Breathe

Chapter 51

"The way they leave tells you everything." -Unknown

I can hear my surroundings but everything is black. I hear voices talking about me. My name is repeatedly spoken by multiple voices. Is that my mother?

I try to speak but no sounds escape my mouth. Did these men take our parents too? I have no idea what is going on. I've never missed my sight so much. 

I try to ignore my thoughts and listen closer to my surroundings.  "We're unsure at the moment. She could wake up in minutes or hours. It's up to her," a man says. His voice is different from my kidnappers. It's soft and reassuring. I'm not sure how much time passes but eventually the voices turn silent.

I think a few hours have passed. I've made progress within the past ten minutes because I'm now able to move the fingers on my right hand. I squint my eyes multiple times before I can open them. I'm staring at a ceiling. I roll my eyes down to see I'm laying in a bed with a needle in my arm. How did I get to a hospital?

Once my brain catches up with me, I feel a constant pain shooting up my wrist. I look over to see my wrist wrapped in some form of a cast. If I'm in a hospital, couldn't they give me more painkillers? What the fuck even happened to me? On the bright side, I'm safe inside this hospital.

I continue looking around the room. I spot Luke curled up in a chair near the corner, just ten feet from me. How long have I been here? I wonder if anyone knows what happened to me, besides Luke. 

"Luke?" My voice is quiet and I doubt he can hear me. Unfortunately, he's a heavy sleeper. I want to ask him what happened, but if I wake him he'll be too busy panicking that he won't listen. Oh well.

I grab an empty plastic cup near my bed. Gathering my strength, I throw the cup at his chest. If there's anything to be happy about, it's that I broke my left hand instead of my right hand. Now that I think of it, I'm not sure what happened to my hand. It's completely covered with material.

His body jolts a second after the cup hits him. "Vanessa! How are you?" he asks with more than enough panic in his voice. Before I can respond he jumps out of his chair and runs out of the room. 

"Doctor Harvey! She's awake!" he yells down the hall. Apparently I'm the only calm one at the moment. I probably should be panicking too, but I'm exhausted. Plus, I'm safe, so there's not too much to worry about. 

Dr. Harvey walks in the room quickly but with grace. His eyes automatically glance at the screen beside me to check my vitals. I feel fine, except for the pain in my wrist and hand.  

"Would you excuse us for a moment?" he directs at Luke.

"But she just woke up and-"

"Please, Luke," I plead. "I'll still be here in five minutes."

"I'll go find your parents." He stubbornly walks out of the room and shuts the door. Shit, so my parents are here. I need to figure out a lie to tell everyone. I wonder what Luke told the doctor and my parents.

"Your vitals are stable for the most part. Your heartbeat is a little weak from all the anesthesia."

"You know about that?" I ask and he raises an eyebrow. "Oh." Of course he knows; he's a doctor.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" 

"I can't talk about it." I'll refrain from lying. I suppose I just won't talk about it. I don't want to relive the moments of it anyways.

"And why is that?"

"I...I just can't."

"I'm your doctor. I can't tell anyone except your parents, anyways."

"My parents don't need to know."

"I see. Are you at least able to tell me why you were on an anesthetic?"

"I..I can't. Did it hurt me?"

"You will be fine. Whatever happened, you were given a large dose of the anesthetic, so that's why you're feeling weak. And you're on painkillers for your wrist."

"Oh."

"So, your wrist will need surgery. You sustained multiple fractures. However, because of the anesthesia you've recently been under, your body won't do well if we give you more. Our course of action is to wait until your body, specifically your heart, is strong and ready to go back under. Then we will perform the surgery and you'll be out of here."

"Thank you." He raises his eyebrow at me again. I know he wants me to explain what happened, but I can't until I talk to Luke. "What time is it?"

"Five."

"In the morning?"

"Yes. A nurse will be around in a few hours to check up on you."

"Okay. Thank you."

Minutes later, Luke, my mother, and my father walk into my room. Luke seems to have had a change of heart. He is much calmer and composed.

"How are you, darling?" my mother inquires softly, rushing to my bedside. I hear her silently sobbing but I don't say anything to avoid embarrassing her.

I shrug my shoulders. "Fine, just a little tired."

"You should sleep. It seems as if you've been through a lot today," she says and smiles sympathetically. I smile back.

"I'll stay here while you sleep, just to make sure you're okay."

"Mom it's fine, really. You should sleep too. Please, for me?"

 "I suppose. We're staying at the hotel across the road. If you need anything, just have the hospital call us, okay?"

"Okay, mom."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Love you."

"I love you more," she says and hugs me for what seems an eternity of time.

My father approaches my bed slowly and hugs me. I can't remember the last time I hugged him. "I'll be okay, Dad."

"Don't ever scare us like that again, kiddo," he says jokingly.

"I'll try not to."

They exit the room after a few more questions and good-bye's. Luke pulls the chair next to my bed and sits silently, unsure what to say.

He finally speaks up. "I don't know where to begin apologizing for all of this."

"I don't care as long as those men are gone and we're safe. We are safe, right?" I ask.

"Yes," he says.

"What did you tell my parents?"

"I said you fell down the stairs at my house."

"Sounds like something I would do," I whisper with a slight smile creeping upon my lips.

"I've caused you so many problems and so much pain," he says, his voice cracking towards the end.

"I'm human. Humans heal." I'm trying to make light of the situation. This whole dilemma is a huge mess. What else can I do?

"This will never again. I promise," he whispers softly. 

He opens his mouth to speak again but quickly closes it. I think he wants to yell at me for some reason. Maybe it's because I'm trying being optimistic at the moment and he's obviously conflicted about the whole situation. I can't help it. 

There's too much tension between us. Instead of speaking, he grabs my normal hand and simply holds it. We stay silent until I fall asleep.

...

hiii babes! look at me updating so quickly :))

I think this book will be ending pretty soon, but we've probably still got 10+ chapters! (And idk if you guys want an epilogue??)

Anyways, 30 votes for a new chapter??

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