Take Me Away | ✓

» 38

K A D E N

In all the time that I'd been in town, I only came to the hospital on two occasions. Once when my cast was being taken off and the day that Sam's gran had passed away. In the hours that followed after the dance I found myself limping through the automatic doors, barely hanging onto Zach.

"You're stupid, you know that?" He muttered angrily after yelling at a nurse to help. "If you'd just stayed inside."

"A thank you would be appreciated." I said dryly before my legs buckled underneath me.

"Shit."

My white shirt had long stopped being white as did Zach's. His hands were covered in blood as were mine. Except I also had a bullet lodged inside of me.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"This isn't a stab wound." He clarified.

"You know they'll ask what happened."

"I know." He said quietly.

A few nurses did come by then with a stretcher. I was laid down so the fluorescent lights above burned my eyes. I turned to Zach one last time, grimacing from the sharp, unbearable pain, "I'd get out of here if I was you."

That was the last thing I said before, finally, I passed out.

-

It was almost a week until I was discharged. I was told that I was extremely lucky to have kept my arm with only a shattered humerus but the news of not losing a limb offered little ease. Of course, in the time I was in the hospital the detective came to pay me a visit. The first time was once I came out of surgery. But before he got within five feet of my hospital bed, my dad was there to bar his entry.

"Another time, Detective." I heard him say. My eyes were closed but I was fully awake.

They exchanged a few more words until I heard the door close and my dad take the seat beside the bed. The pain was almost unnoticeable now. It didn't hurt much if I didn't move.

"You can open your eyes now."

"Thanks." I said, turning my head to face him. His eyes were puffy from crying. He hadn't left the hospital from the moment he stepped in. My mom was the same. She went home today but it wouldn't be long before she was back.

"You're going to tell me what happened." He said firmly.

"Didn't the doctor give you the report?"

"Don't try and be smart now, Kaden. Who did this to you?" He didn't sound angry but I didn't know how long that would last.

I sighed, not knowing what to say.

"Was it that boy? Zach?"

"He wouldn't have called you if he'd been the one to shoot me."

"Kaden." He said warningly.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I don't know who did it. I came out of the house and. . . I didn't see who it was. I don't remember anything after. . ." I trailed off, hoping it would be enough.

I knew full well who had been outside my house that night. What their intentions might have been. I just wasn't ready to admit it. Saying it out loud would have made it real.

"Alright." My dad said, giving no sign that he was convinced or otherwise. And then, "Coming back was a mistake. My mistake."

"This isn't your fault, dad."

"We already lost Jane. To think, we could have lost you too." His voice cracked towards the end as well as a few loose tears. "I'm sorry."

I didn't know what to say so I stayed quiet. I focused on the rose that one of the nurses had brought in. She didn't mention the name of the giver of the flower.