Fairy Tale

Chapter 70: Recovery

Emily's eyes fluttered again. It was bright. And there was a lot of noise. Random beeps and other loud noises. She heard shuffling and felt the bed dip. Something warm and callused, took her cold hand. She felt an instant reassurance, felt a sense of calm wash over her. 

"Emmy? Can you hear me?"

She ever so slowly and cautiously turned her head towards the voice. Even that little bit of moving made her head hurt. She made some kind of whimpering noise but that just made her throat hurt and a spike of fear flashed through her body, she couldn't swallow properly or talk or anything, something was shoved in her mouth. Her eyes became panicked.

"Shhh. Shh, baby it's okay. Don't talk.  It's okay, it's okay. You're okay, your safe. You have a tube in your throat to help you breathe."

She blinked a few more times, trying to focus on the voice. Her eyes were blurry and sore but a few more times and the person came into focus. Minho sat on her bed. His big dark eyes were steady and focused on her. They looked watery in the sunshine that poured into the room.

"Emily..." He whispered again. She heard his voice crack. He didn't bother to wipe the tear away. She was so sore and tired she couldn't even lift her hand to brush it away. So she just watched it slowly fall. The panic she felt was there still, but momentarily pushed back. If Minho was here and he said it was okay, then she believed him. 

"I'm sorry! Emily, I'm so sorry!" His voice was hardly more than a whisper. He had her hand in his, gently brushing his thumb over her knuckles. And his other hand gently caressed her temple and cheek. She wasn't sure what he was sorry for. And she couldn't talk, so she just blinked a few more times.

"I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry."

She wanted to tell him she didn't blame him at all. But she couldn't. She wanted to tell him she loved him. But she couldn't. She wanted to tell him a lot of things. But she couldn't. She used what little strength she had to squeeze his hand weakly. He gently squeezed back. He sniffed and took a shuddering breath. "How are you feeling? I should call the doctor. Jorge just went to get some lunch."

He leaned forward and pulled the call bell. A little bell started to go off. Minho went back to gently stocking her face and just taking in her in. Emily lay still, still too sore and exhausted and scared to move. She looked closer at him. He looked tired, he had dark bags under his eyes, his lip had a good scab. There was a big cut that was pretty much healed on his forehead that disappeared into his hairline. He had a few faded bruises from his fight with Ben. But his eyes had a gentleness and a relief to them. Like a huge weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. He was wearing his jeans and a hoodie, his hat on backwards. He looked good. Emily had no idea how long she had been out or where she was or what was going on, but she couldn't rip her eyes off Minho. He was her anchor from panicking and ripping the thing from her face, from spiraling into panic. 

Emily knew she had been unconscious but had no idea how long or what happened to her. She felt pinches in her arms and a sharp pain in her stomach and a heavy weight in her chest. Every time she moved her head, her head pounded and her neck and throat hurt. She felt a surge of panic every time she tried to swallow. The only thing she could really do was move her eyes and blink, but even moving her eyes made her head hurt. Minho was holding her hand gently, and gently brushing the hair from her forehead, Emily allowed herself to close her eyes for a second, she was so tired and sore, but his gentle carful movements were soothing. 

There was footsteps, and Emily's snapped open. They flicked to Minho in panic, but he shushed her gently again and he seemed calm and relaxed, which eased her panic again. Someone appeared at the end of her bed. He had kind eyes behind his dark framed glasses and a gentle open face. His salt and pepper hair and beard were trimmed short. He smiled at her, his hands in the pockets of his lab coat.