Love Lessons

Chapter Forty Two: Hold Me Tight & Don't Let Go

42| Jess

                ~*~There’ll be some lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking ~*~

 

                A loud buzzing noise pulled me from my sleep. It was as if it was being annoying on purpose to disrupt my comfortable state and leave me conscious in hell. I felt my head throbbing and when I slowly opened my eyes, I was painfully blinded by the bright sunlight pouring through the windows. I tried to swallow but my throat felt dry, as if I had slept with cotton balls in my mouth. The smell of bleach burned my nose, telling me that I was in a hospital. There was heavy breathing beside me and as I carefully turned my head, I saw my father snoring uncomfortably in a small chair pulled up beside the bed. I groaned at the constant buzzing noise, waking my father up. As my eyes adjusted to the sight of him, I noticed how rough he looked. He had skipped out on shaving for a couple of days, and there were heavy bags under his eyes.  His sleeve to his other arm was dangling freely while his other arm was relaxing on the arm of the chair.

                When my father noticed that I was awake, he gave me a small smile. My heart sank when I realized that this situation had probably scared him. He was already worried as it was when I started digressing when Cole and I broke up and this had to be the icing on the cake. If anything, he probably assumed that I tried killing myself again-though I convinced him numerous times that I wasn’t going down that road again, he didn’t believe me. I opened my mouth to say something but I couldn’t form any words. I suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous. My father stood up and held my cup of water out to me, instructing me to take a sip.

                “You’ve been out for a couple of days.” He said quietly. I looked at him, frowning at his statement. There was no way I could have been out that long- it wasn’t as if Cole’s mom had really hurt me.

                “You suffered from a concussion and with the breaking of your ribs, somehow that knocked you out for a couple of days.” My father said quietly, answering my question. I blinked at him, surprised that I was even out that long.

                “What happened with Cole’s mother?” I asked hoarsely. My father’s eyes darkened and he looked down at his hand, sighing before he spoke.

                “They brought her in and right now she’s sitting behind bars. She may not ever get out; she kidnapped you and tried killing you. She didn’t even have a license for the gun she was carrying and apparently she hacked some hospital records to get information on you.” He said quietly.

                “Oh.” I whispered, leaning back against the pillow, staring at the ugly white ceiling.

                “I thought you were going to die, Jess.” He finally said. I was afraid to look at him and when I did, my heart sank. Tears were in his eyes and he was clutching his pant leg to keep himself composed.

                “I thought so too.” I answered honestly. “I’m not going anywhere, Dad; I promise. I’m not in that place- I don’t think I could ever be back in that place.” I told him honestly. “I’m not alone anymore. I have you.” I said quietly.