IGNITE

thirty-two.

੭୧ 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 ੭୧

I had done a lot of hard things in my life.

Waking up had been the hardest.

A slow, gradual process as I felt consciousness returning to me, and with it came the pain. A constant, aching throb that filled my entire body. My head pounded with a sting I couldn't comprehend, every breath sending a pang shooting through my abdomen.

It hurt to move. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to think.

It took every bit of energy I possessed to force my eyes open. My body felt weak, and my mind sluggish. A low groan left me as my lids opened slowly, my lashes stuck together by what I could only imagine was dried blood.

Everything around me was a white so bright that my head throbbed painfully, and my eyes watered as I attempted to adjust. As my eyes slowly adjusted to the light, I tried to move my arm to cover my eyes, to shield myself from the harsh whiteness, but my limbs wouldn't listen, the movement only resulting in my arms shaking with the strain of it.

"Piper? Piper! Oh my God, you're awake." Maxine's voice was barely audible, and I cringed as a sharp ringing echoed through my brain, drowning out her words. Her fingers closed around mine, her touch sending a fresh wave of agony through my limbs.

My throat was dry and raw as I opened my mouth to speak, the sound barely audible. "Bright," was all I managed, my eyes sliding closed as my body slumped. "Too bright."

A small 'oh' escaped Max, followed by a light click as she dimmed the lights, the sudden absence of the blinding brightness allowing my eyes to flutter open once again, a sigh of relief leaving me at the sight of Max, standing at the foot of the bed. She looked utterly exhausted, her usually perfected appearance now messy as her hair lay unkempt atop her head. Heavy, dark bags lay under her eyes, which were red and swollen. Her lips were pressed into a thin line as she stared at me, her hands resting on her abdomen.

If I wasn't in so much pain, I would have laughed at how beautiful she still looked.

"Do you want some water? The doctors will be here soon and—"

"How bad is it?" Each word hurt as it left me, my voice weak. My eyes were locked on Max's as she stared at me, her face somehow paler as her mouth twisted.

"They thought you were dead when the ambulance arrived," her voice was strained, her hand clasped tightly around the railing of my bed. "Your pulse was so faint. The doctor's say you were bleeding internally and you have a couple bruised ribs. You needed stitches in your forehead and shoulder," she gestured vaguely to the wounds and I swallowed heavily, feeling my heart skip as I caught the slight quiver in her voice, the tremble of her hands on the rail. "You're really lucky to be alive, Pipes."

"What about Cyrus?" My throat constricted at the memory. "Where is he? I need to—" tears stung at my eyes at the thought of him in the ditch. I had failed.

"Is he alright? He's not—" the rest of the words refused to leave me, caught in my throat as I tried to breath, panic seeping into my lungs like water as I tried pushing myself into a sitting position, a cry of pain leaving me. "He was dying," I gasped as Max rushed to my side, pushing me back against the pillows and leaning over me, her face twisted into an expression of agony. "Max, please, tell me he's not dead."

"You're still really badly hurt, you can't do that, Piper." Her fingers traced the bandages that covered my cheek. "It's okay," her words penetrated through the relentless ringing in my ears, "I promise it's all going to be okay. I promise, Pipes. He's fine, Cyrus is alive."