Forever Young

Chapter 9

Dakota's POV

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Seizure. I'd had another seizure. I knew i shouldnt have gone to that party. All the crazy lights were a recipe for disaster. Usually my meds helped enough, and the seizures were rare, so i was ok at most parties. But id been off my meds for a while now. I'd only ever had four... well now five episodes.

1 - right after id moved to ny. i had peed myself and had to move schools because of all the teasing.

2- at home alone for the first time when i was 10. i had hit my head on the counter and almost bled out. Jamie didnt let me home alone again till i was 12.

3 - in walmart when i was 13. Broke my arm hitting it on a shelf

4 - at a party when i was 15, Sicily had been one of the only ones to help. Thats when she met Holden. He had called 911.

All these memories were racing through my pounding head as a pretended to sleep. I was only half awake, but didnt feel like explaining myself. suddenly i heard quiet whispers in the room. There was a gentle female voice, probably a nurse, and deep velvety male voice, Ashley....

They were talking about something i couldnt make up. Everything sounded like i was underwater. But i wanted Ash, i needed him. I felt so alone and scared...

"Ash." my voice came out weak and choked. I opened my eyes as he rushed to my side, kneeling down by my bed and taking my small hand in his large ones.

"Im here babe." he said gently, brushing back my hair and softly kissing my forehead. "How are you feeling."

"Like i had another damn seizure..."

"Why didnt you tell me you have epilepsy?"

"Because i dont want to be treated like a freak. too late for that now i guess" i said quietly.

Ash sighed. "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"

"Thank you."

"For what? Fearing for your safety?"

"I guess, but more for taking care of me... For being here."

"Always." he didnt smile reasuringly like most people did. He just furrowed his brow and held my hand.

I slowly pulled my hand out of his grip after a minute and scooted over on the bad, tapping the now empty space. He took the hint and crawled up on the bed next to me, letting me rest my head on his chest.

Then i fell into the best sleep id had in years. When i woke up it was night, the lights were down low and he was still there. I gently leaned up and brushed my lips on his. A soft jolt ran through me as i savored the moment.

He stayed asleep thankfully. This way i didnt have to explain the unexplainable feelings swirling around in tmy stomach.

I knew it wasnt the booze, or his swimmers body that was the cause the prevoius night.

It was him.

And it was me.

It was us.

And i just couldnt explain the joy that gave me. Us.

-----

The next time i woke up he was gone, and the bed was cold. Light peaked through curtians on the windows. The smell of the hospital nauseated me. The smell i asociated with death and sickness. I had to get out of there. With out Ash there, the hospital wasnt even a little bareable.

I got up slowly and felt a breeze down my backside. Ugh, hospital gowns...

I gently pulled the needles out of my arm, gasping from the sharp pain.

I hate hospitals.

I slowly i stumbled over to the bathroom and changed into my clothes, moving about as fast as a turtle. Damn this.

I looked in the mirror and actually cringed...

My hair was loose, tangled and stringy, my eyeliner was smeared around my muddy brown eyes, there was no mascara on my blonde eyelashes, my pale sickly face and the purple bags under my eyes made me look like a plague victim... Watch out, girl with the Black Death coming through. I chuckled softly at myself then continued to check my apperance, as i tried to clean up a bit.

I saw myself wearing my favorite jeans and a blue t-shirt, with my favorite black hoodie. Even this couldnt make me feel better... I didnt know what would.

No scratch that. Getting out of that Hell hole.... That may have made me feel better...

I walked over to the door on the tip of my toes. I cracked open the door and peaked out.

As soon as the coast was clear, i carefully and quickly walked down the hall, making my escape out the front door with my hood up on my jacket.

Finally. I stepped outside into the dim light from the setting sun and breathed the fresh air. It felt like the first time id ever breathed in late summer air. And it felt... amazing to say the least.