Under the Hollywood Sign (editing)

Chapter 19

Delilah

I woke up in a hospital.

My head was pounding, my body was full of pain-- and I had no idea what happened.

I sat myself up in the bed.

I looked over at the machine, and I had an even heartbeat, even though it didn't feel like it.

I was hooked up to an IV, and I was confused.

I looked around the room, and then I sighed. My hands went to my hair, and I ran my fingers through my meduim 'Duff McKagan' style hair- besides the pain. I started to tear up.

I was alone in the room, and the hospital was quiet. I reached for my phone which was on the nightstand. I called Shane, and I heard a phone ring closeby. He came walking in the room, and once he saw me, he threw his arms around my neck He buried his face in my hair. I whimpered.

"Oh God, I'm sorry."

He loosened his grip on me, and then he held me gently.

"Shane, what happened?"

He choked up.

"It's ok, you can tell me when you're ready."

His strong but gentle hands rested on the back of my neck, and his nose rested on mine. Then, tears began to stream down my face.

"Thank God you're alive."

Then, he kissed me on my lips.

I did something I should have done before. I checked my ring finger.

The ring was still on my finger. Thank God.

He pulled away a minute later, and he said softly, looking like he was about to cry.

"How are you feeling?"

He sniffed.

"My body is full of pain, I don't remember a thing... I just... hurt."

"I'll get a nurse."

He hit the emergency call button, and a nurse came running in.

I didn't really care about everything else.

I was just glad that I was alive.

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When he got to take me back home, I never wanted to leave him ever again.

He made me dinner, and we ate it on the couch. He was flipping through the stations, but I stopped him at a particular one. I took the remote from him, in the fear that he would change the channel.

I leaned back, and I watched. The newscaster said

"Criminal caught last night who captured a young Journalist in London two weeks ago..."'

I watched and listened for a while, until I couldn't take it anymore.

I stood up, put my plate on the coffee table, and I began to walk. He stood up, and he grabbed my wrist.

"Wait."

"No. I just need a minute."

I went upstairs, and I took a shower.

Then, I stood in front of the mirror, and I looked at all my bruises. I was knocked out, kidnapped, and attacked.

I sighed, and I took a Tylenol.

I went to put my hair up, but my left shoulder refused to move without excruciating pain.

I put on my pajamas, and I went downstairs, and I grabbed a bag of ice so I could ice my shoulder.

I laid in bed, and I whimpered at the level of pain I was in. I began to cry.

He came up, and he laid next to me. He tried not to hurt me as he held me gently. My tears landed softly on his arm, and I watched them run and drip off of his arm, and onto the sheet. I watched them soak in to the sheets, and make small wet spots. One by one.

I watched the diamond on my left hand glint in the ray of light coming through the crack in the door.

He fell asleep an hour later. His soft, even breaths were bouncing off the back of my neck. His strong and gentle arms were still holding me gently throughout the night.

Soon, I forced myself to close my eyes. I convinced myself that I wasn't going to have a nightmare.

But that doesn't always work.

************************************

I woke up in a cold sweat. I sat straight up, and I was panting trying to catch my breath.

I didn't mean to wake him up, but I accidentally did. He sat up next to me, and he gently out his arm on my back.

"Bad dream?"

I nodded.

"It's over now. It was just a dream. It was never real. I'm here."

I slowly laid back down. He held me against his chest until we fell back asleep.

The next morning, I took a shower before I did anything. I didn't look any better, and I didn't feel any better. I whimpered, and I went downstairs.

I took a few bites of my chocolate chip waffle, and the rest I couldn't finish. I lost my appetite. The last thing I wanted was food.

"Are you not hungry?"

I gave him a look.

"That was a stupid question, I know."

I got up from the table, and I put my plate in the fridge, when I turned back around, I walked straight into his arms.

"I won't let anybody hurt you. Trust me on that."

"I trust you with my life, Shane."

"But you don't trust me with your hair."

"Not really."

I laughed.

"Never again am I making a bet with you that I know I'm gonna lose."

"That's a good plan."

I stayed in bed for the rest of the day. He said to me

"Have I told you lately that you're my life and my love?"

"Now you did."

Time flew by, and soon, I was lying in bed, and it hit me.

I was getting married tomorrow.