Entirely Different Person [PETER]

Chapter 24 - The beginning of the end?

Theoretically, I'd like to say waking up in a hospital bed isn't the worst feeling ever— but then again; I'd be lying.

As I open my eyes, I'm met with the dim lighting of a room, with a quiet beeping of the machines around me signaling that I'm still alive which brings me a little comfort; yet disappointment. My eyes begin to adjust after being closed for however long I was unconscious, and they quickly scan around the room to assess my situation. I can see the wires and tubes going in and out of my body, some going through my nose and others on my arm— whatever you'd like to imagine. The sight of it all makes me feel a bit nauseous and I look away, letting my eyes rest on the ceiling. It's a blank, white space; not much to look at but it feels comfortable enough.

I take a deep breath and try to stay calm, even though everything is confusing and overwhelming and is making me anxious. I start to think of what could have led to my current state and my mind quickly flashes back to the events before I blacked out. The fear, the confusion, the chaos. I shake my head side to side and swallow the lump in my throat, trying to make peace of the situation I'm in.

After a few more minutes of just taking deep breaths, I feel the pain in my chest start to fade, and I slowly open my eyes. I blink a few times, trying to fully acclamate myself to my surroundings once again. Then, I'm met with footsteps approaching my door, and a doctor standing at the foot of my bed, looking down at me.

"You're awake," she says with a sigh of relief. "I was getting really worried about you there for a moment." She chuckles, trying to ease the tension. The doctor takes a step closer to me, and I can see the concern in her eyes. "How are you feeling?" She forces a smile.

"I feel okay, I guess," I reply, my voice weak and hoarse from having been unconscious for so long. This all feels so foreign to me. I let out a small sigh, trying to keep my emotions in check as I look back up at the doctor.

The doctor nods and takes a seat beside my bed. "You had quite the accident," she says, looking over my chart. "You fainted due to blood loss, we had to perform emergency surgery on you," She gives me a reassuring smile. "But it all went smoothly— You're going to be okay." she says, her voice steady and calm.

I let out a small sigh of relief at her words. It's a relief to know that I'm going to be okay, but at the same time, I can't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me as I remember them.

"Wait— how's TK?"

A FEW HOURS LATER.

"I'm getting discharged tomorrow," I say to them. They don't say anything back, and I don't expect them to. They just bear the same expression they had when I walked in this room.

"They ran a few more tests tonight, but by the afternoon I'll be good to go. Isn't that neat?" I forced a smile, trying to make myself feel better. I grasp their hand, their cold touch sending a shiver down my spine.

I sigh, trying to make sense of all of this. "I'm sorry that you got involved. I'm sorry you fell in love with me, I'm sorry I went to go work at that stupid diner. I'm sorry I stole your life away."

They still don't say anything. They don't even look at me. And I'm sure if they were in fact awake, they still wouldn't fix their gaze to meet mine.

"They're unfortunately in a coma," the doctor's words echoed in my ears.

I'm sorry, TK.

PRESENT DAY

"I know I'm probably one of the last people you want to see right now, yet you still contacted me," She handed me my bag of clothes so I can change out of my hospital gown, and I tried to hide the grimace in my face. Am I in the wrong for having my guard up? She is his sister after all. "You must be really desperate."

"I had no one else to call to get my stuff. I almost don't want to even step foot into that house again, the only reason I'm going to is to get my belongings." I sighed, trying to play off my suspicions.

She placed her hands in her hips and looked me up and down as I got up from the hospital bed to go change in the bathroom. "Yeah but I thought you wouldn't call me about it. You don't want anything to do with our family,"

"Can you blame me?" I scoffed. "Blood runs thicker than water."

A FEW HOURS LATER.

I sat there, staring at the tombstone.

"I missed your funeral." I pulled out my vape.

"I know, you told me to stop. I probably would've if you were still here."

I know that words can never make up for what I did to her, but it's all I can do. I take out my vape and use it to escape the pain for just a few moments. After taking a hit, I take a deep breath and try to figure out what to do next. I realize that I need to face the consequences of my actions. I can't continue to run away from the past.

...

"I'm sorry I couldn't get him to stop."

...

"...Sorry that he got to you first."

...

"God— I'm so sorry Lucy."

What do I do now?

2 YEARS LATER, TK'S POV

"Where are they?!" I roared at the top of my lungs. The hospital staff and security tried to keep me in place, and they were doing a fucking good job at it.

"Please calm down, we're doing everything we can to get in touch with them." One of the police officers tried to reassure me. But it didn't work. I'm fucking angry and pissed.

"Words won't help me— where are they?!"

MEANWHILE. (Y/N's POV)

"It fucking stinks like shit in here," I say out loud as one of the guards opens the door up for me. "Do you guys ever clean or do you just let the corpses rot in here?"

The door closes behind me. I've changed a lot from these last two years. I've grown. I'm not afraid of him anymore. I'm doing this for me.

"You've seen better days," I laugh at his dreadful state. The chains shackle him to the floor, they're around both his wrists and ankles. He looks manic and almost unrecognizable as there's a muzzle around his mouth, the same mouth I used to kiss in the mornings, the afternoons, the nights...

He struggles to break free, his mouth foaming. I stand just a few feet away from him.

"Why didn't they spare you the suffering and just hang your stupid ass?"

I look at him longingly.

I loved him.

"Why don't you take it easy Peter? It's just me."

1206 words.