The Teacher - A Forbidden Romance

Chapter 23 - I can't breathe ...

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I can't breathe ...

Alexis

When I open my eyes, I groan from the pain. I'm aching all over. My mouth is so dry. I try to swallow but my throat hurts too. Where am I ... what happened? I closed my eyes again, trying to remember.

       "You're awake," I hear a soft voice say from beside me. My eyes spring open, and I find an elderly lady standing next to the bed, looking down at me. She smiles sweetly. That's when it all comes back. Ashley ... the baby ... the surgery. "How are you feeling?" she asks.

       Devastation consumes me. What a stupid question. I'm in recovery after the curette they just performed on me. "You just sucked the last remnants of my baby out of me ... how do you think I'm feeling?" I reply, dryly. I don't want to be so bitter, but I can't help it.

       Why is life so unfair? 

       "Oh Miss Davenport. I'm sorry for your loss."

       Turning my head away from her, I clench my eyes closed to try and stop the tears from falling. I'm angry ... no, I'm heartbroken.          

       When she places her hand on my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me, I nudge it away. Pain radiates up my arm. "Argh," I groan.

       "The doctor took an X-Ray of your wrist while you were under. You must've fractured it when you fell." I didn't fall, I was pushed. By a psycho bitch. I'm furious. With Ashley ... with the doctors ... even with Damon. He should be here. I sigh because I know I'm being unreasonable. He'd be here if he knew. I'm sure of that. Then again this is partly his fault—how many more of his crazy blonde bimbo's am I going to have to endure? Does he have a whole army of them waiting in the wings, ready to pounce? "As soon as you're out of recovery, the doctor will put a plaster cast on your wrist." I nod my head instead of replying. I can't bring myself to speak. I feel like I'm the verge of breaking down, and I refuse to do that in front of a complete stranger. "Is there someone I can call for you?"

       This time I shake my head. She can't call Damon if I don't have his number. I'd much rather speak to him myself anyway. He'd probably freak if he got a call from the hospital.

       By the time I'm wheeled from recovery to a special room to get my wrist plastered, I've managed to pull myself together somewhat. Now I'm just numb. Empty and numb ...

       "Do you know when I'll be able to go home?" I ask the doctor as he applies the cast to my wrist.

       "We'll need to keep you in for at least twenty-four hours for observation."

       "Oh." I withdraw back into myself once he replies. It's the only way I seem to be able to cope.

••••

The light is streaming through the windows of my room when I open my eyes. I bask in those few second of blissful unawareness you get when you first wake, until the harsh reality of why I'm lying in a hospital bed seeps in. I'm consumed for the loss of a child I barely even knew. A part of me ... of part Damon. I need to see him. I'm aching for his comfort. I don't want to go through this alone. I'm not strong enough. I've already lost so much.

       "Good morning," the nurse says chirpily when she bursts into the room.

       "Morning," I groan. There's nothing good about it.

       "We're going to get you up this morning. Once you passed some urine and had a bowel movement, the doctor may release you."

       Is she kidding me? "I can't leave until I go to the toilet?"