• A Blackbird's Serenade • (GxG)

"Black Leaves"

Journee

Thoughts of the worst and the best case scenarios danced a dangerous duel at the forefront of my mind, each step forward and back matching the pounding of my fast beating heart.

It contrasted the painstakingly slow pace of hers, for my hand refused to leave her chest while my eyes refused to focus on anything other than her face. Freightened out of my mind that she'd stop breathing any moment now.

Please don't leave me... I can't lose you too...

Up front, while we sat in the back, Franklin drove like a madman to get us to the nearest hospital, yet with this traffic it was almost impossible to be any quicker.

Although with every swerve and sway he'd caused, I didn't loosen my palpitated grip on her in my arms. I could hear the fearful shudders of my every breath as I sniffled, unable to lessen my river of tears nor stop my head from hopelessly shaking.

She was nearly purple with bruises all over her body, and the wrap at her leg from an apparent torn sleeve still gave way to the steep damage done.

Blood streamed from her nose and her head, as were sprinkled droplets of it all across her face and badly disheveled clothes. Her neck was imprinted with reddened marks, and she honestly looked like she'd just crawled her way up from hell.

I wasn't sure what all she'd survived, but I was just glad to have laid eyes on her again. After thinking devastatingly, only minutes ago, that I never would.

I couldn't afford to think the worst. To give in to the thought that I'd be going home to an empty apartment soon. I couldn't afford to believe that I'd never see that smile again or feel those hands wrapped around me. That tonight would be the last time I heard that infamous laugh, or looked into those gorgeous brown eyes... 

I have to believe that she's going to live, despite how bad it looked right now.

She has to survive this. She just has to...

Overwhelmed with emotion, I pressed my forehead gently to hers, my quivering lips hopelessly curling to fight their trembling. Dammit Tiana don't you leave me here...

"Baby hurry, go get help-" Franklin spoke while the two of them were already rushing out of the car as soon as we pulled up to the door, the tires screeching.. "C'mon Jo, I got her-"

"B-Be careful Franky, h-her ribs are badly bruised-" I muttered while helping him place her unconscious body in his arms. "And watch her leg too-"

"I got her Jo, I got her," he spoke softly to me, having my teary eyes drag warily from her to his knowing and assuring gaze.

Though before I could respond, three nurses emerged from the doubled wooden doors, searching for a supposed victim.

"What happened??" one asked, going to check her pulse as another trailed behind with a gurney.

"Our building was bombed," Franklin answered. "She was in there longer than the rest of us, and I don't how she escaped- but she passed out about two minutes after she did."

"And her name?" the third nurse asked, strapping Tiana in while the others moved with quickness and carefulness, rolling her inside.

"T-Tiana Thomas..."

"Age?"

"Twenty-two," I answered, a tinge immediately clutching at my heart once I remembered her birthday being in the next week or two.

"Possible injuries, Dr. Peterson?"

They spoke to each other while moving hastily around her, somehow worrying me even more. It smelled of staleness, cold, and death in here. Hardly any color dressed the walls, and the aura of each person here seemed to be turning gray with each moment passed. Or maybe it was just me...