"Taylor. Taylor, can you hear me?" Through bleary vision, Mark Fischbach searched my eyes for a sign of life.
"W-what..." I mumbled, sucking in breath and trying to breathe. I couldn't breathe.
I felt a squeeze around my hand and I suddenly became aware that Mark's hand was around mine.
"She's alive," he nearly cried.
"Yes, sir, we know that, but you need to go," a stern female voice ordered.
"Where are you taking her?" Mark begged to know.
I felt his hand leave mine. Mark fought, I knew he would, and tried to reconnect. I continued seeing the luminescent lights flash above me dizzyingly. People--doctors--were leaned over me.
My eyes rolled back suddenly, and my lids forced themselves shut.
"She's losing blood, fast," the same female voice that had called Mark away from me said.
I was wheeled through a set of doors and put under more bright lights.
"She's slipping out of consciousness," a doctor--male--said this time.
The conversation and urgency faded. I found myself slipping into a sleep.
But it was peaceful, so I let it happen.
***
I found myself standing in a familiar hallway. The sun shone through the windows of the house, casting beautiful and natural lighting around the rooms.
"Hello?" I called out. Where was I?
"I'm in here," I heard a soothing, deep voice say from the living room. My legs directed me toward the sound of the voice.
I found myself facing a living room. There sat Mark, playing with Chica. I felt happiness swell in my chest.
I ran forward, right into Mark's arms. "You--you're real?" I asked, eyes watering.
Mark looked at me. "Taylor..."
"A hallucination," I breathed. "Of course. My mind is tricking me."
Mark nodded grimly.
I let a tear slip out. "What happened?"
"Car accident. Semi truck trailer hit your car."
I sucked in a breath. "And I didn't die?"
"Not yet. If you don't stay strong, you will."
I choked on my tears. "You know I love you, right?" I had never told him this face to face. It had only been ten months since we'd gotten together. I'd always thought it was too soon.
He nodded. "I can tell, lovely."
I kissed him and then wrapped my arms around his neck. He held me.
The world began to crumble around me.
***
"She's okay," a faint voice said. "She will make it."
"Thank you, doctor."
One of the individuals talking walked away, leaving who sounded like Mark behind. My eyes fluttered open.
"Mark," I said so quietly that he probably couldn't hear me.
He did. "Taylor?" When he said my name, his voice cracked.
"I love you," I whispered.
He just looked at me. "I love you, too."
