Believe It Or Not (An Eddie Munson Story)

Young & Sad

The lights above my head glare down at me and I blink against the harsh light. My head swims and I feel like I am drowning just under the surface of my skin. I continue to struggle against the fog, my hands grip the sheets and pull at the fabric as images of my last conscious memory rush through my mind. Panic laces through me and I try to get up, begging my limbs to cooperate, to not let me die here. A hand moves forward and grabs mine and I flinch away. Their warm skin brushes against mine and my eyes dart to the side, landing on a familiar set of chocolate brown eyes. The weight in my chest shifts slightly, still present but manageable and breathing comes a little easier as the panic starts to fall away. Eddie looks down at me with fear and concern on his face. His eyes are blood shot and red rimmed and I want so desperately to reach up and push the hair from his eyes, but my body still feels heavy. 

"Where am I?" I croak, the words barely more then a breath and he leans a little closer so he can hear me. 

"You're in the hospital," he answers honestly and then holds his tongue, watching my face. My eyes are starting to adjust to the light and I can make out the sterile wires and trinkets on the wall beside my bed, the white paint, and the clean floors. I look back over at him and he sniffles a little, rubbing his nose with the back of his sleeve and I let me head fall to the side. He places his hand over mine and looks down at our overlapping fingers. 

"Where are they?" I squeak and he gulps, looking away. His angry eyes stay focused on the far wall of the room and his fingers shake over mine. I use everything I have to turn my hand under his and squeeze. He intertwines our fingers and holds me tightly, the pressure tethering me to the here and now. 

"Jason was released once his dad showed up and shoved some money in front of the cops' faces, of course. Patrick is here getting treated for the damage he sustained and he will have charges pressed against him. Once they can clarify from you what happened they will have the last of the evidence they will need and hopefully he will go away for a long time. I'm just upset it isn't the both of them. I'm sure Patrick will try to still pin some things on Jason and they will have to pay a fine, but it isn't fucking enough."   

He runs his thumb tenderly over my knuckles, the only soft thing about his demeanor. He turns and looks at me and I see all the worry and fear he felt on his face and my heart squeezes in my chest. He reaches forward and pushes my hair from my face and my eyes close for a moment. I relax into the feel of him, so grateful that he is here with me. When my eyes open again I scan the room a second time. 

"Where is my mom?" I ask, my voice growing a little stronger but still sounding hoarse. 

"She had to talk to the police some more about the situation so she stepped out for a bit, but she was here earlier." He chuckles slightly, running his hand up and down my arm. "She wouldn't leave unless I promised to stay. As if I was going anywhere. I don't plan on leaving this room until you do." 

"Eddie," I sigh, my body relaxing into the bed and he sniffles again. I can tell the series of events are finally starting to get to him, his shaking is increasing and the unshed tears in his eyes threaten to spill over. 

"I'm so sorry," he croaks and the first tear pours over and lands on his cheek. He grasps my arm firmly and rocks back and forth as he talks, anxiety raking through him. "This could have all been avoided if I wasn't so stupid. I made such a stupid and selfish decision because of my own fear and I hurt you in so many ways. I almost lost you for good. I hate to think what could have happened to you. What they were planning to do with you. The very thought makes me violently ill and I regret not murdering both of them myself. I don't want to lose you over some stupid mistake. I don't want to waste any more time. I'm so sorry. Please know I'm sorry."