Break Me

13

The stillness of the night enveloped me as I lay on the bed. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing a mile a minute. It had been three days since I had left Trevor, and every minute felt like an eternity. The ache in my chest was a constant reminder of the love I had lost, and the fear of what he was going through when he was alone in our apartment was gnawing at my insides. I had poured all my energy into finding some semblance of peace, but the absence of his presence left a hollow void that echoed with every heartbeat.
Just as I began to drift off into a restless sleep, my phone rang, jolting me awake. I fumbled for it, heart racing as I glanced at the screen. The name "Evan" flashed before my eyes. I quickly answered, my voice trembling with fear.
"Ellie?" Evan's voice came through, tense and hurried. "It's Trevor."
My heart plummeted, dread settling in my stomach like a stone. "What happened?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"He's in St. Francis' Hospital," Evan said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "You need to come. He's in the ICU."
The world around me blurred as the gravity of his words sunk in. I felt the air leave my lungs, panic rising within me like a tidal wave. "Is he okay?" I managed to choke out.
"I don't know," Evan replied, his voice strained. "They're doing everything they can, but... you need to get here."
I didn't respond, the shock rendering me speechless. My mind raced, a chaotic swirl of emotions—fear, anger, sorrow. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to plunge into the abyss.
"Ellie?" Evan's voice broke through my haze. "Are you there?"
"Yeah, I'm here," I said, shaking my head to clear the fog. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
I lay the phone down, my heart pounding in my chest. The reality of Trevor's situation crashed down on me, and I felt my breath quicken. I had left him to protect myself, but now I was being thrust back into a nightmare I had tried to escape.mI leapt out of bed, the urgency propelling me into motion. I needed to get to the hospital, needed to see him, but panic clawed at me. I rushed out of Amy's room, finding her and Daniel sitting on the couch, talking softly.
"Amy! Daniel!" I shouted. "We have to go. Trevor's in the hospital!"
The color drained from Amy's face, her eyes wide with shock. "What? Oh my God, Ellie, are you serious?"
"Evan just called me," I said, my voice shaky. "He's in the ICU."
"Grab your shit and let's go!" Daniel said, standing up abruptly.
The drive to the hospital felt agonizingly slow, each passing moment stretching into eternity. The streets blurred past in a haze, but all I could focus on was the nagging fear that I might lose him forever. My mind raced with memories of us, of his laughter, of his warmth, and the way he had held me close during our happiest moments. I couldn't let this be the end of our story.
When we arrived at St. Francis' Hospital, I leapt from the car, my heart pounding as I sprinted towards the entrance. Amy and Daniel followed closely behind, their expressions grave and determined. The fluorescent lights inside the hospital flickered above us, casting a stark glow on the sterile walls. I felt a sense of dread settle over me, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my shoulders.
"Where do we go?" I asked, glancing around the busy lobby.
"We need to find the ICU," Daniel said, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.
We navigated the hospital corridors, my pulse racing as we approached the ICU. The air felt thick with tension, and I could sense the heaviness of fear hanging around me. I had never been in a situation like this, and my heart ached with each step closer to the unknown.
As we reached the ICU waiting area, I spotted Evan pacing nervously by the reception desk. He looked up as we approached, his expression strained. "Ellie, thank God you're here," he said, relief flooding his voice.
"Where is he?" I asked urgently, desperation clawing at me.
"They're still working on him," he replied, his brow furrowing.
My heart dropped at his words, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. "Can I see him?"
Evan hesitated, glancing at the nurses stationed at the ICU entrance. "I don't know if they'll let you in yet. It's pretty chaotic back there."
As Evan approached the desk, I turned to Amy and Daniel, my heart racing. "What if he doesn't make it? What if... what if this is it?"
"Don't think like that," Amy said firmly, grasping my hand. "We need to stay positive. He's a fighter. He made it through before; he can do it again."
Daniel nodded, his expression serious. "You need to be there for him, Ellie. He needs you now more than ever."
Just then, Evan returned, his expression somber. "The nurse said you can go in for a few minutes, but you have to be quick."
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I followed Evan through the sterile white hallway, my breath coming in short gasps. As we approached the door to the ICU, I felt a mix of fear and determination surging within me. I had to be strong for Trevor, even if it felt like my world was crumbling around me.
When the door swung open, the sterile room came into view. Trevor lay in the bed, a tangle of wires and tubes surrounding him, his pale face barely visible beneath the medical equipment. My heart shattered at the sight, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
"Ellie..." he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, barely audible beneath the steady beeping of the machines.
I rushed to his side, grasping his hand in mine, feeling the warmth of his skin against the coldness of the room. "I'm here, Trevor. I'm right here," I said, my voice trembling.
"Ellie," he said, tears streaming down his face. "I'm scared."
"I'm scared too," I admitted, feeling the weight of our reality settle over us. "But we can do this together. Just promise me you'll go to rehab as soon as you get out of here."
"I promise," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'll do whatever it takes. I want to be better for you. For us."
I nodded, feeling the hope flickering within me as I clung to his hand. "I know you will, Trevor. I believe in you."
The door swung open, and my heart sank as I spotted Morgan stepping into the room. Her presence felt like a dark cloud overshadowing the fragile light of hope I had been holding onto. She stood there, arms crossed, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice low and filled with rage.
"I came to see Trevor," she replied coolly, glancing between us as if this was all a game.
"You need to leave," I said firmly, standing between her and Trevor's bed.
"Who are you to decide that?" she shot back, her tone icy. "I have a right to be here just as much as you do."
"Right?" I scoffed, anger boiling inside me. "You're the reason he's here!"
Morgan stepped closer, a mocking smile on her lips. "He doesn't want you, Ellie. He's just using you."
"Get out!" Daniel shouted, stepping up beside me, his fists clenched. "Haven't you done enough damage? Are you only going to be satisfied when he's fucking dead!"
She raised an eyebrow, her expression unfazed. "Oh, my sweet Danny boy, you don't know the half of what's really going on."
"I know enough to see that you need to walk the fuck out of that door and never come back," Daniel spat, fury radiating off him. "Do not let me see your fucking face in this room or anywhere else, am I making myself clear?"
The tension in the room thickened, and I felt Trevor's hand tighten around mine, his expression shifting between confusion and fear. I could see how overwhelmed he was by everything happening around him.
"Enough!" I yelled, my voice breaking through the chaos. "This isn't the time. Trevor needs to focus on getting better, and this is not helping him."
Morgan's gaze hardened, but I stood my ground, unwilling to back down. "Leave now, or I will make you leave."
"Fine," she sneered, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "But this isn't over, Ellie. In the end you will see that he is mine."
With that, she turned and stormed out of the room, her presence leaving a heavy silence in her wake. I exhaled, relief washing over me, but the fear lingered.
"Trevor, focus on me," I said softly, squeezing his hand. "You have to promise me you'll do what it takes to get better."
"I promise," he whispered, tears glistening in his eyes. "I'll go to rehab. I want to be with you, Ellie. I can't keep living like this."
"Then let's make that happen," I said, my heart swelling with a mixture of hope and fear. "I'll be here every step of the way. We can do this together."
As the machines beeped steadily around us, I knew the road ahead would be fraught with challenges. But for the first time in a long while, I felt a flicker of hope reignite within me, a determination to fight for the love we had built, even in the face of darkness. Together, we would navigate this path, one step at a time.
But as I watched Trevor close his eyes, exhaustion washing over him, I knew this was only the beginning of a long journey. A journey filled with heartache and healing, but one I was willing to face if it meant saving the man I loved.