Shores of Truth

Ch. 19, Evidence

Travis

The last thing he remembered was the morning fog. He was at the beach. He had been thinking about Nyxeria. Nyxeria? Where was she? He had to talk to her. He had to convince her that he had been an idiot. Yet he was unable to smell the beach. Instead he smelled strong cleaning chemicals and latex. He was no longer at the beach. Where was he? With effort he opened his eyes. Somehow he ended up in the hospital. Trying to sit up his head rushed and he fell back. Someone's heavy footsteps left the room to call for a nurse in the hallway.

A grey haired woman came in. She wore bright purple scrubs that bordered on obnoxious. Her face was serious as she introduced herself as his nurse. She took his vitals in a no-nonsense matter while she explained Travis had been in an induced coma for the past few days. His doctor would be in as soon as he could, to explain the full extent of damage. Travis decided that he rather liked the woman. He found himself too exhausted to process much more. She left the room. He had a view out of a window showing acres of trees and a highway not far after that. His throat was parched and the tubes in his arms itched. The nurse was having a conversation with someone in the hallway. He wasn't sure who the other voice was until he walked into the room. As always the shorter man wore an immaculately clean suit and had a coffee in one hand. His light hair was tamed back with what Travis thought was far too much hair gel. A blue tooth was permanently attached to his ear. He was the type of man most people dreaded interacting with. He was vain and annoying along with a temper. Despite his flaws, Don was one of Travis' favorite people. If there was one person he had to wake up from a coma with, he was glad it was Don.

"Glad you're awake," Don remarked striding over to him. Grasping his hand in a half-handshake/half-hug to avoid the many tubes running from him.

"No one is happier about my consciousness than I. Do you mind finding me some water?" Travis asked.

"The nurse left some with ice over here. Drink it slowly," Getting the cup, Don settled in beside him. "So what do you remember?"

"I was taking a run on the beach." The water tasted fantastic.

"You remember the girl you were seeing?" Don wasn’t going to beat around the bush.

"Of course. Where is Nyx? Has she been here while I was asleep?"

"No." Don was watching Travis' face intently. He looked downtrodden with the knowledge that Nyxeria had not visited him. Don checked his phone out of habit. He supposed he had to be the one to tell him. "She is the reason you are here. Travis, she shot you."

It took a while for what Don had just told him to sink in. Nyxeria shot him? With a gun? His Nyxeria shot him? Why? "There is no way she could have shot me."

"She turned herself in. All the evidence says she did it. She had the gun. She was there when you were attacked. She had motive. Mental illness runs in her family. The case is clear. I'm sorry. I know she was important to you, but you didn't know her very long.

"I know her well enough."

Don rubbed his temples. "Your folks should be arriving in the next few days. When you are stable we can transfer you to a better hospital in London. We can start the court proceedings when you are feeling better."

"She didn't do it. I'm not charging her with anything."

"Travis..."

"It is my call and that’s final." Travis was convinced. There was no way to change his mind. Don was frustrated at his friend's stubbornness. He had to get him home where things could get back to normal.

"Okay. I'll get the charges dropped. But you're coming home as soon as the doctors allow it. Your family is worried sick. We all are."

"I know. Where is my cell? I want to call my mum."

"Sure, I have it over here. It took a bit to get the blood out. Other than that it is good as new. Anything else."

"Can you get Nyxeria to come see me?"

"I don't think that is a good idea."

"Please." Travis pleaded.

"I'll see what I can do."