Contrite

two » a w a k e

"When we think of 'meant to be,' we automatically assume forever. But maybe it isn't supposed to last forever. Maybe it's just someone who is in your life to teach you something. Maybe the forever is not the person, but what we gain from them." — Unknown.

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Octavia

I open my eyes.

I grimace at the white light hanging over me and groan softly as I shut them again.

Ugh, I always hate white lights—

I'm dead.

I'm dead. I'm dead. I died oh my gosh I'm dead.

Forcing myself to open my eyes again, I shade them with my hand but stop when I feel it pull something. Frowning, I look at the thing connect to my hand, only to see a tube attached that connected to a machine. Sitting up, I look away from it then down at my body, seeing that my chest is wrapped in white bandages, as is my shoulder and side. I'm also wearing basketball pants and on my knee there was a brace. My ankle had a soft cream color bandage wrapped around it too.

Okay phew, I'm not dead.

What the fuck?

Wait.

And it seems as it was a flick of switching a light on, everything comes crashing in at once.

I've been kidnapped, sold twice for sex trafficking, almost got raped, dodged death multiple times, got shot at, lost the love of my life and in the process my friends, then was kidnapped again, tortured and finally shot.

Jesus Christ, how am I still alive?

I must be one strong ass bitch.

Leaning up, I look at all the wires attach to my body and feel my scars in my back tingle slightly. I am reminded of how I got them and my lips flatten to a tight line.

No, that's behind me now, I'm not gonna focus on that now.

Let's focus on what the fuck is happening right now.

I'm in a hospital room, the walls not a color of white like I expect them to be, instead they were a soft cream with a few pictures of colors on the walls. There is a small flat screen TV hanging on the wall, too, but it's turned off. Beside me, there is a window that is showing a city, I don't know where I am so I don't know what city it is. It is sunny outside, though, looks like a great day to go out, not a cloud in the sky. Right next to my hospital bed is a twin size bed that was pushed up against mine, a purple blanket draped over it and a duffel bag sitting on top of the bed, a few clothes sticking out. Not knowing who's clothes those were, I turn my head and found a couch that also has two bags on top of it.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, seeing a lot of gifts like stuffed animals, balloons with 'get well soon' written on them and cards sitting on a table across my bed.

Shaking my head, I move my legs and wiggle my toes. My knee gives a slight jerk of pain and I sigh, at least, it didn't hurt as bad as the last time. Pressing my bare feet against the cold tile floor, I wiggle my toes again, my hands clenching my bed sheets beside me as I look down.

Okay, now time to stand up—

The door to my room flies open and I look up, my body tensing as I am ready to grab something to defend myself with but I relax when I see who's standing there.

It's Lexi.

Her blonde hair is pull back in a messy ponytail and she's dressed in jeans and a red flannel with a white tank top underneath, red Converse on her feet. She looks shocked as she looks at me, having seemed speechless as she stares at me with wide green eyes.