We'll Brave This Storm

Chapter 18: The pain goes on for so long.

I felt someone's warm hand holding mine. My eyes opened.

I was in a white room in a hospital bed. Why am I in the hospital?

"Mason?" I whispered.

His head jumped up, his grip on me getting tighter.

"OH THANK GOD YOU'RE FINE." he said.

His face was red & his eyes were too.

"Where's Nate?" I asked. "Why am I here."

Mason looked at me sadly, he looked down to the floor.

Tears started to slowly fall again.

"N-Nate's gone Alice." he answered.

That's when I remembered. I remembered everything that had happened last night.

The gun shot. The blood. His body.

I found myself crying hysterically.

"HE. CAN'T. BE. GONE." I nearly screamed between cries.

Mason crawled into the bed with me & his warm arms held me close to him.

"HE WOULDN'T LEAVE LIKE THIS." I said.

My best friend. The one who I've stuck with since forever. The one who accepted me for who I was, was

now dead.

"Love, I know you're extremely hurt. It's going to be tough for all of us. But we'll manage. Nate wouldn't want

you to be sad." he whispered, kissing the top of my head.

I felt like I wanted to die. Just take me now. I want Nate here. To make me laugh. I want Nate to be

here. I want mom to be here, to get drunk again so then Nate could comfort me when Jake crossed the line.

I want to feel his hugs, I want to hear his stupid, but funny, jokes. I need Nate. I just want to run to Nate's,

telling him I woke up in a hospital room for some odd reason & had a dream he died. But it wasn't a dream.

It was real. It was all real.

"How did I end up here?" I choked.

"Samantha decided to go to your place but then she noticed the door was slightly open, so she went inside

& found you two lying there." he answered. "So she freaked out & called me & then I went over & we called

911. The police came & took Jake to jail. They knew there was no hope for Nate, so they brought you into

the hospital."

"W-wait? Who am I gonna stay with?" I asked.

A doctor came in.

"Ah, so you're awake. That's good, he has to give you a couple of stitches & that's about it. You have to do

the least amount of work possibleZ No running, jumping, any of that for about 2 weeks." he said.

I simply nodded.

"You may change & leave." he added & then walked out.

I slowly stood up, Mason handed me a white plastic bag that was tied.

"Your clothes." he said.

I went into the bathroom to change.

Then I came out, wrapping my arms around myself. There was a policeman talking to the doctor. He then

turned to me. "You must be Alice" he said, his voice was very deep.

I nodded. "I contacted every family member I could to see who can be your guardian & your dad said he

lives about 2 hours away, so he'll be coming tomorrow in the afternoon. & I am very sorry for your loss." he

said. "Is there anyone's you can stay at tonight?"

"She can stay with me." Mason answered.

He nodded & turned back to the doctor.

We walked out of the building. I saw Kelsey's car from a distance. The ters were still running down my face.

We sat inside the car. "Alice! Thank god your fine!" she said. She tried to comfort me about Nate's loss the

whole car ride. I just sat there in silence, weeping into Mason's shirt as Mason ran his fibers through my

hair. "Shut up Kelsey." he said as we were getting closer to the house. She did as told.

"Thanks." I told Kelsey once we arrived in front of the house. She just nodded & we all went inside. I'm

pretty sure everyone else was still sleeping. We quietly walked upstairs into Mason's room. The whole time

I was just crying & crying & crying into Mason's chest.

"If I could take all this pain away from you I would." he softly said.

My stomache began to growl loudly.

"I'm gonna get you something to eat." he said & got up. I wasn't hungry.

After a couple of minutes, he came back up with a ham & cheese sandwich. He made me sit up.

"Here." he said handing it over to me.

I shook my head. "Not hungry.."

"Of course you are your stomache was growling!" he exclaimed.

"I'm not hungry." I repeated.

"Alice, you have to eat." he sighed. I shook my head no.

"Please Alice. Please." he begged. I said no once more.

He gave up & went back to the kitchen & came back up.

He layed down next to me & my crying had calmed. But I know it'd get worse.

I know everything will get worse because Nate's gone.