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Alison's POV

While I was explaining all of this to Emily, I could feel her squeezing my hands really hard in the really distressing parts of the story. She was even fighting back tears. I could tell that this was a lot for her to hear but she wanted me to continue.

"I woke up in a hospital room during the middle of the night. Spencer, Hanna, and Aria were all in the room with me, asleep in chairs the nurses must have brought into the room. Initially, I was confused as to how I got there but the realization of what happened earlier came rushing back to me and I said your name aloud. I was trying to get out of bed when they all woke up and stopped me from doing so. I put up a bit of a fight because I had to find you when Spencer told me that you were alive but in critical condition in the room down the hall. Aria encouraged me to stay put and not rip out my IV. Hanna went to get the nurse to inform her I was awake.

I asked them how the cops knew something was wrong and where to find us. Aria told me that the three of them were waiting in the park for us to come out when I finished proposing so they could congratulate us. "There was just no way Emily was going to say anything but yes," she continued. Spencer added, "So when it seemed like it was taking too long, we made our way too you guys. When we got to the spot, we saw the ring and it's box on the floor and Hanna found a bullet shell casing. Then this man all dressed in camouflage came running out of the forest and told us to run. We stopped him and asked him what was happening. He told us that he was in the woods hunting when he heard muffled gunshots and saw two girls, one blonde and one brunette, running away from a man holding a baseball bat and a woman carrying a gun. Hanna immediately called 911 and within minutes, a flood of police was there with K9 dogs and paramedics with them on standby. Once the man told them the blonde had already been shot, the police decided to bring the paramedics with them in to the woods. Even though we desperately wanted to help find you, we knew it was safer to stay put. The dogs used the scent from the ring box and then they disappeared into the thick foliage". "It felt like an eternity before there was any sign on you guys" furthered Aria. "Then the paramedics and officers emerged with Emily unconscious on the stretcher. We all lost it and ran towards her. An officer stopped us and said that the other girl wasn't far behind and for us to wait for her. Emily was really hurt and needed to get to the hospital. So then we waited and out of the woods appeared more officers and paramedics carrying you on a stretcher. You were unconscious too. It was a lot to take in but we knew we better get in the car and make our way to the hospital" she continued. Hanna came back in and said, " So here we've been. Alternating between your room and Emily's room".

Not long after that, my nurse came in and checked me out. I asked her how you were doing and she said she couldn't tell me much other than that you were in a coma. If I wanted to see you, she would safely take me in a wheelchair. When she wheeled me into your room, I completely lost it. You were hooked up to so many machines that were basically the only thing keeping you alive. Your face was all puffy and bruised. You had casts and bandages all over your body. I could barely recognize you. All I could do was hold and kiss your hand while I cried. The nurse only let me stay with you for a little bit because I needed to rest myself.

For the rest of the week, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer came to visit us in shifts. They were truly amazing to the both of us. Every day, I would visit you multiple times a day and hold your hand. I was eventually well enough to go home and so they discharged me. But I never went home. I basically moved into your hospital room and barely left your side. This whole process lasted about 3 months. Then you started waking up. The rest you know.

The look on Emily's face said it all. I could tell through the soft tears falling down her face that it was a lot to process. She was silent for quite some time. All I wanted her to do in that moment was say something, anything really. But I had to be patient.