Long Way Home

7: My Escape

The kiss continues to deepen as our hands start exploring each other. I don't even get enough time to really think about where this make-out session is gonna lead us next because my ears start ringing from a giant bang right outside our door. We freeze in our tracks and our room door is smashed in next. Carter and I start to yell as I fly off of his lap. We start backing up away from the group of about 3-4 men who just burst in, all wearing masks and black jackets. I can hear another woman screaming in one of the rooms next to us, closely followed by a gunshot.

"Please, what do you want!?" Carter says frantically putting on a brave front while standing between me and the men. They all just start to chuckle in the creepiest way and everything after seems to happen in slow motion as I see the one man on the far left begin to reach behind his back.

"Carter!!" I yell at the same time 2 gunshots ring out. I watch as Carter falls to the ground with blood leaking from his stomach. Before I even know it, the room gets smoky, my eyes get watery as I start to lose consciousness.
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All the beeping around me wakes me out of my sleep. "What the hell?" I say to myself after the surprise of waking up in a hospital bed instead of my own bedroom. "Wha-"

"Oh good, you're up!" A woman in a white coat smiles walking into the room and holding a clipboard. "How are you feeling?" I just stare at her for a second, trying to remember what's going on. "You were shot dear, but extremely lucky because the bullet only grazed your arm instead of going through. We did some small repairs and stitched together the cut from it. Here are some more painkillers I prescribed for you. Take them now and you will be all good to go."

I was shot?? Omg, it's all just hit me. The car being towed, the gas station, the airport stop, the motel, the boy.. the boy. "Carter?? Where's Carter? Is he okay?"

The doctor lays her hand on me, "yes dear. Your friend is here and safe. We were able to remove the bullet from his stomach but his wounds were a lot more crucial. We are going to do surgery on him tonight so he will be okay, I promise you. We've already contacted his wife and she will be here in time for the surgery." She smiles at me. "You are fully discharged and free to go, please if you feel any more complications or excessive pain, come back." And with that, she walked out the door leaving me to change.

"Wife??" I said out loud after being left alone. Carter had a wife this whole time and never mentioned it? Unbelievable. I step down from the bed and take a moment to gather myself and my things. Why didn't he ever tell me he was married.. oh right, men. I physically roll my eyes to myself. Once I'm dressed I take one last look around to make sure I don't forget anything and start to walk out. As I'm walking down the hall of the hospital my inner voices start to go back and forth.

Go find Carter's room, say goodbye.

No, he's a cheater I don't even want to see him again.

Yes, but he still got shot and it's kinda your fault.

It's not my fault! But I did start this whole thing by hitting him with my doors.. ugh fine! I will just go check on him, make sure he's alive at least.

Yes and let him know that you know he's a fake! Yes.

I start to turn around and walk back up the hallway reading all the names written next to the numbers. Finally 3 doors past where I laid I see his name, Carter R. Hopefully he's the only Carter here because I don't know his last name.. along with literally anything else about him.

"Hey, Alex!" Carter sits up in his bed as I enter the doorway, "I didn't think I'd see you again, the doctor said you were already gone when I asked."

I nodded, "yeah I wasn't sure if I wanted to come to see you honestly but I figured the least I could do is say goodbye for good."

He looked confused, "oh, why not?"

I laughed, "because you have a wife and she's gonna be here soon. Why didn't you tell me before and why did you kiss me??"

Carter looks down, "oh, right" he looks disappointed. "Well, thank you for coming back anyway. I know I was wrong and I'm sorry for everything. I don't know why I didn't tell you at first... I guess because in some weird way this was one of the only chances I had to be someone else. Well not fully someone else cause I'm still me but, I don't know, just having a different kinda fun than I've ever had."

"How so? All you did was get stuck with me and miss your flight home."

He smiles genuinely at me and shakes his head, "Sorry for lying again but uhh- my flight was never really delayed. I was just saying that so I didn't have to leave yet. Look, I know I was wrong, I really do. My life's always been consisting of non-stop work and responsibilities. Just for once, it was different, it was better."

"So what about your wife?" I ask.

"Uhh, we're going through a little rough patch right now but that's no excuse. You're just a beautiful, nice girl and you gave me a spontaneous vacation during my mind-numbing business trip. So I-I understand you won't wanna talk to me after this and we'll never see each other again but thank you Alex... for being my escape."

"Wow, this feels fake. Like I'm in a movie or something, but I think I'm pretty okay with this." I shrug sarcastically and he laughs with me a little bit. "Goodbye Carter and good luck with the surgery."

"Thanks," he says back. And with that, I exit the room and exit the hospital.

THE END

*I really hope you all enjoyed, there was no real point to this story. It was just fun to write so hopefully it's as fun to read. Please be sure to leave any comments or questions and vote!! ✨