Georgia

Chapter 26

Caroline

My head. Oh my gosh why does my head hurt so bad? I feel like someone is beating on my temples with a hammer. I try to open my eyes but my eyelids feel so heavy. I can hear someone talking, I don't recognize the voice.

"Her vitals are fine, Mr. Boyer. Her head scans from this morning were still clear. Her body is just still in shock. The adrenaline surge our bodies feel with a sudden onset of trauma has the reverse effect once the adrenaline leaves our systems. That rush of energy turns into exhaustion, the ability to feel less pain is gone and everything can hit all at once. Everyone's bodies react to it differently and at different levels of intensity. I have no doubt that she will be awake soon."

"Thank you, Doctor." That's my dad. I try again to open my eyes but I feel so tired. I fall back asleep.

He's up on stage in a crowded smoky bar with his guitar strumming a soft slow melody. I make my way thru the crowd never taking my eyes off his. The closer I get to the stage the fewer people there seem to be around me. By the time I make it to the front there's no one in the bar but me and him. He's looking out at me with his big brown eyes and a sexy smile. He puts his guitar down and jumps off the stage. I meet him halfway, walking straight into his outstretched arms. He whispers in my ear, "I've missed you, Caroline."

"Luke." I say out loud. I open my eyes squinting from the bright white lights in the room.

"Huh, yeah...he's not here. It's just me." James says quietly, his voice full of sadness.

I look over to where James is sitting in the chair by the window. "I'm sorry, I was just-"

He cuts me off, "Dreaming about him."

Everything comes back to me. Luke showing up at my door telling me that he's in love with me. Him telling me he wants to marry me. James walking up on us kissing. Me running after him. The car. The ambulance. How long have I been here? I try to sit up and wince from the pain in my side. James gets up and comes to the bedside taking my hand and adjusting the pillows behind me.

"Thank you." I mumble. "How long have I been here? Am I ok? I feel alright, just sore."

"It's been a couple days. The doctor says you're fine. You have a few bruised ribs, some cuts and scrapes but other than that you're ok. You're pretty lucky."

"Lucky? Really?"

"It could've been worse Caroline. I'm sorry. It's my fault. You were following me, I should've stopped and talked to you instead of just taking off," he says with his head hanging down pulling at the ends of my blanket with his fingers.

"Don't do that. This isn't your fault, not in any way at all." I say the pain in my side hurting with every breath I take.

"So, it's him isn't it?" he asks looking up at me.

"James, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know that, Caroline. You can't help who you fall in love with. He seems to really care about you. He hasn't left once. The nurses said the only time he leaves that chair in the waiting room is to go to the chapel."

I smile knowing that Luke is out there waiting for me. My dad walks in just as James is getting up to leave. He bends down to kiss my cheek. I grab his hand holding him there, looking up at him I say, "You're my best friend. I don't want to lose you."

He smiles down at me, bringing my hand to his mouth and kissing my knuckles. "You should know me better than that. It's gonna take more than this to get rid of me, Boyer." And he leaves.

My dad comes to sit in the chair by the bed. His face swollen, his eyes red and puffy. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. "How are you feeling?" he asks.