I felt more light headed than normal. I began turning my head, trying desperately to wake. I felt a strong, sturdy hand clenching mine. My eyes began to open and I was somewhere new. The walls were light blue wallpaper, and a small T.V. hung on the wall. I flicked my head to my shoulder. A small tub was in my arm. Are they drugging me now through tubs? Lifting my head, I saw Jason’s head laying on his arm. He was sleeping right beside me in a chair, one hand in mine, the other as a pillow. My mom was in a fold out chair. I turned my head, Megan was fast asleep still.
I grabbed Jason’s hand forcefully. His eyes opened wide and he stared at me. My eyes filled with tears and he pressed himself against me.
“I’m so happy to see you!” I cried in a whisper. I began sniffling. I wanted to die five minutes ago and now I was crying of joy. He wiped the tears from my eyes and kissed me sweetly.
“It took forever to find you. I remember a shack not far from Lincoln where Courtney’s grandfather owned land. I didn’t say her name, but I told the police. We went up there to search the place and when I walked in you were being put out. We brought you to the hospital, and hopefully by next week you’ll be out.”
“Jason, is she awake?”
“Yup.”
My mom jumped out of her chair and ran over, smothering my face with hugs and kisses. “I’m so glad my baby is home safe. I don’t ever want you to go again.” Jason backed off. When he let my hand free I wanted to cry harder. Now that he was next to me, I didn’t want him to leave.
“I thought you’d never come home!”
“How long have I been out?”
“A few hours. We got you earlier, but the men holding you got away. So when they come in tomorrow you and Meg are going to have to explain what happened. Only if you want to. Whenever you feel comfortable.”
Mom stayed up a few more hours, talking to me about everything. Dad went home and would come in the morning. Jason stayed, mostly because he didn’t want to leave my sight. I don’t understand him. Most guys would wait to see their girlfriends. What was his parents thinking? Oh, ‘my son is allowed to do whatever he wants whenever he wants’. I’d feel bad asking because I don’t want him to think of me as a judgement freak, but I may be able to bring it up.
“Jason, if you want to go home sweetheart, I’m going to be here all night.”
“I’m alright. I’d rather be here for her.”
“And your parents don’t have a problem with this?”
“They said I’m going to be an adult soon so I need to make decisions for myself. It sounds like bad parenting probably, but they make points that I understand.”
My mom shrugged, “I was just saying.”
The clock read 1a.m. and Jason sat next to my bed, holding my hand.
“What’s next for us?” I whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“I was almost taken, then actually taken, and ‘you know who’ was behind all of it. I was beaten, drugged like forty times, and now I’m sitting in a hospital. I don’t know why dating you is such a big deal. I would love to know, but if it’s worse than what’s been happening right now. I don’t know how much I can take.”
“Kate, I understand, about who took you.”
“Can we talk about this later, alone?”
He nodded. He rubbed my hand while I fell back asleep. I had a feeling my day was going to be long. “Tomorrow, it’s going to be busy. If you think about it, you’re becoming famous.” A playful smirk spread across his face. I pushed his face down.
