Cognizant (Adopted By Alex Gaskarth: Book 2)✅

Chapter 24

Beep... Beep... Beep...

I was blinded by the light burning through the slits my eyes made as I began to slowly open them. My sinuses were almost completely plugged up, but began to clear with the smell of alcohol as I woke up.

"H-He's waking up!"

Small mumbles echoed in my ears from all directions as I finally adjusted my eyes to the light, although they weren't that bright to begin with. I looked down at where I lied. A hospital bed. A bland teal blanket was wrapped around my lower body, and an IV was stuck in my right hand. I also noticed the tight white bandages wrapping my arms from wristbone to elbow. The muffled voices slowly began to become louder. I tried to command my hand to move, but it only sat there. I glared at the limb confusedly and determinedly as I was able to manage moving it, lethargically pulling my fingers back and forth. My ears popped and I could hear even more clearly.

"Alex?"

I looked up tiredly to see Lisa sitting in a chair next to the bed. Two men in white jackets stood nearby, too. "Li-Lisa," I cracked out after a moment of trying.

"Alex, baby, you're okay!" Tears began welling up in her eyes as she gently reached forward to hug me.

"L-Lisa? What... Happened," I asked a bit more confidently.

"A-Alex... What do you remember?" A small sob escaped her lips.

"I-I... Adelpha, she..." Everything in my head was a blur.

Lisa took a shaky inhale, as if preparing to share bad news. "Alex... You've been out for almost a month. The doctors had to put you in a coma so they could help how much blood you had lost, I still didn't know if you were going to make it!"

"But... Adelpha.."

"Honey... Adelpha... She... She's still gone."

A flashback hit me like a hammer to the skull. It had been a few weeks after the anniversary of Adelpha's death. I couldn't take it anymore.... And decided to end everything.

"It couldn't have all just been a dream, could it?" My eyes went slightly wider.

"What are you talking about sweetie?" Lisa began to cry again. "Was what a dream?"

"Adelpha," my voice cracked. "Sh-She was okay! She went back to school and went on your with us and-and..."

"Baby... I.... Adelpha, she's... She's still gone, I'm so sorry. Remember? Eucidine, she... You know," she trailed off gently and sadly.

I inhaled and tried to force back tears.

She's still gone...