Better Days [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty-Six

ZADIE

My eyes fluttered open and bright fluorescent light hit them making them close back. After a few seconds of getting used to it, I opened my eyes and realized where I was. I was praying it was hospital lights and not the lights of Heaven's gates. I mean even if I was dead, I wouldn't be going to heaven. But, I also don't think I'd be going to hell either. I'm not a bad person but I'm no saint. 

"Where am I?" I choke out.

"Emory University Hospital and I am Nurse Tessa." An older lady tells me. "Can you tell me how you feel?" She asked. 

"I feel sleepy. Very sleepy." I say shaking my head. 

She smiled, "That's good. That means our medicine is working." She says. "Your family is very happy your back." 

"Who's all here?" I ask as she started taking my vitals. 

"Everyone you love." The nurse simply answers. 

I take her answer and be okay with it. I close my eyes and lean my head back. My body felt exhausted and my memory was fading. I don't even remember how I got back home. That's so scary. 

"Hey Zadie," I hear followed by two knocks on my hospital room door. 

I fully open my eyes and look up. "Paige." I say softly, my face lighting up. 

"You look so pretty." She said smiling. 

I shake my head, "You don't have to lie to me." I whisper. 

"I'm not." She laughs. "You must've kept quiet in there, you don't have one mark on her face." She seriously joked. 

"He was going crazy." I say as the nurse walked out of the room. "He um-- he handcuffed me and made me watch all of our old videos together." I say shaking my head. 

Paige sits down on the edge of my bed and starts rubbing my ankles softly. She looked at me and smiled. 

"I'm sorry that all of this is happening to you." She apologizes quietly. "I wish that I would've just stayed-" 

"No you leaving was what's best." I tell my best friend. "I just think that things would've went left if we both were there." I tell her. 

"Has Malik always been like that?" Paige asks me. 

"No he hasn't. When we first met he was the sweetest man ever. I'm talking flowers everyday. After he got locked up the first time it's like he switched to a whole new person." I tell my friend. 

She looked at me with sympathy in her eyes. "I'm so sorry." She says. 

"Don't be, it's nobody's fault but mines." i say shaking my head. "I should've left when I had the chance. When I first seen the red flags." 

"Hey do not blame yourself for this. It's not your fault." Paige says.

"Yeah you're right." 

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. 

"Come in." I say loudly. 

The door opened and my face lights up. 

"Mom!" I say quickly sitting up. 

"My baby." She said hugging me tightly. 

I felt my eyes burning. A tear fell down my cheek. Our hug tightened even more as I sat up all the way. I could feel the IV pull at my arm as it strained from the tight hug. I cpld the worry in my mother's cry. 

"I'm okay mom. I'm okay." I say softly. 

"Baby I was so scared. I didn't know what to think." She said rubbing circles on my back.