Trust Me

Chapter 16

I see the sky. It's a mix of sunset colors, fused together in a beautiful array.
My body is numb. I can't remember very much. I think I was fighting...yes, I had a big fight with Josh. And then I went on a run...and Caleb followed me. We almost kissed...yes, almost. Then what?

"Owww," I croak, my voice hoarse. I can suddenly feel the pain in my leg.
In an instant, Caleb is at my side.

"Oh god, I thought you were dead," he says, fear apparent in his voice.

"What happened?" I ask. My mind skips back to when we almost kissed...why can't I remember anything past that?

"You really don't remember?" He asks. I shake my head.

"When you, um, leaned toward me, you somehow slipped, and fell about 30 ft, then slid down the gravel and finally stopped. I found a way down here, but you were barely conscious. Then you passed out. I've been waiting here, hoping you would wake up. You scared the crap out of me Lottie," he whispers.

I look him up and down... He's a mess.
He has cuts and bruises all over him, and his eyes are bloodshot. And his shirt has a huge chunk taken out of it.

As I try to sit up, I catch a glimpse of my leg. A blood soaked piece of Caleb's shirt is wrapped around it.

Still eyeing my leg, I ask, "How bad is it."

"You are definitely going to need stitches. But it's not broken."
Off in the distance, I hear a cougars roar. It's so far out that it's almost inaudible...but the sound is unmistakable.

I fearfully look into Caleb's eyes.
"I'm going to get you out of here," he assures me. But his confident words can't mask the fear in his eyes.