Antitrust (Completed)

Part 18: The Awakening

Enjoy!

                I woke up with every inch of my body in pain. My right eye opened first and all I could see was white. Sterile white. My left leg was in a raised cast, and my right arm was in a sling. I felt the pinch of an IV in my left wrist, and otherwise I was just aching all over. I heard familiar voices in the background of the hospital room.

                “You have a lot of nerve to be coming back here Jay. She doesn’t want to see you.”

                “Nina, I was listed as her second emergency contact, I have no choice.”

                “Jay, I already called her father and aunt, you can leave.”

                “I’m not going anywhere Nina,” he growled. Jay sounded like he had not slept for weeks.

                A nurse helped me sit up and took a blood pressure test before I was allowed to see anybody.

                Nina pushed Jay out of the doorway and knelt by the bed, holding my hand.

                “Alisha, you’re safe. I’m here with you.” I could see a faint tear escape her right eye.

                “Nina, I saw my life flash by my eyes…” I whispered.

                She stroked my forehead. “Shh Alisha, go back to bed. You need lots of rest.”

                Jay cleared his throat from the doorway and Nina scowled at him.

                “Can I see her?” he whispered.

                Nina looked at me for a response, and I silently nodded. She closed the door behind her and left us alone.

                Jay knelt by the bed. “How are you feeling?”

                “Not so hot.”

                “That’s understandable,” he said, not taking his chocolaty brown eyes off of mine.

                “Why are you here Jay?”

                “I’m here to see you.”

                “No shit Jay. Why are you really here?”

                “I got the call when I was still at work and I came straight here…”

                I frowned. “Why were you working on a Saturday?”

                “Um, I was just…busy.” I raised my eyebrow at his response; he was lying. “Alright, I’ve been working extra for the past month to get my mind off of you.”

                I looked down at my hands.

                “I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he mumbled.

                “Thanks.”

                “Get some rest, please,” Jay said, at a loss for what to say. His eyes looked teary, and the bags under his eyes revealed prolonged fatigue.

                “You too,” I said.

                “You need it more than I do.”