Shattered

Chapter 9 Bradley

"Deep down you already know the truth." Unknown

Bradley couldn't stop smiling. It felt as though her entire body was radiating twinkle lights. She kept curling and uncurling toes trying to repeat how her body just magically responded to the electric current that Mark had created when he held her.

The bathroom door squeaked open. "Be quiet," he laughed. "I can hear you."

Bradley covered her mouth, still grinning. "I can't help it, I feel, I feel so...alive! Hurry up and come back to bed," she kicked the sheets and blanket off her body and darted out of bed towards him.

Mark quickly pulled her into the bathroom and pinned her against the bathroom door, holding her arms high above her head before passionately pressing his lips to hers. His tongue swirled around hers, tasting, probing, deeper. Bradley moved her hips towards him.

"Crap," she laughed. The front of his shirt was soaked with water.

"The sink needs to be fixed," Mark smiled.

He kissed her gently on the forehead and took a step back and held his arms out so she could examine the waterlogged shirt. Her focus was lower, on the navy scrubs that hung on his waist. His steel blue eyes seemed lighter, less intense.

Bradley licked her lips. "Guess you'll have to take them off?" she joked.

He rolled his eyes and smirked. "Don't tempt me."

"I dare you," she challenged biting her lower lip.

"Fine, I'll sleep in the recliner."

"No," she pouted. "I want you to hold me."

He kissed her fingers. "I'll be right out. I'm going to try to dry some of this off with a towel."

"Hurry up," she giggled, leaving him some privacy.

Bradley glided across the room towards the bed in her hospital socks, the back of the gown on top flowing behind her as she twirled. She was high on life, deep in love, and she was moments away from falling asleep in Mark's arms. She had defied death but the only thing that mattered; the only thing she felt was the depth of Mark's love.

"Do you think other people in the hospital feel this good after almost dying?" she giggled as she spun in a circle.

"What are you doing?"

Bradley recognized the high pitch of her sister's voice. She swallowed hard and slowly turned around on the balls of her feet. Her mouth was immediately dry and she gasped for air. Phil was standing behind Kristin, both blocking the way to get to Mark.

"Are you okay?" Phil asked. "What's wrong?"

"Mark," Bradley whispered, reaching out, she needed air, she was suffocating. The walls were closing in fast, she felt off balance, shaky, unable to stand. She let her legs collapse under her as she fell to the linoleum floor.

"Bradley!" screamed Kristin. "Someone help us!"

Everything became blurred, colors mixed together as her head felt like it was no longer attached to her body. "Breathe!" She was floating farther and farther away. "BREATHE, DAMMIT! BRADLEY, BREATHE FOR ME!" Her head snapped back into place and she gasped for air, her body shaking uncontrollably. "That's good," Mark was holding her face up with one hand, his other hand over her heart. "Breathe with me," he encouraged. "Feel me breathing behind you. Please, baby, we can do this together. We breathe together."

The stab in her upper arm jolted her. Bradley grabbed Mark's hand over her heart and squeezed him tight. The walls slowly started to move back in place, the air lightened and it became easier to breathe. "Don't let me go," she pleaded.

"I won't," he promised.

Bradley noticed the nurse standing over her. "We should get her into bed," she suggested waiving the male nurse she had seen earlier over.

"I got her," Mark said.

Bradley felt like dead weight as Mark stood behind her, lifting her off the floor, while both nurses assisted him.

"What happened?" Bradley looked at Mark's sullen face.

"It was a panic attack," the male nurse answered. "You'll be okay now. We gave you something to calm you down, help you to sleep."

"Everyone out," the female nurse snapped. "It's almost four and you're all running around like this is a dormitory."

"Mark, don't leave me," begged Bradley. Her body felt numb. "I need him, please, don't make him leave me."

"He can stay," the male nurse smiled. "You, pretty girl, need to go back to your room and you, tall boy need to go back to the waiting room."

Bradley rolled on her side towards the railing, allowing Mark room to share the bed. She immediately felt his arms around her and turned into him. He wiped the sweat from her forehead; his palms cool against her clammy skin. She buried herself in the heat radiating from his skin, not even bothered by the wetness from his shirt. He had created a cocoon sheltering her from all the evil in the world. This evil had a name, it was Kristin Elizabeth Whitfield. Before she could thank Mark for staying with her, she was completely passed out.