am here, shhh you will hurt yourself.”

“A..!” I tried to say his name but the pain in my jaw took what little breath I had away.

“Baby don’t speak. Your jaw was dislocated, everything is very swollen.” He tried to calm me down.

I slowly managed to open my eyes a little, the bright light blinding me. The first thing I saw was Alex's beautiful face, with his scruffy beard, then I noticed his cheeks were wet. He was crying and he looked exhausted and sad.

“Mmmm” is all the noise I managed to make. Pleading with my eyes for him not to cry. Reaching with my right arm seeing that my little finger and the one next to it were buddy strapped together. I cradled his face, wiping the tears off his cheek with my uninjured thumb.

“You died on me Sam…” He sniffled. “You… Your heart stopped and mine nearly stopped with yours. Listen to me! I am the one who is sorry for allowing that peace of shit to get to you. I failed you, Pup!” He was wrecked, sobbing into my hand soaking the bandages.

No, No, No! I thought desperately. I was desperately shaking my head and the movement was making it feel like it was going to explode. But I couldn’t use my words because of that fucker! “No!” I managed to mumble out.

“Sam, shhhh. Okay baby. Stop, you'll hurt yourself.” He panicked, so I tried to calm down.

He held his hand gently over mine that is still cradling his face and said, “You need to rest so you can heal. You had a punctured lung and your heart stopped due to the lack of oxygen. They managed to repair it with surgery. So you will heal. I will be there every step of the way. You are safe. Kyle was caught after he crashed his car. He is in pretty bad shape but baby if he doesn’t die, he will never leave prison.”

I closed my eyes. SAFE. SAFE. SAFE. It was all that was running through my head.

Finally safe, no more hiding from Kyle. I must have been dreaming. Tears were freefalling down my face and Alex wiped them gently.

“Try to sleep baby, I will hold an ice pack to your jaw and hopefully the swelling will go down.” he kissed my forehead, and I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up again, it was dark outside. It was easier to open my eyes and my head hurt a little less. I felt weight on my shoulder and cold on my cheek. I looked down to see Alex asleep, his huge body bent over mine as he leaned from the chair, trying to hold the ice pack on my jaw.

“Alex.” I whispered, my lungs still not functioning at the best capacity. “Honey. Wake up.” I tried again, sounding a little louder. He stirred and his beautiful, brown eyes fluttered open. He stretched slowly, eyebrows bunching, he must have been so uncomfortable. How long has he been here?

“Pup, you are awake! How are you feeling?” He sat up straighter, looking over me scanning my whole body checking for signs if I was in pain.

“Better… Thank you… How long… have you… been sleeping… like that?” catching my breath between every few words. My side hurt every time I inhaled.

“Don’t worry about me. I will sleep better when they release you tomorrow, until then I will stay where I am. Don’t even try to tell me to go home like Matt and Jake did. Jake has been blowing up my phone with messages.” He warned.

“Okay. I can’t be… mad…when I… have…a hot nurse…beside me.” I joked, and it made him chuckle. I stayed in the hospital till the next afternoon when Matt and Jake came to pick us up. Both of them looked solemn. “Hey guys…chin up…I’m ok.” I try to lighten up the mood.

“Sam, man. I am so happy you are alive. I want to give you a hug but I don’t want to hurt you.” Jake said blinking fast, not wanting to cry. But I saw it.

“I’m glad you are coming home, bud.” Matt added, not hiding his tears under his glasses.

“Let’s go home… we have…movies to watch.” I was still so short of breath, and my jaw was still very tight and sore.

“Pup, the doctor said for you to rest and not talk. Please. We can watch movies but you have to be quiet, resting your lungs and jaw, not moving a finger.” My nurse Alex… adorable.

CHAPTER 60